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Display decimals only when the number is less than 1 [Excel number formatting tip]

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Here is a quick excel number formatting tip. If you ever want to format numbers in such a way that it shows decimal values only if the number is less than 1 you can use conditional custom cell formatting (do not confuse with conditional formatting).

Here is an example:

number-formatting-tip-conditionally-showing-decimals

In such cases you can use conditions in custom cell formatting.

  • excel-cell-custom-formattingFirst select the numbers you want to format, hit CTRL+1 (or right mouse click > format cells)
  • In the “Number” tab, select category as “custom”
  • Now, write the formatting condition for custom formatting the cell. In our case the condition looks like [<1]_($#,##0.00_);_($#,##0_). See to the right. what it means is, if the cell value is less than 1 then format the cell in $#,##0.00 format otherwise format as $#,##0. Excel cell formatting is a tricky business and if you want to master it there is no better source than Peltier's article on Custom Number Formats.

More excel tips on formatting:

Formatting numbers in excel - few tips
Custom Cell formatting in Excel - Quick tips

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13 Responses to “Display decimals only when the number is less than 1 [Excel number formatting tip]”

  1. Jon Peltier says:

    The problem with that format is that the numbers are poorly aligned. If you adjust the custom format to this:
     
      [<1]_($#,##0.00_);_($#,##0_._0_0_)
     
    and right align the cells (or choose the General alignment), the ones place will be lined up vertically, and the numbers will be easier to read.
     
    Is there a problem with displayed precision mismatch with this format? A value of 0.99 shows two decimal places, while 1.01 shows none. Perhaps changing the beginning to [<10] would be more appropriate.

  2. Chandoo says:

    @Jon, thanks for that tip. It sure helps to have the numbers aligned properly despite showing no decimals.

    Agree that changing <10 might be appropriate. But in a rare case my data has elements below 1 with decimals and everything above is a whole number. (dont ask me why :D)

  3. Jon Peltier says:

    I guess somebody upstream of you truncated them with a clever number format.

  4. [...] Display decimals only when the number is less than 1 [Excel number formatting tip] | Pointy Haired D... [...]

  5. [...] point only when number is less than one, use [<1]_($#,##0.00_);_($#,##0_) as formatting code… Get Full Tip 49. To remove grid lines from excel worksheet, go to menu > tools > options > and un-check [...]

  6. Dan says:

    What if I want to apply this for percents where anything below 100% has a decimal? I tried [<100]##.0%;###% and the results were 100.% or 96.5% so it's half right! What am I missing?

  7. Dan says:

    Figured it out - [=0]"N/A";[<1]##.0%;###%

  8. Rashid says:

    how can I display 0.193 as ¢19.3 on a report.

  9. AnnaK says:

    Hi I have a simple question
    What format do I put in the Custom opton to get 1.2 when I type 12. Is it possible?

  10. Rizwan says:

    Very Interesting.

  11. Rathore says:

    i show in excel id value
    0.1
    0.2
    0.3
    0.5
    0.6
    0.7
    0.8
    0.9
    0.10
    0.11
    0.12
    they all value in ft
    but my result
    0.10
    0.20
    0.30
    0.50
    0.60
    0.70
    0.80
    0.90
    0.10
    0.11
    0.12

    and
    0.1
    0.2
    0.3
    0.5
    0.6
    0.7
    0.8
    0.9
    0.1
    0.1
    0.1

    please solved is problem

  12. Henry P says:

    The number formula works in Excel
    Less than 1 is a decimal and a whole number is displayed without any zeros or decimals.

    Would like the same format in Microsoft Word when entering a quantity into an invoicing field.
    To show less than 1 in a decimal and for whole numbers NO zerros or decimals

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