If you're new to Excel and want to understand how to format cells to make your data more readable and presentable, this guide is for you. In this step-by-step guide, we will explore how to format numbers, dates, times, and even create custom formats. Each tool is located in the Ribbon of Excel, so you can easily follow along.
1. Formatting Numbers
Excel allows you to display numbers in different formats, such as currencyCurrency format adds symbols like $, €, or £ to represent the type of money you're working with., percentages, and more. You can find these options in the Ribbon under the Home tab, in the Number section.
To format a number as currency, select the cells you want to change. Go to the Home tab, and in the Number section, you’ll see a dropdown. Choose CurrencyIn this dropdown, you'll see options to format as currency, accounting, percentages, and more.. This will add a dollar sign ($) and format your number with two decimal points.
In the same Home tab and Number section, click the % icon to convert your numbers into percentages. This will multiply your number by 100 and add a percentage symbol.
2. Formatting Dates and Times
Excel provides many ways to format dates and times to make them easier to read. To change the date or time format, use the Format Cells option in the Home tab. You can also right-click on any cell to access Format Cells quickly.
Select the cells with dates, right-click, and choose Format Cells. In the “Number” tabThis tab contains all number formatting options in Excel, including dates, times, percentages, and custom formats., choose Date from the list. Select the format MM/DD/YYYY (Month/Day/Year) to display the date in this way.
For times, follow the same steps, but choose Time instead of Date. You can select from formats like 12:00 AM or 24-hour clock.
3. Custom Cell Formats
Sometimes, the default formats don't fit your needs. In these cases, you can create custom cell formats that suit your data. You can access this feature by right-clicking a cell, selecting Format Cells, and going to the Custom sectionThe Custom section allows you to input your own number format codes to create unique displays for your data..
To create a custom format for phone numbers, select the cells, right-click, and choose Format Cells. Under the Custom category, enter the format 000-000-0000 to display numbers like 123-456-7890.
