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Abstract 

In this lesson, we cover shortcuts you can use to apply key Excel number formats: General, Number, Currency, Date, Time, and Percentage.

Transcript 

In this video, we'll look at shortcuts that Excel provides for applying number formatting.

First, just to recap, number formats control how a number is displayed, but they have no effect on the number's value. You can find a list of available number formats on the home tab of the ribbon.

Or you can use Control + 1 (command + 1 on a Mac) to see a list of number formats there.

Seven of these number formats have dedicated shortcuts, and they all begin with Control + Shift.

To apply the Currency number format, use Control + Shift + $

To apply the Percentage format, use Control + Shift + %

To apply the Scientific number format, use Control + Shift + ^

This is the same character that's used for exponents in Excel.

To apply the date number format, use Control + Shift + #

To apply the Time number format, use Control + Shift + @

And to apply the Number format, which applies decimals and commas, use Control + Shift + !

Finally, to revert a number back to the General format, use Control + Shift + ~

There are no dedicated keyboard shortcuts for increasing or decreasing decimal places in numbers. However, in Windows, you can use these ribbon shortcuts:

To increase decimal places, use Alt + H 0 
To decrease decimal places by one place, use Alt + H 9

You can also use Format Cells to set the number of decimal places exactly.
 

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Dave Bruns

Hi - I'm Dave Bruns, and I run Exceljet with my wife, Lisa. Our goal is to help you work faster in Excel. We create short videos, and clear examples of formulas, functions, pivot tables, conditional formatting, and charts.