How to format a Java double with printf example

How use Java printf to format a double’s decimals

To use Java printf to format double and float values with decimal place precision, follow these two rules:

1. Use %f as the double specifier in the text string.
2. Precede the letter f with a decimal and number to specify precision.

Java double printf example

Here is a simple example of both a float and double being formatted with Java’s printf function:

package com.mcnz.rps;

public class JavaPrintfDoubleExample {
  /* Java double printf code example. */
  public static void main(String[] args) {
    double mint = 1234.12345;
    float  sum  = 1234.12345f;
    System.out.printf("%,.3f :: %,.5f", mint, sum);
    /* Example prints: 1,234.123 :: 1234.12345 */
  }
}

Java double printf function explained

There are three key takeaways from this Java printf example for decimal places:

• The %f specifier works with both double and float values.
• The decimal and number after the % specify the number of decimals to print.
• A comma after the % sign adds a grouping separator for large numbers.

Is the Java printf specifier %f or %d for floating-point doubles?

Many people confuse the %d and %f printf specifiers.

Both %d and %f are valid when used with the Java printf function. However, only %f is intended for use with floating point values such as floats and doubles.

This quick chart shows how to use Java printf with double types.

The %d specifier is to be used with non-floating point decimal whole-numbers such as byte, short, int and long.

Java double printf syntax

The format for the Java printf function is as follows:

% [flags] [width] [.precision] specifier-character

Advanced Java decimal printf code example

Here is a more advanced Java printf format code example with double values:

public class AdvancedJavaPrintfDoubleExample {
  /* Advanced Java printf double example */
  public static void main(String[] args) {
    double iLovePie = Math.PI * 999 * -1;
    System.out.printf("Value is: %0,10.2f", iLovePie);
    /* This printf double example outputs 'Value is: -03,138.45' */
  }
}

The output of this code example which uses %0,10.3f as the format specifier is:

Value is: -03,138.45

The %0,10.3f  format specifier breaks down like this:

• The number generated totals 10 characters in width, including the sign, radix and grouping comma.
• Zero padding on the left ensures all 10 characters are used.
• Precision is to two decimal places.
• A comma groups large numbers by the thousands.

How can Java printf format a double to two decimal places?

It is a common requirement to format currencies to two decimal places.

You can easily achieve this with the Java printf function. Just use %.2f as the format specifier. This will make the Java printf format a double to two decimal places.

/* Code example to print a double to two decimal places with Java printf */
System.out.printf("I love %.2f a lot!", Math.PI);

Without Java printf, double formatting is a difficult challenge. But with this simple method built right into the Java API, you can make floating point data easy to read and easy for your users to understand.

Java double printf table example

The chart above, which shows how different patterns impact the formatting of a double, was actually created with printf statements.

Here’s the full code:

System.out.printf("------------------------------%n");
System.out.printf(" Java double printf chart%n");
System.out.printf(" (number: 12345.12345)%n");
System.out.printf("------------------------------%n");
System.out.printf("| %-8s | %s |%n", "PATTERN", "RESULT");
System.out.printf("------------------------------%n");
System.out.printf("| %-8s | %f |%n",      "%f",      12345.12345);
System.out.printf("| %-8s | %15f |%n",    "%15f",    12345.12345);
System.out.printf("| %-8s | %-15f |%n",   "%-15f",   12345.12345);
System.out.printf("| %-8s | %-15.3f |%n", "%-15.3f", 12345.12345);
System.out.printf("| %-8s | %015.3f |%n", "%015.3f", 12345.12345);
System.out.printf("------------------------------%n");

Sometimes it’s fun to make charts tables with Java’s printf command.

Here’s the code and output of a table of Java double printf examples.