How to apply General number format in Excel

The Accounting number format is also known as the Currency format in Excel. But there is a difference between those two. Also, the Currency format is the only general currency format. Still, the Accounting number format is the proper Currency format with the option to have decimal values, which are two by default.

For example, spreadsheets that contain currency, like a balance sheet and an income statement, are tricky to create. Sometimes, decimals, dollar signs, and numbers are not aligned, creating confusion. Hence, the accounting format is much preferable for this purpose.

The Accounting number format in Excel is like the Currency format and can be connected to numbers wherever required. The contrast between the Accounting number format and the Currency format is that the Accounting format inserts the dollar sign. For instance, the extreme left end of the cell showcases zero as a dash. However, the format numbers are the same as the currency.

• You can show a number with the default currency symbol by choosing the cell or the scope of cells. After that, click on Excel.
• It has several contrasts that make it less demanding to do accounting. For example, demonstrating zero values as dashes, adjusting all the currency symbols and decimal places, and showing negative sums in enclosures.
• Excel’s standard Accounting number format contains two decimal points and a thousand separators and locks the dollar sign to the extreme left half of the cell. Negative numbers are shown in enclosures.
• To apply the Excel Accounting number format in a spreadsheet program, feature every cell and click “Accounting Number Format” under formatting choices.

Table of contents

• What is the Accounting Number Format Excel?
  • How to Apply Accounting Number Format in Excel?
  • Shortcut Keys to Use Accounting Number Format in Excel
  • Advantages of Using Accounting Number Format in Excel
  • Disadvantages of Using Accounting Number Format in Excel
  • Things to Remember While Using Accounting Number Format Excel
  • Recommended Articles

How to Apply Accounting Number Format in Excel?

You can download this Accounting Number Format Excel Template here – Accounting Number Format Excel Template

Below are the steps for applying for the account number in Excel: –

1. Enter the values in Excel to use the Accounting number format.

   
   

2. First, we can use the Accounting number format in Excel in the “Account Number Format” button on the “Home tab” of the ribbon. Select the cells, click on the “Home” tab, and select “Accounting” from the Number Format drop-down.

   
   

3. On clicking on “Accounting”, it may give us the accounting format value.

   
   

4. If you want to remove the decimal, click on the ‘Decrease Decimal’ option.

   
   

5. We can see the value without decimals by removing the decimal below.

   
   

6. We can also remove the dollar or currency symbol from a value. To do that, press right-click and go to the “Format Cells” option in the dialog box.

   
   

7. Choose the “Accounting” option under the “Format Cells.” Choose the symbol. Choose “None” if the dollar sign with values is not needed. Then, click OK.

   
   

8. Below is the formatted data after removing symbols and decimal points.

   
   

Shortcut Keys to Use Accounting Number Format in Excel

• Select the cells which need a format.
• Press the Alt key that enables the commands on the ExcelCommands On The ExcelVLOOKUP function, IF condition, CONCATENATE function, find MAXIMUM and MINIMUM values are the most commonly used excel commands.read more ribbon.

• Press H to select the Home tab in the Excel ribbonExcel RibbonThe ribbon is an element of the UI [User Interface] which is seen as a strip that consists of buttons or tabs; it is available at the top of the excel sheet. This option was first introduced in the Microsoft Excel 2007.read more enabling Excel’s Home tab.
• Press 9 to decrease the decimal point in values, and press 0 to increase.
• To open the format cells dialog box, press Ctrl+1.
•  Click ‘None’ under option format cellsFormat CellsFormatting cells is an important technique to master because it makes any data presentable, crisp, and in the user's preferred format. The formatting of the cell depends upon the nature of the data present.read more to show a monetary value Monetary ValueMonetary value refers to the value of a product or service measured in terms of money. read more without a currency symbol.
• Similar to the Currency format, the accounting group is utilized for financial qualities. In any case, this arrangement adjusts the currency symbol and decimal purposes of numbers in a section. Likewise, the accounting design shows zeros as dashes and negative numbers in brackets. Like the currency organization, we can determine the number of decimal spots needed and whether to utilize a thousand separators. We cannot change the default show of negative numbers except if we make a custom number organization.

Advantages of Using Accounting Number Format in Excel

• It helps to customize it with or without the symbol.
• It helps in showing the correct value with decimal points.
• It is just a three-step process.
• It is effortless and convenient to use.

Disadvantages of Using Accounting Number Format in Excel

1. This Excel function always provides the number format with a thousand separators.
2. It enables the default currency and decimal points while using this function.

Things to Remember While Using Accounting Number Format Excel

1. Instead of choosing a range of cells, likewise can be tapped on the letter over a column to select the whole column or the number next to a column to select an entire row. Again, tap the little box to one side of “A” or above “1” to choose the whole spreadsheet.
2. Always check to remove unnecessary symbols.
3. Decimal is the user’s choice to put them in values.
4. A custom Excel number format changes the visual representation, such as how a cell’s value is shown. The primary value put away in a cell is not changed.
5. A duplicate of that format is created when modifying work in Excel format. The first number format cannot be changed or erased.
6. Custom number formats only affect how a number is shown in the worksheet and do not affect the original value of the number.
7. Any cells showing in the workbook formatted with the removed custom format can be shown in the default general format in the workbook.

Recommended Articles

This article is a guide to an Accounting Number Format in Excel. We discuss how to apply accounting number format, examples, and downloadable templates. You may learn more about excel from the following articles: –

• Format Number in VBAFormat Number In VBAThe Format function in VBA is used to format the given values in the desired format. This function has two mandatory arguments: the first is the input, which is in the form of a string, and the second is the type of format we want to use. For example, if we use Format [.99,” Percent”], the result will be 99%.read more
• Types of Custom Number Format in ExcelTypes Of Custom Number Format In ExcelExcel custom number formatting is nothing but making the data look better or visually appealing. Excel has many inbuilt number formatting. On top of this, we can customize the Excel number formatting by changing the format of the numbers.read more
• Types of File Formats in ExcelTypes Of File Formats In ExcelExcel extensions represent the file format. It helps the user to save different types of excel files in various formats. For instance, .xlsx is used for simple data, and XLSM is used to store the VBA code.read more
• Auto Format Excel – How to?Auto Format Excel - How To?The AutoFormat option in Excel is a unique way of formatting data quickly.read more
• IF AND in ExcelIF AND In ExcelThe IF AND excel formula is the combination of two different logical functions often nested together that enables the user to evaluate multiple conditions using AND functions. Based on the output of the AND function, the IF function returns either the “true” or “false” value, respectively.