Accounting Number Format Excel

Accounting Number Format in Excel: How to Use and Customize It

The Accounting Number Format in Excel is a specialized formatting option that improves the readability of financial data by aligning currency symbols and decimal points. It is commonly used in financial reports, balance sheets, and accounting spreadsheets to ensure consistency and clarity in numerical data.

What is the Accounting Number Format in Excel?

The Accounting Number Format in Excel is a preset formatting style designed for financial data. Unlike the standard Currency format, it aligns decimal points and currency symbols in a column, making the numbers easier to compare.

Key Features of the Accounting Format

• Aligns currency symbols to the left of the cell.
• Aligns decimal points for better readability.
• Displays zero values as dashes (-) instead of “0.00.”
• Uses parentheses for negative numbers (optional).

This format is ideal for financial statements, invoices, and budget reports where proper alignment of values is essential.

How to Apply the Accounting Number Format in Excel

1. Using the Ribbon Toolbar

1. Select the cells or range you want to format.
2. Go to the Home tab.
3. In the Number group, click the Accounting Number Format icon (a “$” symbol).
4. The selected numbers will be formatted in the default accounting style.

2. Using the Format Cells Dialog Box

For more customization, use the Format Cells option:

1. Select the cells or range you want to format.
2. Right-click and choose Format Cells, or press Ctrl + 1.
3. In the Number tab, select Accounting from the list.
4. Choose the decimal places (default is 2).
5. Select the desired currency symbol or choose None for no symbol.
6. Click OK to apply the format.

3. Using the Accounting Format Without a Currency Symbol

If you want the accounting format but without a currency symbol:

1. Select the cells you want to format.
2. Open Format Cells (Ctrl + 1).
3. Select Accounting and choose None from the currency symbol dropdown.
4. Click OK to apply the format.

This is useful when dealing with financial data that doesn’t require currency symbols, such as inventory values or financial ratios.

Accounting Format vs. Currency Format in Excel

Feature	Accounting Format	Currency Format
Currency symbol alignment	Left-aligned	Next to the number
Decimal point alignment	Yes	No
Zero values displayed as	Dash (-)	0.00
Negative numbers format	(1,234.56) (optional)	-1,234.56 or ($1,234.56)

The Currency Format is more flexible but does not align decimal points, which can make large datasets harder to read. The Accounting Format is best for professional financial documents.

How to Customize the Accounting Number Format in Excel

1. Changing the Currency Symbol

By default, Excel applies the dollar ($) symbol, but you can change it to another currency:

1. Select the cells to format.
2. Press Ctrl + 1 to open the Format Cells window.
3. Under Accounting, click the Currency Symbol dropdown.
4. Select your desired currency (€, £, ¥, etc.).
5. Click OK to apply the changes.

2. Adjusting Decimal Places

You can customize the number of decimal places displayed:

1. Select the cells with the Accounting format.
2. Go to the Home tab.
3. In the Number group, click Increase Decimal or Decrease Decimal.
4. The number format will adjust accordingly.

3. Displaying Negative Numbers in Parentheses

By default, negative numbers in Accounting Format appear with a minus sign, but you can change them to parentheses:

1. Select the cells with negative numbers.
2. Press Ctrl + 1 to open Format Cells.
3. Under Custom, enter this format: