How to convert negative numbers to positive in Excel
Formula (Excel and Google Sheets)
=ABS(B2)Use ABS, the absolute value: =ABS(B2) turns -1,250.40 into 1,250.40 and leaves positive numbers alone.
- Result on the example
- one result per row in
C2, filled down toC6 - Works in
- Every current version
- Google Sheets
- Same formula
See it work
The formula is already in C2, filled down to C6. Change any input and the result updates, or edit the formula to experiment.
How it works
ABS returns the absolute value: the distance from zero, without a sign. Negative numbers lose their minus sign and positive numbers come back unchanged, so the column shows how big each change was, whichever way it went.
=ABS(B2)Result1250.4
B2-$1,250.40The value in B2.
ABS(B2)1250.4ABS: Absolute value.- number
B2-$1,250.40
- number
In Google Sheets
The same formula works in Google Sheets: =ABS(B2). We ran it in Google Sheets mode on the same data and it returns the same results.
Other ways to do it
Each one was run on the same example sheet.
| Formula | Result | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| =IF(B2<0,-B2,B2) | $1,250.40, $820.00, $3,415.75… | Spells out the rule; useful when you want to flip only some rows. |
| =B2*SIGN(B2) | $1,250.40, $820.00, $3,415.75… | SIGN returns -1, 0 or 1, so multiplying by it removes the sign. |
Common mistakes
- Multiplying by -1 flips every number, so positives become negative. Only ABS makes everything positive.
- Numbers in parentheses from accounting exports may be text like "(410)". Convert them first, or ABS returns #VALUE!.
Try it yourself
Same data, empty answer cell. Your formula is graded instantly, then re-checked on changed data, so a typed-in number won't pass.
Convert negative numbers to positive
C2, return the size of the change as a positive number, then fill down to C6.Questions
How do I get the absolute difference between two numbers?
Use =ABS(B2-C2).
How do I make the change permanent without a formula?
Type -1 in a cell, copy it, select the negative numbers only, and use Paste Special > Multiply.
Checked by running on 2026-10-30: every formula and result on this page was calculated by the Spreadsheet Practice formula engine, in both Excel and Google Sheets modes.