Number formatting changes how a value appears, not the numeric value Google Sheets uses in calculations. In this lesson, you will format three sample prices as Vietnamese đồng (VND) and calculate a total without typing currency symbols into cells.
Learning objectives
Select a precise range, apply a currency format through the Format menu, compare displayed prices with underlying numeric values, and calculate line totals and a grand total.
1. Open the practice workbook
Open the Example tab in the workbook below, or download and import the XLSX file. If you start with a blank sheet, click A1 and use Copy sample data from the practice panel. The input columns are Product, Qty and Price; column D is reserved for calculated line totals.
Practice in your own copy
Make your own Google Sheets copy with the same data, formulas, formatting, filter and frozen header. The original remains unchanged.
Sign in to Google. If the original is not publicly shared, download the full workbook and import it into Google Sheets, or paste the example data into your own sheet.
2. Format the prices as Vietnamese đồng
Select C2:C4. In the Google Sheets menu, click Format → Number → Custom currency. In the dialog, search for Vietnamese dong (VND, ₫), choose it and click Apply. If the built-in format adds unwanted decimal places or varies with your spreadsheet locale, choose Format → Number → Custom number format, enter #,##0 "₫", and click Apply. This workbook uses that exact no-decimal display format. It shows 12,500 ₫, 28,000 ₫ and 17,500 ₫; the underlying values remain 12500, 28000 and 17500.
3. Understand separators and decimal places
A comma in the workbook's en_US locale separates thousands, while the zero in #,##0 specifies no decimal digits. On a sheet using another locale, punctuation may look different. Use Format → Number → Custom number format to set the intended display; the number stored in the cell does not change. You can also use the toolbar's increase/decrease decimal-place controls to preview another number of decimal places, then restore the no-decimal format.
4. Calculate line totals
Click D2 and enter =B2*C2, then press Enter. The result is 37500. Copy D2 down to D3:D4 using the small fill handle or copy/paste: D3 becomes =B3*C3 (56000) and D4 becomes =B4*C4 (17500). Select D2:D5 and apply the same Custom number format #,##0 "₫". The currency sign is display formatting, not part of the formula.
=B2*C25. Calculate the grand total
Type Total into A5, click D5 and enter =SUM(D2:D4). The result is 111000, displayed as 111,000 ₫. Do not type the total by hand: the formula must update if quantity or price changes.
=SUM(D2:D4)6. Check that formatting preserves calculation
As a test, change B2 from 3 to 4. D2 should update from 37,500 ₫ to 50,000 ₫ and D5 from 111,000 ₫ to 123,500 ₫. Restore B2 to 3: the original amounts must return. This confirms that the currency-formatted cells still participate in arithmetic.
Expected result
A1:D1 contains Product, Qty, Price, Line total. Pen has 3 × 12,500 ₫ = 37,500 ₫; Notebook has 2 × 28,000 ₫ = 56,000 ₫; Folder has 1 × 17,500 ₫ = 17,500 ₫. The grand total in D5 is 111,000 ₫.
Common mistakes and corrections
If a price does not calculate, inspect C2:C4: enter the plain number without currency letters or an apostrophe, then apply number formatting. If the wrong currency appears, use Format → Number → Custom currency and choose VND. If a formula returns an unexpected total, click the result cell and inspect its exact references in the formula bar.
Independent practice
Add an Eraser row with quantity 2 and numeric price 4000. Enter =B6*C6 in D6: B6 is the quantity, * means multiply, and C6 is the price, so D6 becomes 8000 (displayed as 8,000 ₫ after formatting). If the original total stays in D5, update it to =SUM(D2:D4,D6). In this SUM formula, D2:D4 is the first argument containing the original three line totals, the comma separates arguments, and D6 is the second argument containing the Eraser total. SUM therefore adds the original 111000 and the new 8000 to return 119000, displayed as 119,000 ₫.
Key takeaways
- ✓Formatting changes display, not stored numeric values.
- ✓Use Format → Number → Custom currency to select VND, or a custom number format #,##0 "₫".
- ✓Keep numeric inputs in C2:C4 without manually typed currency symbols.
- ✓Line totals are formulas in D2:D4: 37,500 ₫, 56,000 ₫ and 17,500 ₫.
- ✓=SUM(D2:D4) gives 111,000 ₫ and updates when inputs change.
Check your understanding
Answer four questions about the practice sheet.
Continue learning
Previous lesson: Understand rows, columns and cells. Next lesson: Sort data in Google Sheets.