Excel: Format Function with Strings (VBA only)

In Excel, the Format function takes an expression and returns it as a formatted string.

The syntax for the Format function is:

Format ( expression, [ format ] )

expression is the value to format.

format is optional. It is the format to apply to the expression. You can either define your own format or use one of the named formats that Excel has predefined such as:

Format Explanation

General Number Displays a number without thousand separators.

Currency Displays thousand separators as well as two decimal places.

Fixed Displays at least one digit to the left of the decimal place and two digits to the right of the decimal place.

Standard Displays the thousand separators, at least one digit to the left of the decimal place, and two digits to the right of the decimal place.

Percent Displays a percent value - that is, a number multiplied by 100 with a percent sign. Displays two digits to the right of the decimal place.

Scientific Scientific notation.

Yes/No Displays No if the number is 0. Displays Yes if the number is not 0.

True/False Displays True if the number is 0. Displays False if the number is not 0.

On/Off Displays Off if the number is 0. Displays On is the number is not 0.

General Date Displays date based on your system settings

Long Date Displays date based on your system's long date setting

Medium Date Displays date based on your system's medium date setting

Short Date Displays date based on your system's short date setting

Long Time Displays time based on your system's long time setting

Medium Time Displays time based on your system's medium time setting

Short Time Displays time based on your system's short time setting

Applies To:

Excel 2007, Excel 2003, Excel XP, Excel 2000

For example:

Format("210.6", "#,##0.00") would return '210.60'

Format("210.6", "Standard") would return '210.60'

Format("0.981", "Percent") would return '98.10%'

Format("1267.5", "Currency") would return '$1,267.50'

Format("Sep 3, 2003", "Short Date") would return '9/3/2003'

VBA Code

The Format function can only be used in VBA code. For example:

Dim LValue As String

LValue = Format("0.981", "Percent")

In this example, the variable called LValue would now contain the value of '98.10%'.