How to Apply Accounting Number Format in Excel (4 Easy Ways)

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If you are looking for how to apply the accounting number format, then you are in the right place. In this article, we’ll try to discuss how to apply the accounting number format in Excel.


What Is Accounting Number Format?

The Accounting Number Format is similar to the Currency format and can be applied to numbers where needed. The difference between accounting and currency formats is that the Accounting format puts the dollar sign, for example, at the far left end of the cell, and displays zero as a dash. So, let’s look at a simple example in order to see how to apply the accounting number format in Excel.


How to Apply Accounting Number Format in Excel: 4 Ways

Excel offers various ways to apply accounting number format. To discuss this we have made a dataset named Dataset of fixed asset which includes column headers as Asset Type and Amount. The dataset is like this.

how to apply accounting number format in excel


1. Using Number Ribbon Group

In the beginning method, we can use the Number ribbon group to apply the accounting format.
We need to change the format type of the values in the Amount column.

Using Number Ribbon Group to Apply Accounting Number Format in Excel

Steps:

  • Firstly, select the cells that we want to change. In this case, it is C5:C10.
  • Secondly, go to Home > click the drop-down dollar sign > choose $ English (United States) or you can select any option from here.

Using Number Ribbon Group to Apply Accounting Number Format in Excel

Consequently, we’ll see that all the digits are changed to accounting format.


2. Utilizing Drop-Down Menu

Using the drop-down menu is another option to apply the accounting format.

  • Firstly, select the range.
  • Secondly, go to Home > click the drop-down option shown in the figure > choose Accounting.

Utilizing Drop-Down Menu

  • Eventually, the accounting format of the values will be like this.

Read More: How to Convert Accounting Format to Number Format in Excel


3. Using Format Cells

We can also directly use the Format Cells option. This method is also very easy to use.

Steps:

  • Firstly, select the range.
  • Secondly, right-click on the range > choose Format Cells.

Using Format Cells

  • Eventually, a Format Cells window will appear.
  • Thirdly, go to Number > select Accounting > set 2 in the Decimal Place box > select $ as Symbol.
  • Fourthly, click OK.
    Note: Also, you can press CTRL + 1 to open the Format Cells dialog box.

Consequently, our desired accounting format will be like this.

Read More: How to Center Accounting Format in Excel


4. Keyboard Shortcut

Excel has a wonderful keyboard shortcut to apply accounting format.
Suppose, we need to apply an accounting format in the cells shown below.

Keyboard Shortcut to Apply Accounting Number Format in Excel

  • Firstly, we have to select the range.
  • Secondly, we just need to press ALT + H + A + N + ENTER.
    As a result, we will find our accounting format in the selected range.

Keyboard Shortcut to Apply Accounting Number Format in Excel

Read More: How to Make Negative Accounting Numbers Red in Excel


How to Apply Accounting Number Format to the Selected Cells

Sometimes, we need to apply an accounting format to some selected cells. This is also easy to use. We just need to select multiple desired distinct cells at a time. Suppose we need to apply accounting format in the C6, C8, and C9 cells.

Apply Accounting Number Format to the Selected Cells

Steps:

  • Firstly, select the C6, C8, and C9 cells at a time while holding the CTRL key.
  • Secondly, right-click on any of the selected cells.
  • Thirdly, choose Format Cells.

Apply Accounting Number Format to the Selected Cells

  • Fourthly, go to Number > select Accounting > set 2 in the Decimal Place box > select $ as Symbol.
  • Fifthly, click OK.

Eventually, we’ll see that the accounting format is added only to the selected cells.

Read More: How to Simultaneously Apply Accounting Number Format in Excel


How to Apply Accounting Number Format with 0 Digits After the Decimal

If we want to apply an Accounting Number Format with 0 digits after the decimal, Excel offers a couple of ways to do that.
Here, we have already applied the accounting number format to the cells C5:C10 following any of the methods described above. We just need to delete the digits after the decimal.

Apply Accounting Number Format with 0 Digits After the Decimal

One thing we can do is we just need to change the Decimal Place box to 0 of the Format Cells box.

Apply Accounting Number Format with 0 Digits After the Decimal

And after clicking OK, we’ll see that there are 0 digits after the decimal place.

Alternatively, we can do it in another way that we just need to select the range and then click the icon marked in the Number box. The number of clicks should be equal to the number of digits after decimal.


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Conclusion

We can apply the accounting number format very easily if we study this article correctly. If you have any suggestions or feedback, please let me know in the comment box.


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Taryn Nefdt
Taryn Nefdt

Taryn is a Microsoft Certified Professional, who has used Office Applications such as Excel and Access extensively, in her interdisciplinary academic career and work experience. She has a background in biochemistry, Geographical Information Systems (GIS), and biofuels. She enjoys showcasing the functionality of Excel in various disciplines. She has over ten years of experience using Excel and Access to create advanced integrated solutions.

1 Comment
  1. Excellent tutorial. Thanks for sharing the valuable content.

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