How to Enter Scientific Notation in Excel

To enter scientific notation in Excel, type the number in E notation (for example 1.23E+10) or format the cell as Scientific with Format Cells (Ctrl+1 on Windows, Cmd+1 on Mac). To stop Excel from auto-converting a long number like an ID or barcode, format the cell as Text before typing, or start the entry with an apostrophe (').

Understanding Scientific Notation

Scientific notation, also called exponential notation, expresses numbers that are too large or too small to write conveniently in decimal form. The notation has two parts: a coefficient and an exponent.

The coefficient is a real number multiplied by 10 raised to the power of the exponent. For example, 1.23 x 10^3 means 1.23 multiplied by 1,000. In Excel, the same value is written as 1.23E+03, where E stands for “times ten to the power of.” A negative exponent (for example 1.23E-03) represents a small number — 0.00123.

Method 1: Using Cell Formatting

The easiest way to display values in scientific notation is to change the cell format:

1. Select the cell(s) you want to format.
2. Right-click the selection and choose Format Cells (or press Ctrl+1 on Windows, Cmd+1 on Mac).
3. In the Format Cells dialog box, select Scientific from the Category list.
4. Set the number of decimal places you want to display, then click OK.

The underlying value does not change — only how it is shown. For more on the dialog and its options, see our guide to Format Cells in Excel.

Method 2: Using a Custom Number Format

For finer control over how the notation looks, use a custom format code:

1. Select the cell(s) you want to format.
2. Press Ctrl+1 (Windows) or Cmd+1 (Mac) to open Format Cells.
3. On the Number tab, click Custom in the Category list.
4. In the Type box, enter a format code — for example 0.00E+00 for two decimal places, or 0.000E+00 for three.
5. Click OK to save the format.

Method 3: Typing in E Notation (Scientific Notation in Formulas)

You can type scientific notation directly. Enter the coefficient, the letter e (or E), then the exponent. To enter 1.23 x 10^3, type 1.23e3 and press Enter — Excel converts it to 1.23E+03.

This also works for long numbers. To enter 8,376,543,210 in scientific notation, type 8.37654321e9. You can use the same syntax inside formulas, for example =1.23e3*2.

For keyboard tips on committing and moving between entries quickly, see how to enter data in a cell with the keyboard.

How to Stop Excel From Auto-Converting Numbers to Scientific Notation

Excel automatically switches long numbers (roughly 12 digits or more) to scientific notation, and it also drops precision beyond 15 significant digits — anything past the 15th digit becomes a zero. That is a problem for credit card numbers, barcodes, order IDs, and other long codes you never want to do math on. To keep them intact:

• Format as Text first. Select the cells, open Format Cells (Ctrl+1 / Cmd+1), choose Text, then type the numbers. Text cells store all the digits exactly and never convert. See how to store a number as text.
• Use an apostrophe prefix. Type a leading apostrophe — '601234567890123456 — and Excel treats the entry as text, hiding the apostrophe in the cell. This is the fastest one-off fix.
• Apply a plain Number format with no decimals. For numbers up to 15 significant digits, formatting the cell as Number with zero decimal places displays the full value instead of 1.23E+17. Beyond 15 digits, only Text preserves every digit.

When importing CSVs, set the column to Text in the Text Import Wizard / Power Query before loading, so long IDs are not mangled on the way in. For the broader problem of Excel reformatting your entries, see stop Excel from changing numbers and stop Excel from changing numbers to dates.

The 15-significant-digit limit (numbers over 11 digits)

Excel stores numbers using 15 significant digits of precision. A 16-digit card number such as 6011234567890123 is stored as 6011234567890120 — the final digit is lost — because the value is held as a number, not text. The display switching to 6.01123E+15 is only cosmetic, but the lost 16th digit is permanent. Any number longer than 15 digits that must stay exact has to be stored as Text, not as a number.

How to Convert Scientific Notation Back to a Full Number

If a cell already shows 1.23E+10 and you want the full number:

• Reformat the cell. Select it, open Format Cells (Ctrl+1 / Cmd+1), choose Number with 0 decimal places (or General). If the value is 15 significant digits or fewer, the complete number appears.
• Convert text-stored notation with VALUE. If the scientific notation is stored as text (left-aligned, possibly with a green triangle), use =VALUE(A1) to turn it into a real number, then format the result. See the VALUE function guide.
• Clean up stray spaces with TRIM. Imported values sometimes carry hidden spaces that block conversion. Wrap with TRIM first: =VALUE(TRIM(A1)). More text helpers are in our Excel text functions reference.

Remember: if the original number had more than 15 significant digits, converting it back recovers only the 15 digits Excel actually stored — the rest were never saved.

Tips for Using Scientific Notation in Excel

Using Scientific Notation with Charts

To show scientific notation on a chart, apply the same formatting options to the axis labels: right-click the axis, choose Format Axis, and set the number format to Scientific. You can also use a custom code to show both notations side by side.

Avoid Scientific Notation When Importing Data

Excel sometimes imports data into scientific notation automatically. To prevent this, set the relevant columns to Text during import rather than reformatting afterward — once a long number has been read in as a number and truncated to 15 digits, the lost digits cannot be recovered.

Round Decimals Before Formatting

When displaying decimals in scientific notation, round them to the desired number of significant figures first to avoid surprises. See round numbers in Excel and, if results look slightly off, fix rounding errors in Excel.

Windows vs Mac: What’s Different

The features are identical on both platforms; only the shortcut differs. Open Format Cells with Ctrl+1 on Windows and Cmd+1 on Mac (some Mac keyboards need Cmd+1 from the number row, not the keypad). The Scientific and Custom categories, the apostrophe prefix, and E-notation typing all behave the same way in Excel for Microsoft 365, Excel 2021/2019, and Excel for the web.

Troubleshooting

• My long number turned into 1.23E+17. The cell is formatted as a number. Format it as Text before typing, or prefix the entry with an apostrophe. Reformatting after entry will not bring back digits beyond the 15th.
• The last digits of my card/ID number became zeros. You hit the 15-significant-digit limit. The number must be stored as Text to keep all digits. Re-enter it in a Text-formatted cell.
• =VALUE() returns a #VALUE! error. The text contains stray characters or spaces. Use =VALUE(TRIM(A1)), and confirm the entry uses E notation rather than a literal “x 10^”.
• Changing the format to Number does nothing. The value is stored as text. Use the VALUE function (or multiply by 1) to convert it to a real number first, then apply the Number format.
• Leading zeros disappeared after typing. Excel drops leading zeros from numbers. Format the cell as Text or see how to add a leading zero in Excel.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I enter scientific notation in Excel?

Type the number in E notation — for example 1.23e10 — and press Enter, or format the cell as Scientific via Format Cells (Ctrl+1 on Windows, Cmd+1 on Mac). Both display the value as 1.23E+10.

How do I stop Excel from changing numbers to scientific notation?

Format the cells as Text before typing, or start each entry with an apostrophe ('). For numbers of 15 digits or fewer, a plain Number format with no decimals also shows the full value instead of E notation.

How do I convert scientific notation back to a normal number?

Reformat the cell as Number with 0 decimals or General. If the value is stored as text, use =VALUE(A1) (or =VALUE(TRIM(A1)) to strip stray spaces) and then apply a Number format.

Why does Excel cut off the digits of long numbers?

Excel stores numbers with only 15 significant digits of precision. Any digit past the 15th is replaced with a zero. To keep every digit of a 16+ digit ID or card number, store it as Text rather than as a number.

Can I use scientific notation inside formulas?

Yes. Type the coefficient, the letter e, then the exponent — for example =1.23e3*2. Excel treats 1.23e3 as 1,230 within the calculation.

What does the “E” in 1.23E+10 mean?

E stands for “times ten to the power of.” So 1.23E+10 equals 1.23 x 10^10, and 1.23E-04 equals 1.23 x 10^-4 (0.000123).