Format Numbers and Dates

To make a spreadsheet easier to read, you can apply a number format to cells that contain dates, numbers, and currency values.

Apply Date Format

1. Select a cell or cell range.
2. Click the More Formats button.

   A menu with more number formats appears, where we can choose from additional number, currency, and date formats.

3. Select Date.
   

Apply a Custom Date and Time Format

If none of the built-in currency or date formats are exactly what you're looking for, you can customize them.

1. Select a cell or cell range.
2. Click Format on the menu bar.
3. Select Number.
4. Select More Formats.
5. Select More date and time formats.
   

   Here, you can customize all aspects of the date format. You can select another preset from the list; modify the month, day, and year fields; or add more fields to the format.

6. Select a preset, or customize the date and time fields.
7. Click Apply.
   

The new date format is applied.

Create a Custom Number Format

You can create your own custom number format if you have a specific format you are going to use frequently.

1. Select a cell or cell range.
2. Click Format on the menu bar.
3. Select Number.
4. Select More Formats.
5. Select Custom Number Format.
   

   This dialog box displays a few examples, with special characters representing different ways for numbers to be formatted. To see a list of what each character means, click Help.

6. Create a number format using the available placeholder characters.
7. Click Apply.
   

The cells are updated to the new custom number format, and the format is saved for future use.