How to Change the Number of Decimal Places in Excel

Round a number to the exact amount of decimal spaces you want

by
Ted French
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Former Lifewire writer Ted French is a Microsoft Certified Professional who teaches and writes about spreadsheets and spreadsheet programs.
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Ted French
Updated on December 18, 2020

What to Know

  • Easiest way: On the Home tab, click Increase Decimal or Decrease Decimal to show more or fewer digits after the decimal point.
  • Create a rule: Go to Home > Number group, select down arrow > More Number Formats. Choose a category and enter decimal places.
  • Set a default: Go to Options > Advanced > Editing Options > Automatically insert a decimal point. Fill in the Places box.

This article explains how to change the number of decimal places displayed in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. Instructions apply to Excel 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, and 2007; Excel for Mac 2016 and 2011; Excel for the web; Excel for Microsoft 365 and Excel for Microsoft 365 for Mac; and Excel Mobile.

Use the Increase Decimal and Decrease Decimal Buttons

For numbers you've already entered in a worksheet, increase or decrease the number of decimal places displayed by using the toolbar buttons.

  1. Open Excel to your current worksheet

  2. Select the cells you want to format.

  3. On the Home tab, select Increase Decimal or Decrease Decimal to show more or fewer digits after the decimal point.

    Increase and Decrease Decimal buttons in Excel

    Each selection or click adds or removes a decimal place.

  4. Your new decimal places setting is now in effect.

Apply a Built-In Number Format

In desktop versions of Excel, create custom decimal rules for the various built-in number types using the Number Format dialog box. 

  1. On the Home tab, in the Number group, select the arrow next to the list of number formats, and then select More Number Formats.

  2. In the Category list, depending on the type of data you have, select Currency, Accounting, Percentage, or Scientific.

    Specify the Decimal Places for Built-in Number Formats

  3. In the Decimal places box, enter the number of decimal places you want to display.

  4. Your new decimal places setting is now in effect.

Set a Default Decimal Places Number

If you have a preference and want to set the number of decimal places to display automatically:

This feature isn't available in Excel for web.

  1. Select Options. (In older versions of Excel, select the Microsoft Office Button  > Excel Options.)

  2. In the Advanced category, under Editing options, select the Automatically insert a decimal point checkbox.

    Specify a Fixed Decimal Point for All Numbers in a Worksheet

  3. In the Places box, enter a positive number for digits to the right of the decimal point or a negative number for digits to the left of the decimal point.

  4. Select OK.

    The Fixed decimal indicator appears in the status bar.

  5. On the worksheet, click a cell, and then type the number that you want.

    The change doesn't affect any data entered before you select a fixed decimal.

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