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How to apply custom number format in an Excel chart?

Author Kelly Last modified

In general, it’s easy to apply custom format to numbers in cells with the Format Cell feature in Excel. But do you know how to apply custom number formats in a chart? This article will show you the solutions.

Show numbers in thousands/millions/billions in an Excel chart

Show dates in custom format in an Excel chart

Show numbers in thousands/millions/billions in an Excel chart

For example, there is a clustered column chart as below screenshot shown. Now you can show numbers in the Y axis in millions as follows:

a screenshot showing the default number format in the chart

1. Right click the Y axis, and select Format Axis in the right-clicking menu. See screenshot:

a screenshot of opening the Format Axis pane

2. Now the Format Axis pane is opening. Please expand the Axis Options section, and select Millions from the Display units drop down list. See screenshot:

a screenshot of modifying the display units of numbers in the Format Axis pane

Note: If you are using Excel 2010, it will open the Format Axis dialog box. Please enable Axis Options in the left bar, select Millions from the Display units drop down list, and close the dialog box. See screenshot:

a screenshot of modifying the display units of numbers in the Format Axis pane in Excel 2010

Now you will see all numbers in the Y axis are displayed in millions. See screenshot:

a screenshot showing the chart with new number format

Show dates in custom format in an Excel chart

If you have create a line chart as below screenshot shown, and you want to change the date format and show them in custom style, please do as follows:

a screenshot showing the default number format in a line chart

1. Right click the X axis, and select Format Axis in the right-clicking menu. See screenshot:

a screenshot of selecting Format Axis option in the context menu

2. In the Format Axis pane, please expand the Number section, type the custom format code in the Format Code box, and click the Add button. See screenshot:
For example, to show the date as “3/14”, I type m/d in the Format Code box.

a screenshot of adding a custom format in the Format Axis pane

Note: If are using Excel 2010, it will open the Format Axis dialog box. Please enable Number in the left bar, type the custom format code in the Format Code box, click the Add button, and finally close the dialog box. See screenshot:

a screenshot of adding a custom format in the Format Axis pane in Excel 2010

Now you will see all dates in the X axis are changed and shown in the specified format. See screenshot:

a screenshot showing the custom number format in the line chart

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