Custom number formats, such as “m²”

Area values that you transfer to Excel / Tables arrive as plain numbers, without a unit. If you simply type the unit along with the value (25 m²), Excel / Tables treats the entry as text – sums, filters and charts will no longer work.

The clean solution is a custom number format. It displays "m²" while the cell value stays a real number.

How to do it

1. Select the cells you want to format (in Tables, you only need to select the first row of data; Tables will handle the rest for you after you click “Reload” or “Format -> Refresh”).
2. Press Ctrl + 1 to open the Format Cells dialog.
3. Go to the Number tab.
4. Select Custom from the category list on the left.

5. Enter the format code you need in the Type field, for example:

   0.00 "m²"

6. Confirm with OK.

The cell now shows 25.00 m², while the formula bar still shows 25. Formulas such as =SUM(A1:A20) keep working as usual.

Common format codes

The quotation marks matter – they mark the text that should be displayed as it is. The space in front of them creates the gap between number and unit.

Typing the "²" character

• Any keyboard: Alt + 0178 using the numeric keypad (³ = Alt + 0179)
• German keyboard layout: AltGr + 2
• Or simply copy the character from this article: ²

Applying the format to more columns

Use the Format Painter brush on the Home tab. Alternatively, copy a formatted cell and apply it via Home > Paste > Paste Special > Formats.

Good to know

• The format only changes the display. The underlying value stays numeric and can still be processed further.
• The format is stored per cell and is kept in the XLSX file.
• Exporting to CSV drops the formatting, because CSV stores raw values only.