How to Convert a Fraction to a Percentage

Converting between fractions and percentages is one of those everyday maths skills that quietly turns up everywhere, from test scores and discounts to recipes and statistics. Learning how to convert a fraction to a percentage takes just two steps and, once you have it, the reverse is just as easy. In short, you divide the top of the fraction by the bottom and multiply by 100. This guide walks through the method with clear examples, includes a handy chart of the most common conversions, and shows how to go from a percentage back to a fraction. For quick calculations on any numbers, our percentage calculator does it instantly.

How to convert a fraction to a percentage

1. Divide the numerator (top number) by the denominator (bottom number) to get a decimal.
2. Multiply that decimal by 100 to get the percentage.
3. Add the percent sign.

The word percent literally means per hundred, which is why multiplying by 100 turns a decimal into a percentage.

Worked examples

1. 3/4: 3 divided by 4 = 0.75, times 100 = 75%.
2. 2/5: 2 divided by 5 = 0.4, times 100 = 40%.
3. 1/3: 1 divided by 3 = 0.333…, times 100 = about 33.3%.

In plain English: divide, then shift the decimal two places to the right. Some fractions like 1/3 give a repeating decimal, so you round to a sensible number of places.

Common conversions chart

These come up so often that it is worth knowing them by heart:

Fraction	Decimal	Percentage
1/2	0.5	50%
1/3	0.333	33.3%
1/4	0.25	25%
3/4	0.75	75%
1/5	0.2	20%
1/8	0.125	12.5%
1/10	0.1	10%

Convert instantly

For any fraction or percentage, our percentage calculator gives the answer in a click. To go deeper on percentage maths, see our guide on how to calculate percentages.

Percentage back to a fraction

To convert a percentage into a fraction, write it over 100 and simplify.

For example, 40% becomes 40/100, which simplifies to 2/5 by dividing top and bottom by 20. Similarly, 75% is 75/100, which simplifies to 3/4. If the percentage has decimals, multiply top and bottom to clear them first.

Frequently asked questions

How do I convert a fraction to a percentage?

Divide the numerator (top number) by the denominator (bottom number) to get a decimal, then multiply by 100 and add a percent sign. For example, 3/4 is 3 divided by 4, which is 0.75, and 0.75 times 100 is 75%. This works for any fraction, though some give repeating decimals you round off.

How do I convert 3/4 to a percentage?

Divide 3 by 4 to get 0.75, then multiply by 100 to get 75%. So three-quarters equals 75%. This is one of the most common conversions worth memorising, along with 1/2 as 50% and 1/4 as 25%, since they appear constantly in scores, discounts, and measurements.

How do I convert a percentage to a fraction?

Write the percentage over 100 and simplify the fraction. For example, 40% becomes 40/100, which simplifies to 2/5 by dividing both numbers by 20. For 25%, that is 25/100, or 1/4. If the percentage includes decimals, multiply the top and bottom to remove them before simplifying.

How do I turn a fraction into a decimal first?

Simply divide the numerator by the denominator. For 3/4, divide 3 by 4 to get 0.75. That decimal is the halfway step to a percentage: multiply it by 100. Converting to a decimal first makes the process clear, since a percentage is just a decimal moved two places to the right.

What is 1/3 as a percentage?

One-third is about 33.3%, because 1 divided by 3 is 0.3333, a repeating decimal, which times 100 is 33.33%. It is usually rounded to 33.3% or written as 33 and one-third percent. This is a good example of a fraction that does not convert to a neat, exact percentage.

The bottom line

To convert a fraction to a percentage, divide the top by the bottom and multiply by 100, so 3/4 becomes 75%. To reverse it, put the percentage over 100 and simplify, turning 40% into 2/5. Keep the common conversions like 1/2, 1/4, and 3/4 in mind, and round repeating decimals sensibly. For any calculation, use our percentage calculator.

Further reading

For authoritative background on this topic, see Fraction on Wikipedia.