Removing Decimal Places in Excel
Removing decimal places in Excel can be super easy. You just need to know where to tweak the settings. By the end of this guide, you’ll be able to change numbers from having decimal places to being whole numbers. Whether you need this for a school project, personal finance tracking, or business reports, this guide has got you covered.
Step-by-Step Tutorial: Removing Decimal Places in Excel
In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to remove decimal places from numbers in Excel. Follow these steps to quickly achieve your goal.
Step 1: Open Your Excel File
Open the Excel file where you want to remove the decimal places.
This seems like a no-brainer, but make sure the spreadsheet you need to work on is open and accessible. If you don’t have Excel, you can use Google Sheets or another spreadsheet software that supports Excel files.
Step 2: Select the Cells with Decimals
Highlight the cells that contain the numbers you want to change.
Click and drag to select multiple cells or use Ctrl + click to select individual cells. This will let Excel know which numbers you want to modify.
Step 3: Right-Click and Choose "Format Cells"
Right-click on the highlighted cells and select "Format Cells" from the context menu.
A dialog box will appear, giving you various formatting options. This is where you’ll make your changes to remove the decimal places.
Step 4: Choose "Number" Category
In the "Format Cells" dialog box, go to the "Number" tab and select "Number" from the list of categories.
This will show you the formatting options specifically for numbers. Here, you can define how many decimal places should be displayed.
Step 5: Set Decimal Places to 0
In the "Decimal places" box, change the value to 0.
This will round the numbers to the nearest whole number, effectively removing the decimal places. Click "OK" to apply the changes.
Step 6: Verify the Changes
Check the cells to ensure that the decimal places have been removed.
Go through your selected cells to confirm that the numbers are now whole numbers. If something doesn’t look right, you can always go back and make adjustments.
After completing these steps, your numbers should now be displayed without any decimal places. This can make your data easier to read and more presentable, especially for reports or sharing with others.
Tips for Removing Decimal Places in Excel
Here are some additional tips to help you when removing decimal places in Excel:
- Use Rounding Functions: You can also use Excel functions like ROUND, ROUNDDOWN, or ROUNDUP for more control over how numbers are rounded.
- Format as Currency: If you’re working with money, formatting the cells as currency might automatically remove decimals.
- Shortcut Keys: Quick formatting can be done using shortcut keys like Ctrl + 1 to bring up the Format Cells dialog.
- Find and Replace: For large datasets, consider using the Find and Replace feature to find decimals and replace them with whole numbers.
- Custom Formats: Use custom number formats for more advanced formatting options, like showing numbers without decimals but with a specific style.
Frequently Asked Questions about Removing Decimal Places in Excel
How do I permanently remove decimals from my data?
You can use the ROUND function to create a new column with rounded numbers, and then copy and paste these values over the original data.
Can I use conditional formatting to remove decimals?
No, conditional formatting changes the appearance of cells based on rules but doesn’t modify the actual data.
Will changing the format affect my formulas?
Formatting changes how numbers are displayed but not how they are stored. Your formulas should still work correctly.
What if my numbers still have decimals after following the steps?
Ensure you clicked "OK" in the "Format Cells" dialog. Also, check if the cells are formatted as text, which might override your number formatting.
Can I apply this to a whole column?
Yes, you can select an entire column by clicking the column header and then apply the formatting changes.
Summary
- Open your Excel file.
- Select the cells with decimals.
- Right-click and choose "Format Cells."
- Choose "Number" category.
- Set decimal places to 0.
- Verify the changes.
Conclusion
Congrats! You’ve just learned how to remove decimal places in Excel. It might seem like a small detail, but these tiny tweaks can make a huge difference in how your data looks and functions. The ability to format numbers precisely can help you create more professional and accurate spreadsheets.
If you found this tutorial helpful, why not explore more advanced Excel functions like creating pivot tables or using VLOOKUP? Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be an Excel pro, impressing your teachers, colleagues, or even yourself with your skills. Happy Excel-ing!
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.