The TEXT function lets you change the way a number appears by applying formatting to it with format codes. It's useful in situations where you want to display numbers in a more readable format, or you want to combine numbers with text or symbols.

This example shows various uses of the Format function to format values by using both named formats and user-defined formats.

Use formulas in conditional formatting to do more than you can with the built-in rules. For example, format blank cells, or see which salespeople are selling above average, or track who has received birthday greetings from you.

You can use number formats to change the appearance of numbers, including dates and times, without changing the actual number. The number format does not affect the cell value that Excel uses to perform calculations. The actual value is displayed in the formula bar. Excel provides several built-in number formats.

The DOLLAR function, one of the TEXT functions, converts a number to text using currency format, with the decimals rounded to the number of places you specify. DOLLAR uses the $#,##0.00_);($#,##0.00) number format, although the currency symbol that is applied depends on your local language settings.

How to create simple formulas in Excel using AutoSum and the SUM function, along with the add, subtract, multiply, or divide values in your worksheet.

To control more precisely what cells will be formatted, you can use formulas to apply conditional formatting. In this example, I am going to format the cells in the Product column if the corresponding cell in the In stock column is greater than 300.

In Excel, from the Home tab, click Conditional Formatting > New Rule. Next, select the “ Use a formula to determine which cells to format ” option, enter your formula and apply the format of your choice.

If you’re new to Excel, or even if you have some experience with it, you can walk through Excel’s most common formulas in this tour. With real-world examples and helpful visuals, you’ll be able to Sum, Count, Average, and Vlookup like a pro.

Receive tips for best practices for formatting numbers as percentages and view examples of ways to calculate percentages in Excel.