{
  "id": 14238677,
  "title": "Excel Number Format Shortcuts: Currency, Percent, Time and Borders",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/excel-number-format-shortcuts-currency-percent-time-and-borders",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-13T16:14:53.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dev.to",
    "slug": "dev-to",
    "url": "https://dev.to/hodadak_official/excel-number-format-shortcuts-currency-percent-time-and-borders-3g2m"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Navigating Excel's Format Cells can be a lengthy process, but there are shortcuts that make it easier. These shortcuts are easier to remember once you know which key each symbol sits on. The Ctrl+Shift+$ shortcut applies the currency format. For instance, the number 1234567 becomes ₩1,234,567 in the test sheet, depending on the regional settings. The $ symbol is on the 4 key.\n\nSimilarly, the Ctrl+Shift+% shortcut applies percentage format. So, 0.12 changes to 12%. The % symbol is on the 5 key. The Ctrl+Shift+@ shortcut applies a time format. For example, 0.5625 is displayed as 13:30:00. The @ symbol is on the 2 key.\n\nTo make text bold, you can use Ctrl+B. Clicking the header row and pressing Ctrl+B will apply bold formatting. To remove bold, press Ctrl+B again. To make text italic, use Ctrl+I. For underlining, Ctrl+U is used. Press Ctrl+U again to remove underline formatting. The & shortcut adds an outside border to selected cells. For a border around the entire table, Ctrl+Shift+& is used. The & symbol is on the 7 key.\n\nEach shortcut was tested and verified in Excel for the web. However, it's important to note that number formats only change how a value is displayed. The actual value remains the same. For instance, a cell with 0.12 retains the value of 0.12 even when shown as 12%. This is also why 0.5625 can display as 13:30. Excel stores times as fractions of a day, with 0.5625 representing 13.5 hours.\n\nCommon errors include typing 12 and then formatting it as a percentage, which results in 1200%. To avoid this, type 0.12 or directly type 12%. Also, remember that the currency format only adds a symbol and separators, it does not convert money. The shortcuts follow the symbols above the 4, 5, 2, and 7 keys on a US-style keyboard layout. If you're using a different layout, you'll need to find the key that produces the desired symbol. In code, when creating workbooks with openpyxl, these shortcuts translate to format strings. Percent is cell.number_format = 0%, and time format looks like hh:mm:ss.",
  "summary": "Format Cells has every number format you could want, which is exactly why finding the right one takes a while. The formats you use every day have shortcuts, and they're easier to remember once you notice which key each symbol sits on. TL;DR: Ctrl+Shift+$ currency, Ctrl+Shift+% percent, Ctrl+Shift+@ time, Ctrl+B / I / U, Ctrl+Shift+& outside border. The shortcuts Ctrl+Shift+$ applies currency…",
  "key_points": [
    "Ctrl+Shift+$ applies currency format, e.g., 1234567 becomes ₩1,234,567",
    "Ctrl+Shift+% applies percentage format, e.g., 0.12 becomes 12%",
    "Ctrl+Shift+@ applies time format, e.g., 0.5625 becomes 13:30:00"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}