Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here: Number Formatting Shortcuts.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated February 19, 2024)
This tip applies to Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021
The typical way that people apply formatting to cells is to use the tools on the ribbons or to display the Format Cells dialog box and make formatting choices. For those who prefer to not remove their hands from the keyboard, however, Excel also provides a number of handy shortcuts you can use to format your cells.
| Shortcut | Effect | |
|---|---|---|
| Ctrl+Shift+~ | General format | |
| Ctrl+Shift+! | Number format with two decimal places and thousands separator | |
| Ctrl+Shift+$ | Currency format with two decimal places and negatives in parentheses | |
| Ctrl+Shift+# | Date format | |
| Ctrl+Shift+@ | Time format with minutes and am/pm | |
| Ctrl+Shift+% | Percentage format with no decimal places | |
| Ctrl+Shift+^ | Scientific notation with two decimal places |
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (10428) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Number Formatting Shortcuts.
Save Time and Supercharge Excel! Automate virtually any routine task and save yourself hours, days, maybe even weeks. Then, learn how to make Excel do things you thought were simply impossible! Mastering advanced Excel macros has never been easier. Check out Excel 2010 VBA and Macros today!
When you enter something into a cell, Excel tries to figure out if your entry should be formatted in a particular way. ...
Discover MoreWhen your macro checks the formatting used for a cell, it needs to be careful that the type of formatting being checked ...
Discover MoreEnter a fraction into Excel, and you may be surprised that the program reduces the faction to its simplest form. If you ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2024-02-19 11:15:00
J-M J
It would be great to know these shortcuts for non-American keyboards! Does anybody knows if a "translation" exists somewhere (MS, for example ) ?
Thank you!
2020-07-28 05:50:53
Peter Atherton
Sholom
I think the quickest way is the using the mouse, but format to two decimal places and then use ALT + H + 9. This reduces by 1 dp. then repeat for the next.
2020-07-27 08:47:51
Sholom Michael
Nice tip! What's the quickest way to get the number format with no decimal places and thousands separator?
Got a version of Excel that uses the ribbon interface (Excel 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the menu interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here:
Comments