Format / Suppress Scientific Notation from Pandas Aggregation Results

python

dataframe

formatting

pandas

byNikita Barsukov·Feb 7, 2025

Need a quick fix for scientific notation in Pandas? display.float_format and lambda to the rescue! Use them to do the numberformat tweak.

import pandas as pd

# Assume df is your DataFrame
# Prepare to have your mind blown!
pd.set_option('display.float_format', lambda x: '%.2f' % x)

# Voila! Your output in decimal format.
print(df.agg({'your_column': 'mean'}))

Just like that and your mean is now in decimal form. Adjust %.2f to fit your precision level.

Handling your Python Pandas like a pro

When to play it globally

pd.set_option is your pal when you need to:

Show off consistency in Jupyter notebooks
Maintain a universal format in your project
Set a standard format for a quick analysis

Global settings pitfalls:

Significant digits can hide behind your back. Watch out!
Global changes messing up when you actually want or need scientific notation

When to control locally with `apply`

When you are in for a one-time scenario or specific columns only:

df['your_column'].apply(lambda x: f'{x:.3f}')

Format like a designer for presentations

With DataFrame.style.format you have the power of a painter. You choose your format, column by column.

DataFrame.round() does some magic, rounding the entire DataFrame, suppressing scientific notation

df.style.format({'col1': '{:.2f}', 'col2': '{:.3f}'})

Wisdom to live by

Always tweak your aesthetics after you ruled out any numeric precision issues
Keep your string formatting methods handy for printing or exporting data

More formatting magic

Advanced formatting wand moves

You have various choices for required precision:

'{:.1f}'  # 1 decimal place
'{:.2f}'  # 2 decimal places
'%.3f'    # Old style format, 3 decimal places

pd.set_option('display.float_format', '{:.2f}'.format)  # pandas formatting