How to Display Numbers with Inches or Other Measurement Units in WPS Office Spreadsheets
Question details
The user needs to display spreadsheet numbers with an inch or other measurement unit suffix without converting the underlying numeric data to text.
- Product
- WPS Office Spreadsheets
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- A user has numeric data such as 66 and wants it to appear as 66" while keeping the cells usable in calculations.
- Observed behavior
- The cells currently display plain numbers without measurement labels.
Check that the cells you want to format contain numeric values rather than text. If you need units other than inches, decide the exact suffix such as cm, ft, or kg before creating the custom format.
Use a Custom Number Format to Add Inches Without Changing Values
Use this method when you want the measurement unit to appear in the cell while keeping the original numeric values available for calculations.
A custom number format changes only how the number is displayed. The actual cell value remains numeric, so formulas and functions continue to work normally.
Open your WPS Office spreadsheet and select the range or cells that contain the numeric values you want to display with a measurement unit.
Press Ctrl+1, or right-click the selected cells and choose Format Cells from the context menu.
In the Number tab, click Custom. In the Type box, enter 0\" to display values with an inch symbol, for example 66 becomes 66". For other units, use a format such as 0" cm" or 0" ft".
Click OK. The selected cells now show the measurement suffix while the underlying values remain numeric and can still be used in calculations.
Append Measurement Text with a Formula in a Helper Column
Use this method when you need a visible text suffix in a separate column and do not need the result in numeric calculations.
Display Measurement Units in WPS Office Spreadsheets
Use a custom number format in WPS Office Spreadsheets to add inch or other measurement units as a display suffix while preserving the underlying numbers for calculations.
- 1. Select the target cells: Open your spreadsheet in WPS Office and select the cells that contain the numbers you want to format.
- 2. Open Format Cells: Right-click the selected range and choose Format Cells, or press Ctrl+1.
- 3. Enter a custom format: On the Number tab, choose Custom and enter 0\" for inches or 0" cm" for centimeters.
- 4. Apply and verify: Click OK and confirm that the values now display the measurement suffix while calculations continue to work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the custom number format change the actual cell value?
No. The custom number format only changes how the number appears. The underlying value remains numeric, so formulas such as SUM and AVERAGE still use the original number.
Can I use this method for centimeters or feet instead of inches?
Yes. In the Custom number format box, use a text suffix enclosed in quotes, for example 0" cm" for centimeters or 0" ft" for feet.
How do I remove the inch mark after applying the custom format?
Select the cells, open Format Cells, and choose General or another number format, or click Custom and delete the custom format code.
Why does the formula method not work in calculations?
The formula method joins the number to a text character with &, so the result is a text string. Numeric functions ignore text, so keep the original numeric column for calculations.
