Number formats you can display in Datawrapper
Once you've successfully uploaded a data column as numbers, you can choose how the number appears on your chart. On the Refine tab in step 3: Visualize step, you have the ability to choose from a drop-down menu of number formats:
Let's say we have the numbers 0.061, 1.8, 16 and 1303848 in our number column.
Available number formats
Below is a table of the number formats in the drop-down and how the formatted number will appear on your chart.
| Token | 0.061 | 1.8 | 16 | 1303848 |
| 1,000[.00] |
0.06 | 1.8 | 16 | 1,303,848 |
| 0 | 0 | 2 | 16 | 1303848 |
| 0.0 | 0.1 | 1.8 | 16.0 | 1303848.0 |
| 0.000 | 0.061 | 1.800 | 16.000 | 1303848.000 |
| 0.[0] | 0.1 | 1.8 | 16 | 1303848 |
| 0.[00] | 0.06 | 1.8 | 16 | 1303848 |
| 0% | 0% | 2% | 16% | 1303848% |
| 0.0% | 0.1% | 1.8% | 16.0% | 1303848.0% |
| 0.[0]% | 0.1% | 1.8% | 16 | 1303848 |
| 0.[00]% | 0.06% | 1.8% | 16 | 1303848 |
| 10,000 | 0 | 2 | 16 | 1,303,848 |
| 1st | 0th | 2nd | 16th | 1303848th |
| 123k | 0.06 | 1.8 | 16 | 1.3m |
| 123.4k | 0.1 | 1.8 | 16.0 | 1.3m |
| 123.45k | 0.06 | 1.80 | 16.00 | 1.30m |
We can see that some number formats work very well with small numbers (e.g. "0.[00]), while others work great for big numbers (like "123.4k"). Depending on the magnitude of your numbers, choose a number format that makes the most sense.
If this list of number formats is not enough for your needs, you can choose a custom format:
Custom number formats
To do so, select the last item on the number format drop-down: "(custom)". A text field will open to its right, in which you can type in format yourself:
Here we list some possible number formats you can put in this text field:
| Token | -20.02 | 0.061 | 16 |
1303848 |
| +$0.[00]a | -$20.02 | +$0.06 | +$16 | +$1303848 |
| $0.[00]a | -$20.02 | $0.06 | $16 | $1303848 |
| 0000 | -0020 | 0000 | 0016 | 1303848 |
| (0,0.00) | (20.02) | 0.06 | 16.00 | 1,303,848.00 |
| .000 | -.020 | .061 | .000 | .000 |
| 0 | -20 | 0 | 16 | 1 m |
| 0.[000] a | -20.02 | 0.061 | 16 | 1.303 m |
| 0,0e+0 | -2e+1 | 6e-2 | 2e+1 | 1e+6 |
| 0.[00]e+0 | -2e+1 | 6.1e-2 | 1.6e+1 | 1.3e+6 |
As you can see, you can mix & match parameters like [], a, $, (), +. You can also add as many zeros as you like (like 0.0, 0.00, 0.00, 0.000) to display as many decimal places as makes sense for your data.
A side note: Currencies and metrics
Your readers will understand your numbers better if they know which metric or currency these numbers are in: km? kg? m/h? °C? US-$? €?
If you want to include a currency in your format, you can use a custom number format like any of the above, and place a $ sign where you want the currency to be displayed.
The currency symbol that gets used will depend on the output locale (language) that is selected for your chart.
(For example, if your output locale is English (en-US), it will become a $ sign, whereas if your output locale is English (en-UK) it will become a £ sign)
| Token | -20.02 | 0.061 | 16 | 1303848 |
| $0.00 | -$20.02 | $0.06 | $16.00 | $1303848.00 |
| $0,0.[00]a | -$20.02 |
$0.06 |
$16 | $13.03K |
| 0,0$ | -20$ | 0$ | 16$ | 1,303,484$ |
If you prefer to use a custom currency sign, or any other kind of metric, you can always add it in step 2: Check & Describe. Select your number format, then prepend or append your metric by clicking on the relevant column under step 2 and choose a sign:
We hope this article helps you to display your numbers in exactly the format you need them in. Get in touch with us at support@datawrapper.de if you still have questions!