How to Change Currency Symbol in Excel (2 Ways)

Currency symbols act as visual cues, overcoming language barriers and offering a standardized way to interpret numerical information. Using currency symbols to represent the monetary unit and provide uniformity across various datasets is an important part of displaying financial data. For both experts and amateurs seeking accuracy and versatility in their financial reporting, knowing the complexities of currency symbols is essential. You may need to change currency symbols based on region, audience, reporting requirements, etc. as different countries use different currencies. This Excel tutorial explores 2 ways to change currency symbols in Excel. In the following image, a dataset of Employee List contains three columns: ID, Name, and Monthly Salary. Since dollar ($) is Excel’s default currency symbol, the Monthly Salary figures are shown in dollars which have then been changed to euros. The next section demonstrates a few ways to change currency symbols in Excel.

2 Ways to Change Currency Symbol in Excel

In this section, you will learn 2 ways to change currency symbols in Excel which include using Format Cells dialog box and using Accounting Number Format drop-down.

Using Format Cells Dialog Box

The Format Cells dialog box allows you to change the format and currency symbol of your data from an extensive list of currencies provided by Excel. Through this feature, your values will remain in Currency format, but you will be able to change the currency symbol. To change currency symbols using Format Cells dialog box, follow these steps:

Select your data range.
Go to Home tab > Number group > Dialog Box Launcher. You can also press Ctrl+1 keys to launch the Format Cells dialog box. The Format Cells dialog box will appear.
In the Format Cells dialog box:
- Go to Number tab > Currency Category > Symbol drop-down.
- Select the desired currency symbol.
- Click OK.

Thus, the dollar symbol will be changed to your selected symbol.

Using Accounting Number Format Drop-down

The Accounting Number Format drop-down allows you to change the currency symbol of your data in one click. However, it is important to note that this approach will change your data to Accounting format. Here’s how to use the Accounting Number Format drop-down to change currency symbols in Excel:

Select your data range.
Go to Home tab > Number group.
Choose the Accounting Number Format drop-down or the ‘$’ icon drop-down.
Choose the desired currency symbol.

Thus, the currency symbol will be changed, and you can see that your data will be converted to Accounting format automatically as below.

Download Practice Workbook You can download the following practice workbook from below to follow along:

Changing Currency Symbol.xlsx

Conclusion

Currency symbols play a crucial role in maintaining consistency and clarity in the display of financial data. This article has provided 2 simple ways to change currency symbols in Excel: using Format Cells dialogue box and using the Accounting Number Format drop-down. Feel free to leave your queries down below!

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing currency symbols affect the actual values in Excel?

No, changing currency symbols does not alter the actual numeric values in your workbook. It only modifies how the values are displayed.

Will changing currency symbols affect calculations or formulas in Excel?

No, changing the currency symbol in Excel has no effect on formulas or calculations. Excel interprets numerical numbers independently without regard to formatting.

Are there limitations to changing currency symbols in Excel?

Certain symbols may be associated with specific regional formats. When working with non-standard currencies or formatting requirements, certain limitations could occur.

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