How to use accounting formatting in Excel

In this lesson we'll take a look at the Accounting format. Like the Currency format, the Accounting number format is designed for numbers with currency symbols. The main difference between Currency and Accounting formats is that Accounting aligns currency symbols to the left in each cell, and displays zero values with a hyphen.

Let's take a look.

Let's start off by copying a set of numbers in General format across our table.

Then let's apply Accounting format to the columns C through H. The easiest way to apply Accounting is to use the Number Format menu on the ribbon.

Now let's select cells in column D and check the options available for Accounting in the Format Cells dialog box. Like the Currency format, the Accounting format provides options for decimal places and a currency symbol, and it automatically uses a comma to separate thousandths. Unlike Currency, there are no options for negative numbers. The Accounting format places parentheses around all negative numbers by default.

Let's set decimal places to zero. Like Number and Currency formats, we can also adjust decimal places up and down on the ribbon.

Because parentheses are automatic for negative numbers, there are no options to set in column E.

When it comes to setting the currency symbol for the Accounting format, we have some new options. There are shortcuts on the ribbon for several common currency symbols, and we can use these shortcuts for the British Pound and Euro.

Remember, using these buttons will automatically apply the Accounting number format, if it's not already applied.

To set a currency symbol of None, or to set other currencies, use the Format Cells dialog box.