Excel offers a variety of Number Formats to display numerical data according to your needs. Here’s how to use each format with step-by-step instructions.
General Format
The General format displays numbers as entered without any additional formatting.
Shortcut: Ctrl + Shift + ~ to reset a cell to General format.
Step 1: Select the cells you want to change to General format.
Step 2: Go to the Home tab on the ribbon.
Step 3: In the Number section, choose General from the dropdown.
Or use the shortcut Ctrl + Shift + ~.
Number Format
The Number format allows for decimal control and includes commas as thousands separators.
Shortcut: Ctrl + Shift + 1 to apply the Number format.
Step 1: Select the cells you want to format as numbers.
Step 2: Go to the Home tab on the ribbon.
Step 3: In the Number section, select Number from the dropdown.
Or use the shortcut Ctrl + Shift + 1.
Currency Format
The Currency format adds a currency symbol and decimal places for financial data.
Shortcut: Ctrl + Shift + $ to apply the Currency format.
Step 1: Select the cells to apply the Currency format to.
Step 2: Go to the Home tab.
Step 3: In the Number section, choose Currency from the dropdown.
Or use the shortcut Ctrl + Shift + $.
Percentage Format
The Percentage format multiplies a value by 100 and adds a % symbol.
Shortcut: Ctrl + Shift + % to apply the Percentage format.
Step 1: Select the cells to display as percentages.
Step 2: Go to the Home tab.
Step 3: In the Number section, select Percentage from the dropdown.
Or use the shortcut Ctrl + Shift + %.
Date and Time Formats
Date and Time formats allow you to organize data chronologically.
Shortcut: Ctrl + Shift + # to apply the Date format.
Step 1: Select the cells to apply the Date/Time format to.
Step 2: Go to the Home tab.
Step 3: In the Number section, choose Date or Time from the dropdown.
Or use the shortcut Ctrl + Shift + # for Date format.
Using Excel’s Number Formats effectively enhances data readability and accuracy. Follow these step-by-step instructions for each format, and remember to use shortcuts for efficiency.
