In the U.S. and UK, Excel shows numbers like 1,234.56. Much of Europe and Latin America writes the same number as 1.234,56, with a comma as the decimal separator. If you’re preparing a spreadsheet for readers in those regions, or pasting numbers that use commas, you can switch Excel’s separators. This guide covers changing them in Excel only, changing them system-wide, and converting numbers stored the “wrong” way.
Quick Answer
Go to File > Options > Advanced. Under Editing options, uncheck Use system separators, type a comma (,) in Decimal separator and a period (.) or space in Thousands separator, and click OK.
Method 1: Change Separators in Excel Only (Windows)
- Open Excel and click File > Options.
- Select Advanced.
- Under Editing options, uncheck Use system separators.
- Set Decimal separator to , and Thousands separator to . (or a space).
- Click OK. Numbers display with the new separators immediately; the underlying values don’t change.
This setting applies to Excel on your computer, not to the file. Someone else opening the workbook sees their own separators.
Method 2: Change Separators System-Wide (Windows Region Settings)
- Open Settings > Time & language > Language & region.
- Click Regional format (or Administrative language settings), then Change formats / Additional settings.
- In the Numbers tab, set Decimal symbol to , and Digit grouping symbol to ., and click OK.
This affects every app that uses Windows number formats. It also changes Excel’s list separator in formulas from commas to semicolons in many regions, for example =SUM(A1;A2).
Excel for Mac
- Choose Excel > Preferences (or Settings) > Edit.
- Uncheck Use system settings under decimal and thousands separators.
- Enter your preferred characters.
Convert Numbers That Use Commas as Decimals
If you paste data like 12,5 into an Excel that uses periods, Excel may treat it as text. Fix it:
- Text to Columns: select the column, choose Data > Text to Columns > Next > Next > Advanced, set the decimal separator to a comma, and click Finish.
- NUMBERVALUE:
=NUMBERVALUE(A2, ",", ".")converts “1.234,56” to a real number. - Power Query: use Data > From Text/CSV and set the file’s locale during import.
Troubleshooting
- Formulas show errors after the change: in some regional settings, formula arguments need semicolons. Excel converts existing formulas automatically; type new ones with the correct separator.
- CSV files open in one column: CSV parsing uses the Windows list separator. Import with Data > From Text/CSV and choose the delimiter.
- Change didn’t apply: restart Excel after changing Windows region settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does changing separators change my data?
No. Only the display and input format change; values stay the same.
Can I use a comma decimal for one workbook only?
Not directly; it’s an app setting. Use custom number formats or TEXT formulas if you need a specific look in one file.
Summary
- File > Options > Advanced, uncheck Use system separators.
- Set the decimal separator to a comma and thousands to a period.
- Or change Windows region settings for all apps.
- Use NUMBERVALUE or Text to Columns to convert pasted numbers.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.