Excel — 3 ways to flip negative and positive numbers

Do you ever need to update a long list of numbers from negative to positive? Here are three methods to accomplish this in Excel.

#1 Change negative numbers to positive with Absolute Function

ABSOLUTE Value = ABS(number)

ABS Formula

#2 Change negative numbers to positive with Paste Special

Add a “-1” to cell on your worksheet.

Copy “-1” with CTRL + C

Select cells that need to be converted to positive numbers, RIGHT CLICK and Select “Paste Special”

Paste Special

Choose MULTIPLY and CLICK OK.

Paste Special “Multiply”

Results

#3 Change negative numbers to positive using Find and Replace

Highlight range you want changed from a negative number to positive

Click CTRL + F to open the find option and click on the REPLACE tab.

• Find What: enter the negative dash “-“
• Replace With: enter nothing, leave blank
• Click on Replace All

This will convert the negative numbers to positive.

Find & Replace

Negative to Positive numbers