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In Google Sheets, there are always various options for basic arithmetic operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. In addition to the division symbol (/), which can be used in any formula, Google Sheets has two different division functions: DIVIDE and QUOTIENT. While DIVIDE works exactly like the division symbol, QUOTIENT returns only the quotient, not the remainder.

In this guide, you will learn how to divide in Google Sheets using three different methods: the division symbol (/), the DIVIDE function, and the QUOTIENT function. You have examples with typed values and cell references using all three methods. You also have step-by-step instructions on how to divide arrays using the division symbol with the ARRAYFORMULA function. Finally, you’ll learn how to customize or replace the error message when you attempt to divide by zero in Google Sheets.

How to Divide in Google Sheets?

There are three main ways to divide in Google Sheets: the division symbol (/), the DIVIDE function, and the QUOTIENT function. In the following sections, you have step-by-step instructions on using all three methods to divide values or cell references to those values.

Divide in Google Sheets with the Division Symbol (/)

In Google Sheets, the division symbol is the forward slash (/). As with other arithmetic operators, you can use them in your formulas with hardcoded values or cell references.

  1. 1. In an empty cell, type the equal sign followed by the dividend.
How to Divide in Google Sheets Easy Guide Equal Sign Dividend
How to Divide in Google Sheets (Easy Guide) - Equal Sign & Dividend
  1. 2. Add the division symbol (/), followed by the divisor.
How to Divide in Google Sheets Easy Guide Division Symbol Divisor
How to Divide in Google Sheets (Easy Guide) - Division Symbol & Divisor
  1. 3. Press ‘Enter’ to see the result.
How to Divide in Google Sheets Easy Guide Result with Division Symbol
How to Divide in Google Sheets (Easy Guide) - Result with Division Symbol

Divide in Google Sheets with the DIVIDE Function

The DIVIDE function in Google Sheets has two parameters: DIVIDE(dividend, divisor). The first parameter is the number to be divided, and the second is the number to divide by, which cannot equal zero. For example, if you want to divide ten by two: DIVIDE(5,2) = 2.5.

  1. 1. In an empty cell, type the equal sign followed by the DIVIDE function.
How to Divide in Google Sheets Easy Guide DIVIDE Function
How to Divide in Google Sheets (Easy Guide) - DIVIDE Function
  1. 2. Select the cell containing the dividend or type it directly into the function. Add a comma, followed by the divisor.
How to Divide in Google Sheets Easy Guide Add Dividend Divisor
How to Divide in Google Sheets (Easy Guide) - Add Dividend & Divisor
  1. 3. Close the parenthesis and press ‘Enter’ to see the result.
How to Divide in Google Sheets Easy Guide Result with DIVIDE Function
How to Divide in Google Sheets (Easy Guide) - Result with DIVIDE Function

Divide in Google Sheets with the QUOTIENT Function

Like the DIVIDE function, QUOTIENT has two parameters: the dividend and the divisor. Unlike DIVIDE, it returns only the quotient and not the remainder. For example, if you divide five by two using QUOTIENT, you get a different result: QUOTIENT(5,2) = 2.

  1. 1. In an empty cell, type the equal sign followed by the QUOTIENT function.
How to Divide in Google Sheets Easy Guide QUOTIENT Function
How to Divide in Google Sheets (Easy Guide) - QUOTIENT Function
  1. 2. Select the cell containing the dividend or type it directly into the function. Add a comma, followed by the divisor.
How to Divide in Google Sheets Easy Guide Add Dividend Divisor 2
How to Divide in Google Sheets (Easy Guide) - Add Dividend & Divisor
  1. 3. Close the parenthesis and press ‘Enter’ to see the result.
How to Divide in Google Sheets Easy Guide Result with QUOTIENT Function
How to Divide in Google Sheets (Easy Guide) - Result with QUOTIENT Function

How to Divide Two Cells in Google Sheets?

In most cases, the values you want to divide are already somewhere in your spreadsheet, so you can use the cell references instead of hardcoding values into your formulas. Below, you have examples using all three methods.

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Divide Two Cells with the Division Symbol (/)

  1. 1. Type the equal sign in an empty cell and select the cell containing the dividend. Add the division sign (/) and select the cell with the divisor.
How to Divide in Google Sheets Easy Guide Division Formula with Cell References
How to Divide in Google Sheets (Easy Guide) - Division Formula with Cell References
  1. 2. Press ‘Enter’ to see the result. To copy the formula, grab the fill handle and drag it down to the last row.
How to Divide in Google Sheets Easy Guide Result with Division Symbol 2
How to Divide in Google Sheets (Easy Guide) - Result with Division Symbol

Divide Two Cells with the DIVIDE Function

  1. 1. Type the DIVIDE function in an empty cell and select the cell with the dividend. Add a comma and select the cell containing the divisor.
How to Divide in Google Sheets Easy Guide DIVIDE with Cell References
How to Divide in Google Sheets (Easy Guide) - DIVIDE with Cell References
  1. 2. Close the parenthesis and press ‘Enter’ to see the result. To copy the formula, grab the fill handle and drag it to the last row.
How to Divide in Google Sheets Easy Guide Result with DIVIDE
How to Divide in Google Sheets (Easy Guide) - Result with DIVIDE

Divide Two Cells with the QUOTIENT Function

  1. 1. Type the QUOTIENT function in an empty cell and select the cell with the dividend. Add a comma and select the cell containing the divisor.
How to Divide in Google Sheets Easy Guide QUOTIENT with Cell References
How to Divide in Google Sheets (Easy Guide) - QUOTIENT with Cell References
  1. 2. Close the parenthesis and press ‘Enter’ to see the result. In this case, the quotient but not the remainder. To copy the formula, grab the fill handle and drag it down to the last row.
How to Divide in Google Sheets Easy Guide Result with QUOTIENT
How to Divide in Google Sheets (Easy Guide) - Result with QUOTIENT

How to Divide Columns & Rows in Google Sheets?

If you’re working with arrays, the best way to divide them is using the division symbol (/) with the ARRAYFORMULA function. The first example shows how to divide the values in a column or row by a common divisor. The second example shows how to divide the values in one column by the corresponding values in another. Finally, the third example shows how to divide the values in a column by those in a row.

How to Divide a Column or Row by a Single Value?

Follow the steps below to divide all the values in a column by a common divisor.

  1. 1. Type the equal sign and select the column with the dividends.
How to Divide in Google Sheets Easy Guide Equal Sign Dividends
How to Divide in Google Sheets (Easy Guide) - Equal Sign & Dividends
  1. 2. Add the division symbol and select the common divisor.
How to Divide in Google Sheets Easy Guide Division Symbol Common Divisor
How to Divide in Google Sheets (Easy Guide) - Division Symbol & Common Divisor
  1. 3. Press Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + Enter to add the ARRAYFORMULA function.
How to Divide in Google Sheets Easy Guide Add ARRAYFORMULA Function
How to Divide in Google Sheets (Easy Guide) - Add ARRAYFORMULA Function
  1. 4. Press ‘Enter’ to see the results.
How to Divide in Google Sheets Easy Guide Result Array
How to Divide in Google Sheets (Easy Guide) - Result Array
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How to Divide One Column by Another?

Follow the steps below to divide the values in one column by the corresponding values in another.

  1. 1. Type the equal sign and select the column with the dividends.
How to Divide in Google Sheets Easy Guide Equal Sign Dividends 2
How to Divide in Google Sheets (Easy Guide) - Equal Sign & Dividends
  1. 2. Add the division symbol and select the column with the divisors.
How to Divide in Google Sheets Easy Guide Division Symbol Divisors
How to Divide in Google Sheets (Easy Guide) - Division Symbol & Divisors
  1. 3. Press Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + Enter to add the ARRAYFORMULA function.
How to Divide in Google Sheets Easy Guide Add ARRAYFORMULA Function 2
How to Divide in Google Sheets (Easy Guide) - Add ARRAYFORMULA Function
  1. 4. Press ‘Enter’ to see the results.
How to Divide in Google Sheets Easy Guide Result Array 2
How to Divide in Google Sheets (Easy Guide) - Result Array

How to Divide Columns by Rows?

Follow the steps below to divide the values in a column by the values in a row.

  1. 1. Type the equal sign and select the column with the dividends.
How to Divide in Google Sheets Easy Guide Equal Sign Dividends 3
How to Divide in Google Sheets (Easy Guide) - Equal Sign & Dividends
  1. 2. Add the division symbol and select the row with the divisors.
How to Divide in Google Sheets Easy Guide Division Symbol Divisors 2
How to Divide in Google Sheets (Easy Guide) - Division Symbol & Divisors
  1. 3. Press Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + Enter to add the ARRAYFORMULA function.
How to Divide in Google Sheets Easy Guide Add ARRAYFORMULA Function 3
How to Divide in Google Sheets (Easy Guide) - Add ARRAYFORMULA Function
  1. 4. Press ‘Enter’ to see the results.
How to Divide in Google Sheets Easy Guide Result Array 3
How to Divide in Google Sheets (Easy Guide) - Result Array

Google Sheets Division by Zero

Regardless of which of the three methods you use, if the divisor is zero, you will see the #DIV/0! error message in your cell. However, you can use the IFERROR function to return a zero or a custom message instead.

  1. 1. The following table contains zeroes in the quantity column, so the result of dividing by it is a #DIV/0! error message.
How to Divide in Google Sheets Easy Guide Wrap IFERROR Around Division
How to Divide in Google Sheets (Easy Guide) - Wrap IFERROR Around Division
  1. 2. Wrap the IFERROR function around the division in your formula. If you want the function to return a zero, add it as the second parameter.
How to Divide in Google Sheets Easy Guide Wrap IFERROR Around Division 2
How to Divide in Google Sheets (Easy Guide) - Wrap IFERROR Around Division
  1. 3. Press ‘Enter’ to see the result. To copy the formula to the other cells, grab the fill handle and drag it down.
How to Divide in Google Sheets Easy Guide Error Message Replaced
How to Divide in Google Sheets (Easy Guide) - Error Message Replaced

Conclusion

There are multiple ways to divide in Google Sheets. Regardless of your chosen method, you can type in the dividends and divisors or use cell references instead. You know how to use the division symbol (/), the DIVIDE function, and the QUOTIENT function. You also know that the QUOTIENT function differs from the other two methods, as it returns the quotient but not the remainder.

If you’re working with arrays, the quickest way to divide them is using the division symbol with the ARRAYFORMULA function. Finally, you know how to fix the #DIV/0! formula parse error using the Google Sheets IFERROR function.

Maria Del Olmo
Originally published Mar 15 2023, Updated Jun 26 2023