Converting decimals into percentages
Converting decimals to percentages is a useful skill because percentages are one of the most common ways of comparing amounts. You will see percentages in discounts, test scores, interest rates, statistics, sports data and many other everyday situations.
The key idea is that “per cent” means “out of 100”. To convert a decimal into a percentage, multiply the decimal by 100 and add the percentage sign. For example, 0.25 becomes 25%, because 0.25 means 25 hundredths. Jump to the questions
Practise now
Worksheet preview and key skills
Worksheet preview
Practise converting decimals to percentages with this self-marking maths worksheet.
The interactive worksheet below generates questions, gives instant feedback, and lets students record their score.
What you’ll practise
- Multiplying the decimal by 100.
- Moving digits two places carefully.
- Writing the result with a percent sign.
- Recognising common decimal-percentage equivalents.
Use the interactive worksheet below, or read the Topic guide for the method and worked example.
Convert each decimal to a percentage. Type your answer and click “Check answer”.
Topic guide
What this worksheet practises
This worksheet gives you practice converting decimals into percentages. The term "per cent" means "out of 100", so converting a decimal to a percentage tells us exactly how many hundredths it represents.
Key method
To convert any decimal to a percentage, follow these two steps:
- Multiply the decimal by 100. This moves the decimal point two places to the right.
- Add the percent sign (%).
Worked examples
Example 1: A two-decimal-place number
Convert 0.25 to a percentage.
Multiply by 100: 0.25 × 100 = 25
Add the percent sign: 25%
Example 2: A three-decimal-place number
Convert 0.125 to a percentage.
Multiply by 100: 0.125 × 100 = 12.5
Add the percent sign: 12.5%
Example 3: A four-decimal-place number
Convert 0.1425 to a percentage.
Multiply by 100: 0.1425 × 100 = 14.25
Add the percent sign: 14.25%
Common mistakes to avoid
- Forgetting the zero placeholder: Be careful with decimals like 0.5. When you move the decimal point two places to the right, you need to add a zero. So, 0.5 becomes 50%, not 5%.
- Misreading small decimals: A decimal like 0.07 is 7 hundredths. When multiplied by 100, it becomes 7%, not 70%.
- Missing the sign: Always remember to write the percent sign (%) in your final answer so it is clear you are working with a percentage.
How to check your answer
To check your answer, you can work backwards. Divide your percentage by 100 (which moves the decimal point two places to the left). If you get back to your original decimal, your answer is correct.