Number Formats
Apply number formats to control how numeric values display — currencies, percentages, dates, or custom patterns — without changing the underlying data.
Applying a Preset Format
- Select one or more cells
- Home tab → Number Format dropdown
- Choose a preset:
| Preset | Example |
|---|---|
| General | 1234.56 |
| Number | 1,234.56 |
| Currency (INR) | ₹1,234.56 |
| Currency (USD) | $1,234.56 |
| Percent | 23.45% |
| Date | 17-Apr-2026 |
| Time | 14:30:00 |
| Datetime | 17-Apr-2026 14:30 |
| Scientific | 1.23E+03 |
| Text | 001234 (no numeric interpretation) |
Custom Format Strings
Click Number Format → Custom… to enter an Excel-compatible format string.
Examples:
| Format String | Input | Display |
|---|---|---|
#,##0.00 | 1234.5 | 1,234.50 |
"₹"#,##0.00 | 1234 | ₹1,234.00 |
0.00% | 0.2345 | 23.45% |
DD-MMM-YYYY | 2026-04-17 | 17-Apr-2026 |
[Red]#,##0;[Blue]-#,##0 | -500 | -500 (blue) |
0000 | 42 | 0042 |
The format engine is numfmt — compatible with all standard Excel number format strings.
Clearing a Format
Select cells → Format tab → Clear Format. Returns to General (no special formatting).
Persistence
Number formats are stored in format_store in your user settings and in any saved workbook. They persist across sessions.