Put Currency in Google Sheets: Format Cells and Convert

To put currency in Google Sheets, select the cells, then choose Format > Number > Currency. To choose a different currency symbol, use Format > Number > Custom currency. These steps change how numeric values display; they do not convert one currency into another. You’ll need a Google Sheets file open in a web browser and numbers in the cells you want to format.

What You’ll Need

A Google account and a spreadsheet you can edit in Google Sheets in a web browser.
Numeric values in the cells to format. If you are entering new amounts, type the numbers without currency symbols first, such as 1250.5.
If you plan to convert currencies, an exchange rate for the currencies and date you need. You can enter a rate yourself or use Google Sheets’ GOOGLEFINANCE function where available.

Step-by-Step

Select the cells you want to format. Click a cell, drag across a range, or click a column letter to select a whole column. To select separate, non-adjacent ranges, hold Ctrl on Windows while selecting them. If you are formatting a whole column for future entries, selecting the column is convenient, but check that you are not also changing headers or notes in that column.
Apply the default currency format. With the cells selected, open Format > Number > Currency. Sheets displays the values with the currency format associated with the spreadsheet’s locale. Depending on the locale, the symbol may appear before or after the amount, and the decimal and thousands separators may differ. The underlying values remain numbers, so you can still add them, multiply them, or use them in formulas.
Choose a particular currency when the default is not right. Select the cells and go to Format > Number > Custom currency. In the dialog, search for or scroll to the currency you want, select it, and confirm. The symbol and formatting preview help distinguish currencies that use similar symbols. For example, a dollar sign alone may not tell readers whether an amount is US, Canadian, or Australian dollars. Choose a specific currency where the dialog offers it rather than relying on an ambiguous symbol.
Set the number of decimal places. Currency commonly displays two decimal places, but some currencies use a different number, and some reports show whole units. Use the decimal-place controls on the toolbar to increase or decrease the displayed decimal places after applying the currency format. You can also open Format > Number > Custom currency and choose an available display option there. Formatting changes what is shown, not the stored precision: a value such as 18.756 can display as 18.76 while retaining its underlying value.
Check the result against the data. Look at both the symbol and the digits. Click a formatted cell and inspect the formula bar to confirm the value is numeric and the amount is what you intended. Try a simple total in an empty cell if the data is meant to be used in calculations. If the total works, the cells are likely numeric; if a value behaves like text, see Troubleshooting below.
Set the spreadsheet locale if the default format is consistently wrong. Open File > Settings, select the intended Locale, and save the settings. Locale determines defaults such as currency and number conventions, including whether a comma or period is used as a decimal separator. This is useful when a sheet should follow a particular region’s conventions. Changing locale affects spreadsheet-wide settings, so check dates and number entry afterward; it does not exchange or convert the monetary values.
Convert an amount only if you need a different currency’s value. Formatting a US dollar amount with a euro symbol does not make it euros. For a transparent conversion, place the original amount in A2 and the exchange rate in B2, where B2 is the number of euros per one US dollar. For example, if A2 contains 100 and B2 contains 0.92, enter this in C2:
=A2*B2
The result is 92 euros before formatting. Select C2 and apply the euro currency format using Format > Number > Custom currency. Label the rate with its direction and source, such as “EUR per USD,” and record the date if the conversion is for reporting.
Optionally retrieve a current exchange-rate quote. Google Sheets provides GOOGLEFINANCE for supported currency pairs, but quotes can be delayed, unavailable, or subject to service limits. With a US dollar amount in A2, this formula requests the US-dollar-to-euro rate and multiplies by the amount:
=A2*GOOGLEFINANCE("CURRENCY:USDEUR")
If the returned rate were 0.92 and A2 were 100, the illustrative result would be 92 euros; the actual result depends on the rate Sheets returns when it updates. This is a conversion calculation, unlike applying a currency number format. For a fixed historical rate or a transaction value, enter the appropriate rate yourself and document its source and date.

Common Mistakes

Changing the symbol but assuming the value was converted. Applying a euro format to 100 only displays a euro symbol beside the number 100. It does not calculate how many euros 100 dollars are worth. Use a rate and a multiplication formula for conversion.
Entering currency signs as part of text. Pasting values such as “$1,250” can sometimes leave the cell as text, especially when the sheet’s locale expects different separators or symbols. A text value may not sum correctly. Enter a plain number and apply formatting, or clean and convert imported data before calculating.
Choosing the wrong dollar currency. Several currencies use a dollar sign. A symbol-only display can be unclear in a shared budget or report. Pick the specific currency format, or add a clear column heading such as “Amount (CAD).”
Confusing displayed rounding with changed data. Two displayed decimal places do not necessarily mean the stored amount has been rounded. If a later calculation must use rounded cents, deliberately round the value as part of the calculation rather than relying only on number formatting.
Changing locale without checking the rest of the sheet. Locale settings can affect how numbers and dates are interpreted or displayed. Review date columns, decimal separators, and any imported values after changing the setting.

Tips

Format a column before entering amounts. Select the amount column and apply its currency format once. New numeric entries in formatted cells will generally use that display format, which keeps a ledger consistent.
Use separate columns for amount and currency when a dataset is mixed. If rows contain different currencies, store the currency code in its own column, such as USD, EUR, or JPY. A single currency format for the entire column could otherwise make some rows misleading.
Keep rates visible and understandable. For conversions, put the rate in its own cell and label its direction. “0.92” alone is not enough context; “0.92 EUR per USD, dated 3 Nov 2026” is much clearer. Use a fixed rate when you need a reproducible report.
Use the locale that matches the spreadsheet’s audience or data conventions. A sheet used by people in different regions may benefit from explicit currency choices and clear headings rather than relying on the locale’s default.
Check calculations before sharing. Confirm that totals include the intended rows, that amount cells are numeric, and that any conversion rate has the correct direction. Multiplying by USD per EUR when you meant EUR per USD reverses the conversion.

Troubleshooting

The cells still show plain numbers. Confirm that the cells are selected and repeat Format > Number > Currency. If the number appears unchanged, check whether the column is too narrow to show the complete value; widen it by dragging the boundary between column letters.
The currency symbol is not the one you want. The default follows the sheet’s locale. Select the range and choose Format > Number > Custom currency, then search for and apply the intended currency. If many new sheets default to an unexpected currency, review File > Settings > Locale.
A SUM or other calculation ignores an amount. The value may be text. Click the cell and inspect the formula bar for a leading apostrophe or pasted symbol. Check that decimals and thousands separators match the sheet’s locale. Where practical, re-enter the amount as a plain number, then apply currency formatting. For a large imported range, clean a copy first so you can verify the results before replacing source data.
The displayed amount has too many or too few decimals. Select the affected cells and use the toolbar’s increase or decrease decimal places controls, or choose the desired option in the custom currency dialog. Remember that this changes display precision, not necessarily the stored value.
The GOOGLEFINANCE result shows an error or does not update. Check that the currency pair is supported and the code is spelled correctly, then allow time for the quote to load. GOOGLEFINANCE data may be delayed or temporarily unavailable. If the value is needed for a deadline or a specific past date, use a reliable rate source and enter the rate as a documented fixed value instead of depending on a live quote.
Numbers changed appearance after a locale change. Review separators and dates before editing further. A value that looks different may simply be displayed under a different convention, but imported text can also be interpreted differently. Compare a few cells with the original data and undo or restore the prior setting if the new locale does not suit the sheet.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I add a dollar sign in Google Sheets?
Select the cells and choose Format > Number > Currency for the locale’s default currency. To choose a particular dollar currency, use Format > Number > Custom currency.

Can I format only part of a cell’s contents as currency?
Number formatting applies to the cell’s numeric value, not just selected characters inside it. Put the amount in a separate cell and format that cell, or use a text label in a neighboring cell.

Does currency formatting convert the amount?
No. It changes the number’s display, including its currency symbol and decimal style. To convert, multiply the amount by an exchange rate for the correct currency pair and direction.

How do I show currency with no decimal places?
Select the cells, apply the currency format, then decrease the displayed decimal places with the toolbar control or choose a whole-unit option in Format > Number > Custom currency. The stored value may still contain decimals.

Can Google Sheets automatically update exchange rates?
GOOGLEFINANCE can return supported currency quotes, but availability and update timing are not guaranteed for every use. Quotes may be delayed. For a historical or fixed reporting rate, enter the rate you need and keep its source and date with the spreadsheet.

Will the same currency format look identical in Excel?
Not always. Google Sheets and Excel have different menus and may handle locale defaults or custom formats differently. If you download a sheet as an Excel file, inspect the currency symbols, separators, and formulas in Excel before sharing it.

Try it: the Date Difference Calculator: days, months, years and weekdays between two dates, with the DATEDIF formulas.

More in How-to basics

Sources: Function behaviour and menu paths: Microsoft Support documentation for Excel. Method & sources

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