How to Format Axis Labels as Millions

Format AxisCustom Number Format

When working with large numbers such as millions or billions, the axis can take much space in a chart. To change million to a short version (e.g., 1,000,000 to 1 million or 1M), please follow the steps below. For example, we have the data table below.

1. Format Axis

Step 1: To make a chart (e.g., column chart) with the first two columns in the table below, or please check how to make a column chart;

Step 2: To change Y-Axis in the chart to unit "million": right-click the Y-Axis, then click "Format Axis" in the dialog box;

Step 3: In the "Format Axis" window, select "Millions" as the Display units. Please check the box in front to show display units label on chart.

Step 4: The following is the resulting chart.

Note: you can change to other "display unit" such as Hundreds, Thousands, Millions, Billions or Trillions.

2. Custom number format (e.g., 1,000,000 to 1M).

Step 1: Right click Y Axis, then click "Format Axis";

Step 2: In the "Format Axis" window, type format code [>999999] #,,"M";#0 in the number section, then click "Add";

if you need to have the dollars sign in front of the numbers, such as "$20M", please use this [>999999] $#,,"M";#0 in the number section.

Step 3: Here is the chart without the dollar signs:

Here is the chart with the dollar signs:

Download Example

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