How to Make Negative Numbers Red in Excel (4 Easy Ways)

Let’s use a dataset (B4:D8) in Excel that contains the Main Balance, Transaction and Present Balance. We can see 3 negative numbers in cells C5, C6, and C8 respectively. Now, we will make these negative numbers red by using some features in Excel.

how to make negative numbers red in excel

Method 1 – Using Conditional Formatting to Make Negative Numbers Red in Excel

Steps:

Select the range (C5:C8) where you want to apply Conditional Formatting.
Go to the Home tab.
Click on the Conditional Formatting dropdown in the Styles group.
Select New Rule from the dropdown.

Use Conditional Formatting to Make Negative Numbers Red in Excel

The New Formatting Rule dialog box will pop up.
Click on ‘Format only cells that contain’ from the Select a Rule Type section.
Go to the Format only cells with section and select Cell Value and less than for the first two sections from the dropdown.
In the third section, type 0.
Click on Format to choose the font color.

The Format Cells dialog box will appear.
Go to the Font tab and choose a Red color from the dropdown.
Click OK.

You should see the red font color in the Preview section.
Click OK to apply the formatting in the selected range (C5:C8).

Here are the negative numbers in cells C5, C6 and C8 in a red color.

Method 2 – Showing Negative Numbers in Red with Built-In Excel Functionality

Steps:

Select the specific range (C5:C8) where you have the negative numbers.
Go to the Home tab.
Go to the Number group and click on the Number Format dialog launcher.
Choose the Dialog launcher at the bottom right of the group.

The Format Cells dialog box will show up.
Go to the Number tab.
Select Number from the Category section.
Go to the Negative numbers section.
Select the number with red color.
Click OK.

This makes the negative numbers red.

Method 3 – Creating a Custom Number Format to Mark Negative Numbers in Red

Steps:

Select the desired range (C5:C8).
Go to the Home tab and click on the Number Format dialog launcher.

You’ll see the Format Cells dialog box.
Go to the Number tab.
Select Custom in the Category section.
Select the Type box on the right.
Insert the following line in the box: General;[Red]-General
Click the OK button.

All the negative numbers of the selection are expressed in red.

Method 4 – Applying Excel VBA to Make Negative Numbers Red

Steps:

Select the range C5:C8.
Go to the Developer tab.
Click on Visual Basic.

The Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window will open up.
Click on Insert and select Module.

The Module1 window will appear.
Insert the following code in the window:

Sub NegativeNumberAsRed()
Dim cells As range
For Each cells In Selection
If cells.Value < 0 Then
cells.Font.Color = vbRed
Else
cells.Font.Color = vbBlack
End If
Next cells
End Sub