Excel Negative Number Format

Excel gives you the option to format negative numbers to display in red rather than displaying the negative sign beside the number.

Displaying negative numbers in a different color can make it easier to find them - especially if they are the results of formulas which may be difficult to track in a large spreadsheet.

Example: Format a Negative Number in Excel

For help with this example, see the image above.

1. Enter the following data into cells D1 to D6: -40, 20, -30, 60, -5, 25.
   
   
2. Drag select cells D1 to D6 to highlight them.
   
   
3. Click on the Home tab of the ribbon.
   
   
4. Click on the down arrow next in the Number section of the ribbon to open the Format Cells dialog box.
   
   
5. Click on Number under the Category section of the dialog box.
   
   
6. Set the number of decimal places to zero in the right hand side of the dialog box.
   
   
7. Choose the red number (1234) option in the Negative numbers section of the dialog box.
   
   
8. Click OK.
   
   
9. The data in cells D1, D3, and D5 should now be red in color and without negative signs.

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