When Excel shows 3.14 for a number you typed as 3.14159, it is almost always a display setting. Number, Currency and Accounting formats default to two decimal places, and a narrow column can round what you see as well. The value Excel stores and calculates with usually keeps its full precision.
Quick Answer
Select the cells and click Increase Decimal on the Home tab until you see the digits you need, or open Format Cells and raise Decimal places. Widen the column if General format is rounding to fit.
How to Show More Decimal Places in Excel
- Select the cells that look rounded.
- On the Home tab, click Increase Decimal in the Number group. Each click adds one digit.
- For an exact setting, press Ctrl and 1 to open Format Cells, choose Number, and set Decimal places.
- If the cells use General format, widen the column. General rounds to whatever fits the column width.
- Click a cell and look at the formula bar to see the stored value.
Why Excel Shows Two Decimals
| Cause | Fix |
|---|---|
| Number, Currency or Accounting format (2 decimals by default) | Increase Decimal or Format Cells |
| General format in a narrow column | Widen the column |
| ROUND or similar function in the formula | Change the digits argument |
| Set precision as displayed is on | Turn it off in Options, Advanced (data already rounded stays rounded) |
Troubleshooting
- If more digits never appear, check File, Options, Advanced, When calculating this workbook. With Set precision as displayed turned on, Excel has permanently cut the stored values to what is shown.
- If totals look a cent off, the displayed numbers are rounded but the sum uses full precision. Use ROUND in the formula if you need the math to match the display.
- Excel keeps about 15 significant digits, so very long numbers such as card-style IDs lose digits. Format those cells as Text before typing.
- For percentages, see how to remove percentage formatting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Excel round the actual value?
Not by default. Formatting only changes the display. Calculations use the stored value, which you can see in the formula bar.
How do I change the default decimals for new entries?
There is no global default in current versions for typed numbers, but you can format a column or a template with the decimals you want. The older fixed decimal option under Options, Advanced inserts a decimal point as you type, which is a different feature.
Why does Accounting format still show two places?
That is its default. Use Increase Decimal or Format Cells to change it.
Where can I learn more about formats?
Our guide on formatting Excel cells walks through each format type.
Summary
- Select the rounded cells.
- Home, Increase Decimal, or Ctrl and 1 for Format Cells.
- Widen columns using General format.
- Check the formula bar for the true value.
- Avoid Set precision as displayed unless you want permanent rounding.
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.