Excel is one of the most famous tools used by accountants. It helps them to manage financial data easily. And the best thing is that it also helps them to compile their financial statements.

Sometimes, accountants might find it difficult to read financial data in Excel. And if they want to present it to their clients, they might need to apply some formatting.

To make it look more impressive, accountants can use number formats in Excel. And it can make their works beautiful a blog to explain how to apply accounting number format in excel.

By using the accounting number format, you can make data entry easier and faster. It can make a data set more consistent and clearer.

What is the Accounting Format in Excel?

The Accounting format is similar to the Currency Format in that it can be used with numbers. The Accounting format differs from the Currency format in that the Accounting format, for example, places the dollar sign at the far-left end of the cell and displays zero as a dash. So, let’s have a look at a basic example to see how to apply the Accounting number format in Excel.

The Accounting number format can be applied to numbers in your spreadsheet in three ways in Excel:

• By using the Accounting Button
• Using the drop-down in the Number group
• By using the Format Cells dialogue box

Let’s take a closer look at each of the strategies listed above one by one. The dataset below will be used to showcase all three methods:

Using the Accounting Button to Apply Accounting Number Format

This is the simplest and most efficient method of using the accounting number format. Follow the steps below to use this method:

• Choose the cells you want to format.
• The Home tab should be selected.
• The Accounting number format shortcut button is located in the Number group (represented by a dollar sign).
• Go to the Home page and then to the Dollar symbol. If you want to use the dollar sign, click the button. If you’d like to use a different currency symbol, click the dropdown arrow next to the button and choose the appropriate currency from the dropdown list that displays. Choose the currency you want to display.

• The Accounting number format should now be applied to your selected cells. Your currency symbol will be found on the far left of the selected cells. Each cell has a dollar sign to the left of it.

• You’ll also see that the number has been formatted with two decimal places. You can change the number of decimal places by clicking the ‘Increase decimal’ or ‘Decrease decimal’ buttons, depending on your needs. Reduce the decimal value by clicking on it.
• A thousand separators will also be visible. You can’t remove the separator from your number if it’s in the Accounting number format.

Note that if you apply the format to a blank cell, any subsequent numbers added to the cell will be formatted in the Accounting number format automatically.

Using the Drop-down in the Number Group

Another quick way to format numbers in your spreadsheet is to use the dropdown menu situated directly above the Accounting number button in the Number group (under the Home tab).

Follow the steps below to use this method:

• Choose the cells you want to format from the drop-down menu.
• Select the Home tab
• The format dropdown menu can be found under the Number group.

• Selecting the option brings up a range of several formats that you can use on the cells you’ve chosen.
• From the dropdown menu, select the ‘Accounting’ option.

• The Accounting number format should now be applied to your selected cells. The currency sign can be found on the extreme left of the selected cells. Each cell has a dollar sign to the left of it.
• If you want to use a different currency symbol, click the dropdown arrow next to the dollar sign (‘$’) and choose the appropriate currency from the selection list that displays. Choose the currency you want to display.
• You’ll also see that the number has been formatted with two decimal places. You can change the number of decimal places by clicking the ‘Increase decimal’ or ‘Decrease decimal’ buttons, depending on your needs. Reduce the decimal value by clicking on it.
• A thousand separators will also be visible. You can’t remove the separator from your number if it’s in the Accounting number format.

Using the Format Cells Dialog Box

The Format cells dialogue box is a versatile dialogue box that allows you to do all of the formattings for a cell or a group of cells in one location (including alignment, font, borders, and so on).

Follow the steps below to apply the Accounting number format to your cells using the Format cells dialogue box.

• Choose the cells you want to format from the drop-down menu.
• Right-click on the item you want to change.
• Select the ‘Format cells’ option from the context menu that opens. Format cells by right-clicking and selecting Format Cells from the menu.

• The Format Cells dialogue box will appear.
• Select the ‘Number’ tab from the dialogue box.
• Select the ‘Accounting’ option from the ‘Categories’ menu.

• On the right-hand side of the dialogue box, a sample will appear so you can see how your number will look after formatting.
• The number should be formatted with a dollar symbol by default. If you want to use a different currency symbol, click the dropdown menu next to ‘Symbol’ and choose the appropriate currency from the list that appears.
• You’ll also see that the number has been formatted with two decimal places. By pressing the up or down arrows next to ‘Decimal places,’ you can raise or decrease the number of decimal places to meet your needs. Indicate how many decimals you want.
• To close the Format cells dialogue box, click OK.
• The Accounting number format should now be applied to your selected cells.

FAQs: How to Apply Accounting Number Format in Excel?

How do you do the percent number format?

To open the Format Cells dialogue box, click the icon next to Number on the Home tab, in the Number group.

Click Percentage in the Category list of the Format Cells dialogue box. Enter the number of decimal places you want to show in the Decimal places box.

Where is the comma style number format in Excel?

The Comma Style format is found in the Home tab’s Number format section. The thousands separator is also known as the comma style format.

Conclusion

When you come to know how to apply accounting number format in Excel it will make your work quite simple and uncomplicated.

The Accounting format can be used to create financial statements, balance sheets, and other accounting-related documents.

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