How to Center Numbers and Have Decimals Line Up in Excel

Last reviewed: July 24, 1996
Article ID: Q44737
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 2.x, 3.x, 4.x, 5.0, 5.0c
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows NT, version 5.0
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, version 7.0

SUMMARY

In Microsoft Excel, you can center your data in a column on a worksheet so that the decimals appear to line up.

MORE INFORMATION

To give the illusion that your data is centered with decimals aligned, create a custom number format by doing the following:

  1. Select the cells to be centered.

  2. In Microsoft Excel versions 5.0 and later, click Cells on the Format menu, and then click the Number tab.

    In Microsoft Excel versions 2.x, 3.x and 4.x, click Number on the Format menu.

  3. In the Code box, type the following (without the quotation marks):

          "#.00     "
    
       Adjust the spaces following the number format to make the data
       appear centered according to the current column width.
    
    

  4. Click OK to save the new format and make the change.

To center data in a cell without aligning decimal places, do the following:

  1. Select the range to be centered.

  2. In Microsoft Excel version 5.0 and later, click Cell on the Format menu, and click the Alignment tab.

    In Microsoft Excel versions 2.x, 3.0 and 4.0, click Alignment on the Format menu.

  3. Under Horizontal, select the Center option and click OK.


KBCategory: kbusage
KBSubcategory:

Additional reference words: 7.00 2.00 2.0 2.01 2.1 2.10 2.2 2.21 2.20 3.00
3.0 4.00 4.0 4.00a 5.00


THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Last reviewed: July 24, 1996
© 1998 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.