Proper Way to Use Currency Formatting in Data Validation Drop-Down in Google Sheets

Currency formatting can sometimes cause issues when using data validation drop-down lists in Google Sheets. These issues can include violation of data validation rules and invalid number formatting. But fear not, because I’m here to show you the proper way to handle these problems and use currency formatting effectively in Google Sheets.

Currency Formatting in Data Validation Drop-Down Using List of Items Method in Google Sheets

In the “List of items” method, there are two ways to incorporate currency/number formatting in a drop-down list:

Number Formatting the Drop-Down List Using Custom Number Format

In this method, you can create a drop-down list using unformatted numbers. After creating the list, select the range and format it as ‘Currency’ from the Format menu in Google Sheets. Keep in mind that this will apply the default currency sign.

If you want to use a different currency sign, go to Format > Number > More formats > More currencies. This method is straightforward, but it may cause a data validation rule violation. To work around this issue, follow these steps:

1. Select the range containing the drop-down lists.
2. Go to Data > Data validation.
3. Enable “Show warning” under the “On valid data” settings and save the settings.
4. Ignore the warning and proceed.

Include the Currency Sign within List of Items

Some users prefer including the currency sign in the list of items to achieve currency formatting in data validation drop-downs. However, this method has two drawbacks:

1. Different Default Currency: If your default currency in the Sheets settings is different from the currency used in the list, the numbers will be treated as text and won’t work in calculations.
2. Same Default Currency: Even if the currency signs match, you won’t be able to use the 1000 separator. Using a number with more than 3 digits won’t be possible.

Currency Formatting in Data Validation Drop-Down Using List from Range Method in Google Sheets

The proper way to use currency formatting in data validation drop-downs is the “List from range” method. Here’s how it works:

1. Create a list of plain numbers in a separate column.
2. Select the range for the drop-down list and go to Data > Data validation.
3. Choose “List from a range” under the criteria and select the range containing the numbers.
4. Format the drop-down list using Format > Number > More formats > More currencies.

By following these steps, you can easily format numbers in the drop-down list to currency in Google Sheets.

That’s all you need to know about using currency formatting in data validation drop-down lists in Google Sheets. If you want to learn more about data validation, check out these Data Validation Resources.

Enjoy the power of data validation and currency formatting in Google Sheets!