C# + String Formatting

Question

I feel like I'm trying to do something simple but I am not getting the result I want. I want to display a basic number, that will always be positive. I do not want any leading zeros but I want thousands separators. For instance, for the following inputs, I want the following outputs:

3 -> 3
30 -> 30
300 -> 300
3000 -> 3,000
30000 -> 30,000
300000 -> 300,000

Currently, in an attempt to do this, I'm using the following formatting code:

  string text = "*Based on " + String.Format("{0:0,0}", total) + " entries";

Currently, the output looks like this:

3 -> 03
3000 -> 3,000

You can see how a leading "0" is added when the thousands separator is not necessary. How do I properly format my numbers?

Thank you

No it doesn't! What makes you think that?

Callum Rogers
– Callum Rogers

2010-04-19 21:25:40 +00:00
Commented Apr 19, 2010 at 21:25 — Callum Rogers
– Callum Rogers, Commented Apr 19, 2010 at 21:25

dtb · Accepted Answer · 2010-04-19 20:35:34Z

8

string.Format(new CultureInfo("en-US"), "{0:N0}", total)

See: Standard Numeric Format Strings

- or -

string.Format(new CultureInfo("en-US"), "{0:#,#}", total)

See: Custom Numeric Format Strings

answered Apr 19, 2010 at 20:35

dtb

218k37 gold badges413 silver badges438 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

2 Comments

Justin Niessner Over a year ago

The first will add a single decimal place, the second will not.

dtb Over a year ago

Notice the 0 in N0 -- this specifies the number of decimal places.

Ben Voigt · Accepted Answer · 2010-04-19 20:39:14Z

2

Use "#,##0".

See: Quick Reference for .NET Format Strings

answered Apr 19, 2010 at 20:39

Ben Voigt

286k45 gold badges444 silver badges764 bronze badges

Comments

Erik Funkenbusch · Accepted Answer · 2010-04-19 20:47:57Z

2

In addition to the other great advice, You shouldn't be using the string concatenation operator. Simply do this:

string text = string.Format("*Based on {0:#,##0} entries", total);

This makes it easier to read, and requires less work.

answered Apr 19, 2010 at 20:47

Erik Funkenbusch

93.6k29 gold badges201 silver badges292 bronze badges

Comments

Anthony Pegram · Accepted Answer · 2010-04-19 20:37:55Z

1

Try this format.

{0:#,##0}

answered Apr 19, 2010 at 20:37

Anthony Pegram

128k28 gold badges229 silver badges252 bronze badges

Comments

Jay Riggs · Accepted Answer · 2010-04-19 20:40:59Z

1

You can also do this:

string text = "*Based on " + total.ToString("#,##0") + " entries";

answered Apr 19, 2010 at 20:40

Jay Riggs

53.7k10 gold badges146 silver badges156 bronze badges

Comments

Damian Powell · Accepted Answer · 2010-04-19 21:15:07Z

0

Here's a sample using PowerShell. The important point is that the format string is "{0:n0}".

3, 30, 300, 3000, 30000, 300000, 3000000, 30000000 |
    %{ "{0} -> {0:n0}" -f $_ }

Which produces:

PS C:\Users\Damian> 3, 30, 300, 3000, 30000, 300000, 3000000, 30000000 | %{ "{0} -> {0:n0}" -f $_ }

3 -> 3
30 -> 30
300 -> 300
3000 -> 3,000
30000 -> 30,000
300000 -> 300,000
3000000 -> 3,000,000
30000000 -> 30,000,000

answered Apr 19, 2010 at 21:15

Damian Powell

8,8557 gold badges52 silver badges59 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

C# + String Formatting

6 Answers 6

2 Comments

Comments

Comments

Comments

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

6 Answers 6

2 Comments

Comments

Comments

Comments

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related