In Excel, a dollar sign can either display a value as currency or make part of a formula reference absolute. Those are different uses, so choose the method that matches what you are trying to do.
Show dollar signs as currency
- Select the cells containing the numbers.
- Open the Home tab.
- Use the Accounting Number Format or Currency formatting control.
- If necessary, choose the U.S. dollar symbol and the number of decimal places you want.
The underlying cell remains numeric, so formulas can still add, average, sort, and chart the values.
Use $ in a formula reference
A formula such as =$A$1*B2 uses dollar signs to lock column A and row 1 when the formula is copied. Pressing F4 while editing a selected cell reference in desktop Excel cycles through relative, absolute, and mixed reference forms on many keyboards.
Do not type a dollar sign directly into every number if you want a numeric column. Entering values as text can interfere with calculations and sorting.
The article originally referred to Office 365. Microsoft now brands the subscription suite as Microsoft 365, but these Excel currency and absolute-reference concepts remain applicable to current desktop Excel versions.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.