# the \percent macro is not working in siunitx package

I get error when I use the \percent macro in the siunitx package. Here is the code :

              \documentclass[]{beamer}
\usetheme{CambridgeUS}
\usepackage{siunitx}
\setbeamercolor{title}{bg=red!65!black,fg=white}
\begin{document}
\title{Risk Management in Software Engineering}
\author{S.Subham Soni}
\institute[P.E.C]{Department of Computer Science and Engineering\\
Pondicherry Engineering College}
\date{January 6, 2014}
\begin{frame}
\begin{tabular}{|r|r|}
\hline
\textbf{Risk}&\textbf{Percentage} \\
\hline
Very Low&$\textless10\%$ \\
\hline
Low&10\percent-25\percent \\
\hline
\end{tabular}
\end{frame}
\end{doccument}


Here the \percent is throwing the error as symbol not found. The code is a part of the full code so there might be some continuation gap....

You should use it like \si{\percent} (or \SI{10}{\percent})

          \documentclass[]{beamer}
\usetheme{CambridgeUS}
\usepackage{siunitx}
\setbeamercolor{title}{bg=red!65!black,fg=white}
\begin{document}
\title{Risk Management in Software Engineering}
\author{S.Subham Soni}
\institute[P.E.C]{Department of Computer Science and Engineering\\
Pondicherry Engineering College}
\date{January 6, 2014}
\begin{frame}
\begin{tabular}{|r|r|}
\hline
\textbf{Risk}&\textbf{Percentage} \\
\hline
Very Low&$<\SI{10}{\percent}$ \\
\hline
Low& 10\si{\percent}--25\si{\percent} \\
\hline
\end{tabular}
\end{frame}
\end{document}


There was a typo in end{document}. Further, if you intend to put a range like 10-25%, better use \SIrange[range-phrase = --]{10}{25}{\percent}. And don't use \textless in math mode, use < instead.

• Why should you use \percent at all? Is there any advantage of $\SI{12.3}{\percent}$ over $12.3\%$? Oct 14 '14 at 15:45
• @moose The spacing between the number and symbol. siunitx is good in keeping that correct space. See Joseph's answer about spacing below.
– user11232
Oct 14 '14 at 16:07
• Please note that ISO 80000-1 says you should use 10 % - 25 % as @user11232 and @Mico suggested with the \SIrange command. Aug 4 '21 at 15:55

Harish has given what I would say is the 'standard position' answer: using the \si/\SI commands is by far the best way to use siunitx. However, you can use 'free standing' units, for example:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage[free-standing-units, space-before-unit, use-xspace]{siunitx}
\begin{document}
\SI{10}{\percent} or perhaps 10\percent water.
\end{document}


Getting spacing correct in this case can be tricky: I would strongly recommend using Harish's approach if possible.