Excel: Point instead of comma as decimal point – this is how it works

In Excel, the comma is used as decimal point by default. However, you can also use a full stop instead. This is useful if you ever want to create an Excel table with international relevance. We will show you which settings you need to make in order for this to work.

Dot instead of comma in Excel tables

Excel uses the computer’s settings by default to decide between comma and dot as the decimal point. To decide for yourself which character to use, proceed as follows:

• Open Excel and click on “File” or, in older versions, on the round menu button at the top left.

• Then click on “Options”/”Excel Options” and select “Advanced”.

• Under “Editing options”, remove the tick from “Take over separator from operating system”.

• Now you can determine yourself which decimal point you want to use. Replace the comma at “decimal separator” with a full stop.

• Finally confirm the setting with “OK”.