Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here: Number Formatting Shortcuts.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated February 22, 2025)
This tip applies to Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
The typical way that people apply formatting to cells is to use the tools on the toolbars or to display the Format Cells dialog box and make formatting choices. For those who prefer to not remove their hands from the keyboard, however, Excel also provides a number of handy shortcuts you can use to format your cells.
| Shortcut | Effect | |
|---|---|---|
| Ctrl+Shift+~ | General format | |
| Ctrl+Shift+! | Number format with two decimal places and thousands separator | |
| Ctrl+Shift+$ | Currency format with two decimal places and negatives in parentheses | |
| Ctrl+Shift+# | Date format | |
| Ctrl+Shift+@ | Time format with minutes and am/pm | |
| Ctrl+Shift+% | Percentage format with no decimal places | |
| Ctrl+Shift+^ | Scientific notation with two decimal places |
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (2987) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Excel (Excel 2007 and later) here: Number Formatting Shortcuts.
Program Successfully in Excel! This guide will provide you with all the information you need to automate any task in Excel and save time and effort. Learn how to extend Excel's functionality with VBA to create solutions not possible with the standard features. Includes latest information for Excel 2024 and Microsoft 365. Check out Mastering Excel VBA Programming today!
Want to change the size of the font within a worksheet? Excel allows you to choose from a list of sizes, as well as ...
Discover MoreNeed to cram a bunch of text all on a single line in a cell? You can do it with one of the lesser-known settings in Excel.
Discover MoreWhen your macro checks the formatting used for a cell, it needs to be careful that the type of formatting being checked ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
Got a version of Excel that uses the menu interface (Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, or Excel 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2026 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here:
Comments