Make numbers easier to read at a glance
Displaying the same number as currency, a date, or a percentage β whichever fits the data β makes it much easier to understand at a glance. Formatting only changes how a value is displayed, not the actual value, so it has no effect on any calculations.
Custom format codes go further than the presets
Beyond the built-in categories, Excel also lets you build a custom number format code for cases the presets don't quite cover, like showing negative numbers in red or adding your own unit label after a number.
Frequently Asked Questions
I changed the formatting and now the value looks wrong. What happened?
Formatting only changes how a value is displayed, not the value itself, so check the formula bar to confirm what the underlying number actually is.
Can I apply the same format to several cells at once?
Yes. Select every cell you want to format and press Ctrl+1 to apply the same formatting to all of them simultaneously.