Skip to main content

How to only allow negative numbers in Excel?

Author: Xiaoyang Last Modified: 2024-09-24

In Excel, how to only allow negative numbers entered? This article will introduce some useful and quick tricks for you to solve this task.

Only allow negative numbers in Excel with Data Validation

Only allow negative numbers in Excel with VBA code


arrow blue right bubble Only allow negative numbers in Excel with Data Validation

Normally, the Data Validation function can help you, please do as follows:

1. Select the cells or column that you want to allow only negative numbers entered, and then click Data > Data Validation > Data Validation, see screenshot:

 click Data > Data Validation

2. In the Data Validation dialog box, under the Settings tab, do the following options:

(1.) In the Allow section, choose Decimal from the drop down list;

(2.) In the Data section, please choose less than or equal to option;

(3.) At last, enter the number 0 into the Maximum text box.

 set options in the Data Validation dialog box

3. Then click OK, and now, only negative numbers and 0 are allowed to be entered, if positive number entered, it will display a warning message, see screenshot:

only negative numbers and 0 are allowed to be entered

a screenshot of kutools for excel ai

Unlock Excel Magic with Kutools AI

  • Smart Execution: Perform cell operations, analyze data, and create charts—all driven by simple commands.
  • Custom Formulas: Generate tailored formulas to streamline your workflows.
  • VBA Coding: Write and implement VBA code effortlessly.
  • Formula Interpretation: Understand complex formulas with ease.
  • Text Translation: Break language barriers within your spreadsheets.
Enhance your Excel capabilities with AI-powered tools. Download Now and experience efficiency like never before!

arrow blue right bubble Only allow negative numbers in Excel with VBA code

Here is a VBA code also can help you, with the following code, when you enter a positive number, it will be converted to negative automatically, please do as follows:

1. Right click the sheet tab that you want to allow only negative numbers, and choose View Code from the context menu, in the popped out Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window, please copy and paste the following code into the blank Module:

VBA code: Only allow negative numbers in worksheet:

Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range)
'Updateby Extendoffice
    Const sRg As String = "A1:A1000"
    Dim xRg As Range
    On Error GoTo err_exit:
    Application.EnableEvents = False
    If Not Intersect(Target, Range(sRg)) Is Nothing Then
        For Each xRg In Target
            If Left(xRg.Value, 1) <> "-" Then
                xRg.Value = xRg.Value * -1
            End If
        Next xRg
    End If
err_exit:
    Application.EnableEvents = True
End Sub

click View Code and insert the vba code into the module

Note: In the above code, A1:A1000 is the cells that you want to only input negative numbers input.

2. Then save and close this code, go back the worksheet, and now, when you enter some positive numbers into the cells you specified in the code, the positive numbers will be converted to negative ones automatically.

Best Office Productivity Tools

🤖 Kutools AI Aide: Revolutionize data analysis based on: Intelligent Execution   |  Generate Code  |  Create Custom Formulas  |  Analyze Data and Generate Charts  |  Invoke Kutools Functions
Popular Features: Find, Highlight or Identify Duplicates   |  Delete Blank Rows   |  Combine Columns or Cells without Losing Data   |   Round without Formula ...
Super Lookup: Multiple Criteria VLookup    Multiple Value VLookup  |   VLookup Across Multiple Sheets   |   Fuzzy Lookup ....
Advanced Drop-down List: Quickly Create Drop Down List   |  Dependent Drop Down List   |  Multi-select Drop Down List ....
Column Manager: Add a Specific Number of Columns  |  Move Columns  |  Toggle Visibility Status of Hidden Columns  |  Compare Ranges & Columns ...
Featured Features: Grid Focus   |  Design View   |   Big Formula Bar    Workbook & Sheet Manager   |  Resource Library (Auto Text)   |  Date Picker   |  Combine Worksheets   |  Encrypt/Decrypt Cells    Send Emails by List   |  Super Filter   |   Special Filter (filter bold/italic/strikethrough...) ...
Top 15 Toolsets12 Text Tools (Add Text, Remove Characters, ...)   |   50+ Chart Types (Gantt Chart, ...)   |   40+ Practical Formulas (Calculate age based on birthday, ...)   |   19 Insertion Tools (Insert QR Code, Insert Picture from Path, ...)   |   12 Conversion Tools (Numbers to Words, Currency Conversion, ...)   |   7 Merge & Split Tools (Advanced Combine Rows, Split Cells, ...)   |   ... and more
Use Kutools in your preferred language – supports English, Spanish, German, French, Chinese, and 40+ others!

Supercharge Your Excel Skills with Kutools for Excel, and Experience Efficiency Like Never Before. Kutools for Excel Offers Over 300 Advanced Features to Boost Productivity and Save Time.  Click Here to Get The Feature You Need The Most...


Office Tab Brings Tabbed interface to Office, and Make Your Work Much Easier

  • Enable tabbed editing and reading in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Access, Visio and Project.
  • Open and create multiple documents in new tabs of the same window, rather than in new windows.
  • Increases your productivity by 50%, and reduces hundreds of mouse clicks for you every day!