How to Insert Dollar Sign in Excel Formula (3 Handy Methods) - ExcelDemy (2024)

This article illustrates how to insert the dollar sign ($) in the Excel formula. The dollar sign is used to change the cell references from relative to absolute or mixed references. For example, assume a formula contains the cell reference A1. This is a relative reference. Now if you copy the formula down using the Fill Handle icon, the cell reference will change to A2, A3, A4, and so on. On the other hand, if you copy the formula to the right, the cell reference will change to B1, C1, D1, and so on.

But, you can insert the dollar sign in the cell reference to stop this if required. Imagine you want to multiply a range of cells by a fixed number which is in cell A2. Then you need to change the reference to $A$2. This is an absolute reference. Two more possible references can be $A2 or A$2. These are mixed references. The first one makes the column fixed and the second one makes the row fixed.

Now, follow the article to learn how to do that easily in Excel.

How to Insert Dollar Sign in Excel Formula: 3 Handy Methods

Assume you have the following dataset. It contains the sales from two different stores and their total.

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The FORMULATEXT function shows that the Total column contains formulas with the SUM function.

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Now follow the methods below to insert the dollar sign in those formulas.

1. Insert Dollar Sign ($) in Excel Formula with Keyboard Shortcut

Follow the steps below to insert the dollar sign in the Excel formula using a keyboard shortcut.

📌 Steps

  • First, put the cursor beside a cell reference in the formula or select that cell reference in the formula bar.

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  • Alternatively, you can double-click on the cell containing the formula to insert the dollar sign there.

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  • Then, press F4 on your keyboard. It will insert the dollar sign in the formula making the cell reference an absolute reference.

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  • Next, press F4 It will change the reference to a mixed reference making the row fixed but keeping the column relative.

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  • Press F4 again after that. Now, the column will be fixed but the row will become relative.

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  • You can select the entire reference before pressing the F4 key to change the entire reference at once.

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Thus, you can switch between relative, absolute, and mixed references by repeatedly pressing the F4 key in Excel.

Read More: How to Insert Rupee Symbol in Excel

2. Use the Find and Replace Tool

You can also insert the dollar sign in the Excel formula using the Find and Replace feature. Follow the steps below to do that.

📌 Steps

  • First, notice that the formula text shows no dollar signs in the formulas.

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  • Now, press CTRL+H to open the Find and Replace window. Then find for (B and replace it with ($B$ by pressing Replace All as shown in the picture below.

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  • Next, you will see the confirmation if it was done properly.

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  • Notice how the formula text changes.

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  • After that, find for :C and replace them with :$C$ as shown below.

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  • More dollar signs will be added to the remaining part of the formulas.

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Read More: How to Insert Sign in Excel Formula

3. Use a VBA Code to Insert Dollar Sign ($) in Formula

You can use Excel VBA to insert the dollar sign to all formulas in the active worksheet.

📌 Steps

  • First, press ALT+F11 to open the VBA window. Then, select Insert >> Module as shown below.

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  • Next, copy and paste the following code.
Sub InsertDollarSignsInExcelFormulas()Dim FormulaCell As RangeFor Each FormulaCell In ActiveSheet.Cells.SpecialCells(xlCellTypeFormulas)FormulaCell.Formula = Application.ConvertFormula(FormulaCell.Formula, xlA1, xlA1, True)NextEnd Sub
  • After that, paste the code onto the blank module. Keep the cursor inside the code.

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  • Now press F5 to run the code. After that, you will get the desired results.

Things to Remember

  • If your computer has the fn key, then you need to press fn+F4 for the shortcut.
  • The VBA code changes the cell references to absolute references only by inserting the dollar sign.

Download Practice Workbook

You can download the practice workbook from the download button below.

Insert Dollar Sign in Formula.xlsm

Conclusion

Now you know how to insert the dollar sign in the Excel formula in 3 different ways. Which method seems more convenient for you to use? Do you have any further queries or suggestions for us? Please let us know in the comment section below. You can also visit our website to explore more solutions to the problems Excel users face every day.

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How to Insert Dollar Sign in Excel Formula (3 Handy Methods) - ExcelDemy (2024)

FAQs

How do you add a dollar sign in Excel formula? ›

To add the $ manually, double-click or press "F2" to enter edit mode in a cell, then place the pointer where you want the dollar sign and type it manually. To apply the "F4" shortcut method, place the pointer on the cell reference that requires the $ symbol and click it once.

How do I do a dollar formula in Excel? ›

Converts a number to text using currency format, with the decimals rounded to the specified place. The format used is $#,##0.00_);($#,##0.00).

What to do if F4 doesn't work in Excel? ›

Laptop keyboards are smaller than stationary ones so typically, the F-keys (like F4) are used for something else. This is easily fixed! Just hold down the Fn key before you press F4 and it'll work.

How do you add a dollar sign to a formula in sheets? ›

Keyboard Shortcut – F4. It can be cumbersome to type the dollar signs into your formulas in a Google Spreadsheet. When typing your formula, immediately after clicking on a cell to select it for your formula select the F4 key. Striking the F4 key once will create double dollar signs on that cell reference.

How do you anchor a dollar sign in Excel? ›

Add a dollar sign

Next, you can add a dollar sign before the letter and number of each cell that you want to anchor. For example, if you want to anchor the "A1" cell, you can click on the cell, change it to "$A$1," and hit the "Enter" key. Repeat this process for all the cells you want to anchor.

What does '$' mean in Excel formula? ›

The dollar sign in an Excel cell reference affects just one thing - it instructs Excel how to treat the reference when the formula is moved or copied to other cells. In a nutshell, using the $ sign before the row and column coordinates makes an absolute cell reference that won't change.

How do you add $1 in Excel? ›

The absolute cell reference in Excel works by locking a formula to a certain cell to keep the row and column constant. An Excel absolute reference adds a dollar symbol ($) before the column and row to keep the values intact. For instance, if A1 is the default cell reference, $A$1 is the absolute cell reference.

How do I add dollar amounts in Excel? ›

Just select an empty cell directly below a column of data. Then on the Formula tab, click AutoSum > Sum. Excel will automatically sense the range to be summed. (AutoSum can also work horizontally if you select an empty cell to the right of the cells to be summed.)

How to make F4 work in Excel without fn? ›

Making F Keys Work without Fn

Use the Fn Lock feature to use function keys without the Fn Key. Find the Fn Lock key on your keyboard—it may say FnLk or have a lock icon. Hold down the Fn key and press Fn Lock. Release your fingers and use the function keys as normal.

What is the Alt F4 key used for? ›

The keyboard shortcut Alt + F4 is used primarily to close the currently active program on a Windows operating system. If you have a document or web page open, pressing Alt + F4 will close that specific window.

How to automatically put dollar sign in Excel formula? ›

Instead of typing the dollar signs before the column letter and row number, press the F4 key. This will automatically add both dollar signs to the cell reference. Press F4 again to cycle through different types of cell references if necessary.

How do you lock a formula in Excel with a dollar sign? ›

If you want to maintain the original cell reference when you copy it, you "lock" it by putting a dollar sign ($) before the cell and column references. For example, when you copy the formula =$A$2+$B$2 from C2 to D2, the formula stays exactly the same. This is an absolute reference.

How do you add dollars and cents in Excel? ›

Display Values With Dollars And Cents Symbols
  1. Select the range of cells you want to apply this format to.
  2. Select Format, Cells, and click the Number tab.
  3. In the Category field, select Custom.
  4. In the Type field, enter [<1].00¢;$0.00_¢ ...
  5. Click OK.

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