diff --git a/src/plugins/data/common/field_formats/types.ts b/src/plugins/data/common/field_formats/types.ts
index 0c16d9f1ac8b..7c1d6a8522e5 100644
--- a/src/plugins/data/common/field_formats/types.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/data/common/field_formats/types.ts
@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@ export type IFieldFormatType = (new (
   getConfig?: FieldFormatsGetConfigFn
 ) => FieldFormat) & {
   id: FieldFormatId;
+  title: string;
   fieldType: string | string[];
 };
 
diff --git a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/editor_frame_service/format_column.ts b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/editor_frame_service/format_column.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..dfb725fef49b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/editor_frame_service/format_column.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,92 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License;
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the Elastic License.
+ */
+
+import { ExpressionFunctionDefinition, KibanaDatatable } from 'src/plugins/expressions/public';
+
+interface FormatColumn {
+  format: string;
+  columnId: string;
+  decimals?: number;
+}
+
+const supportedFormats: Record<string, { decimalsToPattern: (decimals?: number) => string }> = {
+  number: {
+    decimalsToPattern: (decimals = 2) => {
+      if (decimals === 0) {
+        return `0,0`;
+      }
+      return `0,0.${'0'.repeat(decimals)}`;
+    },
+  },
+  percent: {
+    decimalsToPattern: (decimals = 2) => {
+      if (decimals === 0) {
+        return `0,0%`;
+      }
+      return `0,0.${'0'.repeat(decimals)}%`;
+    },
+  },
+  bytes: {
+    decimalsToPattern: (decimals = 2) => {
+      if (decimals === 0) {
+        return `0,0b`;
+      }
+      return `0,0.${'0'.repeat(decimals)}b`;
+    },
+  },
+};
+
+export const formatColumn: ExpressionFunctionDefinition<
+  'lens_format_column',
+  KibanaDatatable,
+  FormatColumn,
+  KibanaDatatable
+> = {
+  name: 'lens_format_column',
+  type: 'kibana_datatable',
+  help: '',
+  args: {
+    format: {
+      types: ['string'],
+      help: '',
+      required: true,
+    },
+    columnId: {
+      types: ['string'],
+      help: '',
+      required: true,
+    },
+    decimals: {
+      types: ['number'],
+      help: '',
+    },
+  },
+  inputTypes: ['kibana_datatable'],
+  fn(input, { format, columnId, decimals }: FormatColumn) {
+    return {
+      ...input,
+      columns: input.columns.map(col => {
+        if (col.id === columnId) {
+          if (supportedFormats[format]) {
+            return {
+              ...col,
+              formatHint: {
+                id: format,
+                params: { pattern: supportedFormats[format].decimalsToPattern(decimals) },
+              },
+            };
+          } else {
+            return {
+              ...col,
+              formatHint: { id: format, params: {} },
+            };
+          }
+        }
+        return col;
+      }),
+    };
+  },
+};
diff --git a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/editor_frame_service/service.tsx b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/editor_frame_service/service.tsx
index 7a0bb3a2cc50..5347be47e145 100644
--- a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/editor_frame_service/service.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/editor_frame_service/service.tsx
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ import {
 } from '../types';
 import { EditorFrame } from './editor_frame';
 import { mergeTables } from './merge_tables';
+import { formatColumn } from './format_column';
 import { EmbeddableFactory } from './embeddable/embeddable_factory';
 import { getActiveDatasourceIdFromDoc } from './editor_frame/state_management';
 
@@ -64,6 +65,7 @@ export class EditorFrameService {
 
   public setup(core: CoreSetup, plugins: EditorFrameSetupPlugins): EditorFrameSetup {
     plugins.expressions.registerFunction(() => mergeTables);
+    plugins.expressions.registerFunction(() => formatColumn);
 
     return {
       registerDatasource: datasource => {
diff --git a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/dimension_panel/dimension_panel.test.tsx b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/dimension_panel/dimension_panel.test.tsx
index 98cf862e1fd2..56f75ae4b17b 100644
--- a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/dimension_panel/dimension_panel.test.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/dimension_panel/dimension_panel.test.tsx
@@ -7,7 +7,14 @@
 import { ReactWrapper, ShallowWrapper } from 'enzyme';
 import React from 'react';
 import { act } from 'react-dom/test-utils';
-import { EuiComboBox, EuiSideNav, EuiSideNavItemType, EuiPopover } from '@elastic/eui';
+import {
+  EuiComboBox,
+  EuiSideNav,
+  EuiSideNavItemType,
+  EuiPopover,
+  EuiFieldNumber,
+} from '@elastic/eui';
+import { DataPublicPluginStart } from '../../../../../../../src/plugins/data/public';
 import { changeColumn } from '../state_helpers';
 import {
   IndexPatternDimensionPanel,
@@ -139,6 +146,18 @@ describe('IndexPatternDimensionPanel', () => {
       uiSettings: {} as IUiSettingsClient,
       savedObjectsClient: {} as SavedObjectsClientContract,
       http: {} as HttpSetup,
+      data: ({
+        fieldFormats: ({
+          getType: jest.fn().mockReturnValue({
+            id: 'number',
+            title: 'Number',
+          }),
+          getDefaultType: jest.fn().mockReturnValue({
+            id: 'bytes',
+            title: 'Bytes',
+          }),
+        } as unknown) as DataPublicPluginStart['fieldFormats'],
+      } as unknown) as DataPublicPluginStart,
     };
 
     jest.clearAllMocks();
@@ -175,7 +194,9 @@ describe('IndexPatternDimensionPanel', () => {
 
     openPopover();
 
-    expect(wrapper.find(EuiComboBox)).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(
+      wrapper.find(EuiComboBox).filter('[data-test-subj="indexPattern-dimension-field"]')
+    ).toHaveLength(1);
   });
 
   it('should not show any choices if the filter returns false', () => {
@@ -189,7 +210,12 @@ describe('IndexPatternDimensionPanel', () => {
 
     openPopover();
 
-    expect(wrapper.find(EuiComboBox)!.prop('options')!).toHaveLength(0);
+    expect(
+      wrapper
+        .find(EuiComboBox)
+        .filter('[data-test-subj="indexPattern-dimension-field"]')!
+        .prop('options')!
+    ).toHaveLength(0);
   });
 
   it('should list all field names and document as a whole in prioritized order', () => {
@@ -197,7 +223,10 @@ describe('IndexPatternDimensionPanel', () => {
 
     openPopover();
 
-    const options = wrapper.find(EuiComboBox).prop('options');
+    const options = wrapper
+      .find(EuiComboBox)
+      .filter('[data-test-subj="indexPattern-dimension-field"]')
+      .prop('options');
 
     expect(options).toHaveLength(2);
 
@@ -228,7 +257,10 @@ describe('IndexPatternDimensionPanel', () => {
 
     openPopover();
 
-    const options = wrapper.find(EuiComboBox).prop('options');
+    const options = wrapper
+      .find(EuiComboBox)
+      .filter('[data-test-subj="indexPattern-dimension-field"]')
+      .prop('options');
 
     expect(options![1].options!.map(({ label }) => label)).toEqual(['timestamp', 'source']);
   });
@@ -262,7 +294,10 @@ describe('IndexPatternDimensionPanel', () => {
 
     openPopover();
 
-    const options = wrapper.find(EuiComboBox).prop('options');
+    const options = wrapper
+      .find(EuiComboBox)
+      .filter('[data-test-subj="indexPattern-dimension-field"]')
+      .prop('options');
 
     expect(options![0]['data-test-subj']).toEqual('lns-fieldOptionIncompatible-Records');
 
@@ -335,6 +370,7 @@ describe('IndexPatternDimensionPanel', () => {
               // Private
               operationType: 'max',
               sourceField: 'bytes',
+              params: { format: { id: 'bytes' } },
             },
           },
         },
@@ -345,7 +381,9 @@ describe('IndexPatternDimensionPanel', () => {
 
     openPopover();
 
-    const comboBox = wrapper.find(EuiComboBox)!;
+    const comboBox = wrapper
+      .find(EuiComboBox)
+      .filter('[data-test-subj="indexPattern-dimension-field"]')!;
     const option = comboBox.prop('options')![1].options!.find(({ label }) => label === 'memory')!;
 
     act(() => {
@@ -362,6 +400,7 @@ describe('IndexPatternDimensionPanel', () => {
             col1: expect.objectContaining({
               operationType: 'max',
               sourceField: 'memory',
+              params: { format: { id: 'bytes' } },
               // Other parts of this don't matter for this test
             }),
           },
@@ -375,7 +414,9 @@ describe('IndexPatternDimensionPanel', () => {
 
     openPopover();
 
-    const comboBox = wrapper.find(EuiComboBox)!;
+    const comboBox = wrapper
+      .find(EuiComboBox)
+      .filter('[data-test-subj="indexPattern-dimension-field"]')!;
     const option = comboBox.prop('options')![1].options!.find(({ label }) => label === 'source')!;
 
     act(() => {
@@ -419,6 +460,7 @@ describe('IndexPatternDimensionPanel', () => {
                   // Private
                   operationType: 'max',
                   sourceField: 'bytes',
+                  params: { format: { id: 'bytes' } },
                 },
               },
             },
@@ -443,6 +485,7 @@ describe('IndexPatternDimensionPanel', () => {
             col1: expect.objectContaining({
               operationType: 'min',
               sourceField: 'bytes',
+              params: { format: { id: 'bytes' } },
               // Other parts of this don't matter for this test
             }),
           },
@@ -565,7 +608,10 @@ describe('IndexPatternDimensionPanel', () => {
         .find('button[data-test-subj="lns-indexPatternDimensionIncompatible-terms"]')
         .simulate('click');
 
-      const options = wrapper.find(EuiComboBox).prop('options');
+      const options = wrapper
+        .find(EuiComboBox)
+        .filter('[data-test-subj="indexPattern-dimension-field"]')
+        .prop('options');
 
       expect(options![0]['data-test-subj']).toContain('Incompatible');
 
@@ -584,7 +630,9 @@ describe('IndexPatternDimensionPanel', () => {
 
       wrapper.find('button[data-test-subj="lns-indexPatternDimension-avg"]').simulate('click');
 
-      const comboBox = wrapper.find(EuiComboBox);
+      const comboBox = wrapper
+        .find(EuiComboBox)
+        .filter('[data-test-subj="indexPattern-dimension-field"]');
       const options = comboBox.prop('options');
 
       // options[1][2] is a `source` field of type `string` which doesn't support `avg` operation
@@ -674,7 +722,10 @@ describe('IndexPatternDimensionPanel', () => {
         .find('button[data-test-subj="lns-indexPatternDimensionIncompatible-terms"]')
         .simulate('click');
 
-      const options = wrapper.find(EuiComboBox).prop('options');
+      const options = wrapper
+        .find(EuiComboBox)
+        .filter('[data-test-subj="indexPattern-dimension-field"]')
+        .prop('options');
 
       expect(options![0]['data-test-subj']).toContain('Incompatible');
 
@@ -697,7 +748,9 @@ describe('IndexPatternDimensionPanel', () => {
           .simulate('click');
       });
 
-      const comboBox = wrapper.find(EuiComboBox)!;
+      const comboBox = wrapper
+        .find(EuiComboBox)
+        .filter('[data-test-subj="indexPattern-dimension-field"]')!;
       const option = comboBox.prop('options')![1].options!.find(({ label }) => label === 'source')!;
 
       act(() => {
@@ -729,7 +782,9 @@ describe('IndexPatternDimensionPanel', () => {
 
     wrapper.find('button[data-test-subj="lns-indexPatternDimension-avg"]').simulate('click');
 
-    const comboBox = wrapper.find(EuiComboBox);
+    const comboBox = wrapper
+      .find(EuiComboBox)
+      .filter('[data-test-subj="indexPattern-dimension-field"]');
     const options = comboBox.prop('options');
 
     act(() => {
@@ -825,7 +880,10 @@ describe('IndexPatternDimensionPanel', () => {
 
     wrapper.find('button[data-test-subj="lns-indexPatternDimension-avg"]').simulate('click');
 
-    const options = wrapper.find(EuiComboBox).prop('options');
+    const options = wrapper
+      .find(EuiComboBox)
+      .filter('[data-test-subj="indexPattern-dimension-field"]')
+      .prop('options');
 
     expect(options![0]['data-test-subj']).toContain('Incompatible');
 
@@ -865,7 +923,10 @@ describe('IndexPatternDimensionPanel', () => {
 
     openPopover();
 
-    const options = wrapper.find(EuiComboBox).prop('options');
+    const options = wrapper
+      .find(EuiComboBox)
+      .filter('[data-test-subj="indexPattern-dimension-field"]')
+      .prop('options');
 
     expect(options![0]['data-test-subj']).not.toContain('Incompatible');
 
@@ -905,7 +966,9 @@ describe('IndexPatternDimensionPanel', () => {
 
     openPopover();
 
-    const comboBox = wrapper.find(EuiComboBox)!;
+    const comboBox = wrapper
+      .find(EuiComboBox)
+      .filter('[data-test-subj="indexPattern-dimension-field"]')!;
     const option = comboBox.prop('options')![1].options![0];
 
     act(() => {
@@ -1002,7 +1065,10 @@ describe('IndexPatternDimensionPanel', () => {
     openPopover();
 
     act(() => {
-      wrapper.find(EuiComboBox).prop('onChange')!([]);
+      wrapper
+        .find(EuiComboBox)
+        .filter('[data-test-subj="indexPattern-dimension-field"]')
+        .prop('onChange')!([]);
     });
 
     expect(setState).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
@@ -1017,6 +1083,159 @@ describe('IndexPatternDimensionPanel', () => {
     });
   });
 
+  it('allows custom format', () => {
+    const stateWithNumberCol: IndexPatternPrivateState = {
+      ...state,
+      layers: {
+        first: {
+          indexPatternId: '1',
+          columnOrder: ['col1'],
+          columns: {
+            col1: {
+              label: 'Average of bar',
+              dataType: 'number',
+              isBucketed: false,
+              // Private
+              operationType: 'avg',
+              sourceField: 'bar',
+            },
+          },
+        },
+      },
+    };
+
+    wrapper = mount(<IndexPatternDimensionPanel {...defaultProps} state={stateWithNumberCol} />);
+
+    openPopover();
+
+    act(() => {
+      wrapper
+        .find(EuiComboBox)
+        .filter('[data-test-subj="indexPattern-dimension-format"]')
+        .prop('onChange')!([{ value: 'bytes', label: 'Bytes' }]);
+    });
+
+    expect(setState).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
+      ...state,
+      layers: {
+        first: {
+          ...state.layers.first,
+          columns: {
+            ...state.layers.first.columns,
+            col1: expect.objectContaining({
+              params: {
+                format: { id: 'bytes', params: { decimals: 2 } },
+              },
+            }),
+          },
+        },
+      },
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('keeps decimal places while switching', () => {
+    const stateWithNumberCol: IndexPatternPrivateState = {
+      ...state,
+      layers: {
+        first: {
+          indexPatternId: '1',
+          columnOrder: ['col1'],
+          columns: {
+            col1: {
+              label: 'Average of bar',
+              dataType: 'number',
+              isBucketed: false,
+              // Private
+              operationType: 'avg',
+              sourceField: 'bar',
+              params: {
+                format: { id: 'bytes', params: { decimals: 0 } },
+              },
+            },
+          },
+        },
+      },
+    };
+
+    wrapper = mount(<IndexPatternDimensionPanel {...defaultProps} state={stateWithNumberCol} />);
+
+    openPopover();
+
+    act(() => {
+      wrapper
+        .find(EuiComboBox)
+        .filter('[data-test-subj="indexPattern-dimension-format"]')
+        .prop('onChange')!([{ value: '', label: 'Default' }]);
+    });
+
+    act(() => {
+      wrapper
+        .find(EuiComboBox)
+        .filter('[data-test-subj="indexPattern-dimension-format"]')
+        .prop('onChange')!([{ value: 'number', label: 'Number' }]);
+    });
+
+    expect(
+      wrapper
+        .find(EuiFieldNumber)
+        .filter('[data-test-subj="indexPattern-dimension-formatDecimals"]')
+        .prop('value')
+    ).toEqual(0);
+  });
+
+  it('allows custom format with number of decimal places', () => {
+    const stateWithNumberCol: IndexPatternPrivateState = {
+      ...state,
+      layers: {
+        first: {
+          indexPatternId: '1',
+          columnOrder: ['col1'],
+          columns: {
+            col1: {
+              label: 'Average of bar',
+              dataType: 'number',
+              isBucketed: false,
+              // Private
+              operationType: 'avg',
+              sourceField: 'bar',
+              params: {
+                format: { id: 'bytes', params: { decimals: 2 } },
+              },
+            },
+          },
+        },
+      },
+    };
+
+    wrapper = mount(<IndexPatternDimensionPanel {...defaultProps} state={stateWithNumberCol} />);
+
+    openPopover();
+
+    act(() => {
+      wrapper
+        .find(EuiFieldNumber)
+        .filter('[data-test-subj="indexPattern-dimension-formatDecimals"]')
+        .prop('onChange')!({ target: { value: '0' } });
+    });
+
+    expect(setState).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
+      ...state,
+      layers: {
+        first: {
+          ...state.layers.first,
+          columns: {
+            ...state.layers.first.columns,
+            col1: expect.objectContaining({
+              params: {
+                format: { id: 'bytes', params: { decimals: 0 } },
+              },
+            }),
+          },
+        },
+      },
+    });
+  });
+
   describe('drag and drop', () => {
     function dragDropState(): IndexPatternPrivateState {
       return {
diff --git a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/dimension_panel/dimension_panel.tsx b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/dimension_panel/dimension_panel.tsx
index 972c396f93b4..59350ff215c2 100644
--- a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/dimension_panel/dimension_panel.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/dimension_panel/dimension_panel.tsx
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import { EuiButtonIcon } from '@elastic/eui';
 import { i18n } from '@kbn/i18n';
 import { IUiSettingsClient, SavedObjectsClientContract, HttpSetup } from 'src/core/public';
 import { IStorageWrapper } from 'src/plugins/kibana_utils/public';
+import { DataPublicPluginStart } from '../../../../../../../src/plugins/data/public';
 import { DatasourceDimensionPanelProps, StateSetter } from '../../types';
 import { IndexPatternColumn, OperationType } from '../indexpattern';
 import { getAvailableOperationsByMetadata, buildColumn, changeField } from '../operations';
@@ -30,6 +31,7 @@ export type IndexPatternDimensionPanelProps = DatasourceDimensionPanelProps & {
   savedObjectsClient: SavedObjectsClientContract;
   layerId: string;
   http: HttpSetup;
+  data: DataPublicPluginStart;
   uniqueLabel: string;
   dateRange: DateRange;
 };
@@ -128,6 +130,7 @@ export const IndexPatternDimensionPanelComponent = function IndexPatternDimensio
                 layerId,
                 suggestedPriority: props.suggestedPriority,
                 field: droppedItem.field,
+                previousColumn: selectedColumn,
               });
 
           trackUiEvent('drop_onto_dimension');
diff --git a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/dimension_panel/format_selector.tsx b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/dimension_panel/format_selector.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..ed68a93c51ca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/dimension_panel/format_selector.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,136 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License;
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the Elastic License.
+ */
+
+import React, { useState } from 'react';
+import { i18n } from '@kbn/i18n';
+import { EuiFormRow, EuiFieldNumber, EuiComboBox } from '@elastic/eui';
+import { IndexPatternColumn } from '../indexpattern';
+
+const supportedFormats: Record<string, { title: string }> = {
+  number: {
+    title: i18n.translate('xpack.lens.indexPattern.numberFormatLabel', {
+      defaultMessage: 'Number',
+    }),
+  },
+  percent: {
+    title: i18n.translate('xpack.lens.indexPattern.percentFormatLabel', {
+      defaultMessage: 'Percent',
+    }),
+  },
+  bytes: {
+    title: i18n.translate('xpack.lens.indexPattern.bytesFormatLabel', {
+      defaultMessage: 'Bytes (1024)',
+    }),
+  },
+};
+
+interface FormatSelectorProps {
+  selectedColumn: IndexPatternColumn;
+  onChange: (newFormat?: { id: string; params?: Record<string, unknown> }) => void;
+}
+
+interface State {
+  decimalPlaces: number;
+}
+
+export function FormatSelector(props: FormatSelectorProps) {
+  const { selectedColumn, onChange } = props;
+
+  const currentFormat =
+    'params' in selectedColumn && selectedColumn.params && 'format' in selectedColumn.params
+      ? selectedColumn.params.format
+      : undefined;
+  const [state, setState] = useState<State>({
+    decimalPlaces:
+      typeof currentFormat?.params?.decimals === 'number' ? currentFormat.params.decimals : 2,
+  });
+
+  const selectedFormat = currentFormat?.id ? supportedFormats[currentFormat.id] : undefined;
+
+  const defaultOption = {
+    value: '',
+    label: i18n.translate('xpack.lens.indexPattern.defaultFormatLabel', {
+      defaultMessage: 'Default',
+    }),
+  };
+
+  return (
+    <>
+      <EuiFormRow
+        label={i18n.translate('xpack.lens.indexPattern.columnFormatLabel', {
+          defaultMessage: 'Value format',
+        })}
+        display="rowCompressed"
+      >
+        <EuiComboBox
+          fullWidth
+          compressed
+          isClearable={false}
+          data-test-subj="indexPattern-dimension-format"
+          singleSelection={{ asPlainText: true }}
+          options={[
+            defaultOption,
+            ...Object.entries(supportedFormats).map(([id, format]) => ({
+              value: id,
+              label: format.title ?? id,
+            })),
+          ]}
+          selectedOptions={
+            currentFormat
+              ? [
+                  {
+                    value: currentFormat.id,
+                    label: selectedFormat?.title ?? currentFormat.id,
+                  },
+                ]
+              : [defaultOption]
+          }
+          onChange={choices => {
+            if (choices.length === 0) {
+              return;
+            }
+
+            if (!choices[0].value) {
+              onChange();
+              return;
+            }
+            onChange({
+              id: choices[0].value,
+              params: { decimals: state.decimalPlaces },
+            });
+          }}
+        />
+      </EuiFormRow>
+
+      {currentFormat ? (
+        <EuiFormRow
+          label={i18n.translate('xpack.lens.indexPattern.decimalPlacesLabel', {
+            defaultMessage: 'Decimals',
+          })}
+          display="rowCompressed"
+        >
+          <EuiFieldNumber
+            data-test-subj="indexPattern-dimension-formatDecimals"
+            value={state.decimalPlaces}
+            min={0}
+            max={20}
+            onChange={e => {
+              setState({ decimalPlaces: Number(e.target.value) });
+              onChange({
+                id: (selectedColumn.params as { format: { id: string } }).format.id,
+                params: {
+                  decimals: Number(e.target.value),
+                },
+              });
+            }}
+            compressed
+            fullWidth
+          />
+        </EuiFormRow>
+      ) : null}
+    </>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/dimension_panel/popover_editor.tsx b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/dimension_panel/popover_editor.tsx
index 98773c04db4a..ec2acd73cc1c 100644
--- a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/dimension_panel/popover_editor.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/dimension_panel/popover_editor.tsx
@@ -29,12 +29,13 @@ import {
   buildColumn,
   changeField,
 } from '../operations';
-import { deleteColumn, changeColumn } from '../state_helpers';
+import { deleteColumn, changeColumn, updateColumnParam } from '../state_helpers';
 import { FieldSelect } from './field_select';
 import { hasField } from '../utils';
 import { BucketNestingEditor } from './bucket_nesting_editor';
 import { IndexPattern, IndexPatternField } from '../types';
 import { trackUiEvent } from '../../lens_ui_telemetry';
+import { FormatSelector } from './format_selector';
 
 const operationPanels = getOperationDisplay();
 
@@ -143,6 +144,7 @@ export function PopoverEditor(props: PopoverEditorProps) {
                       op: operationType,
                       indexPattern: currentIndexPattern,
                       field: fieldMap[possibleFields[0]],
+                      previousColumn: selectedColumn,
                     }),
                   })
                 );
@@ -165,7 +167,9 @@ export function PopoverEditor(props: PopoverEditorProps) {
               op: operationType,
               indexPattern: currentIndexPattern,
               field: fieldMap[selectedColumn.sourceField],
+              previousColumn: selectedColumn,
             });
+
             trackUiEvent(
               `indexpattern_dimension_operation_from_${selectedColumn.operationType}_to_${operationType}`
             );
@@ -293,6 +297,7 @@ export function PopoverEditor(props: PopoverEditorProps) {
                     layerId: props.layerId,
                     suggestedPriority: props.suggestedPriority,
                     op: operation as OperationType,
+                    previousColumn: selectedColumn,
                   });
                 }
 
@@ -400,6 +405,23 @@ export function PopoverEditor(props: PopoverEditorProps) {
                     }}
                   />
                 )}
+
+                {selectedColumn && selectedColumn.dataType === 'number' ? (
+                  <FormatSelector
+                    selectedColumn={selectedColumn}
+                    onChange={newFormat => {
+                      setState(
+                        updateColumnParam({
+                          state,
+                          layerId,
+                          currentColumn: selectedColumn,
+                          paramName: 'format',
+                          value: newFormat,
+                        })
+                      );
+                    }}
+                  />
+                ) : null}
               </EuiFlexItem>
             </EuiFlexGroup>
           </EuiFlexItem>
diff --git a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/indexpattern.test.ts b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/indexpattern.test.ts
index 41be22f2c72e..25121eec30f2 100644
--- a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/indexpattern.test.ts
+++ b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/indexpattern.test.ts
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ describe('IndexPattern Data Source', () => {
               metricsAtAllLevels=false
               partialRows=false
               includeFormatHints=true
-              aggConfigs={lens_auto_date aggConfigs='[{\\"id\\":\\"col1\\",\\"enabled\\":true,\\"type\\":\\"count\\",\\"schema\\":\\"metric\\",\\"params\\":{}},{\\"id\\":\\"col2\\",\\"enabled\\":true,\\"type\\":\\"date_histogram\\",\\"schema\\":\\"segment\\",\\"params\\":{\\"field\\":\\"timestamp\\",\\"useNormalizedEsInterval\\":true,\\"interval\\":\\"1d\\",\\"drop_partials\\":false,\\"min_doc_count\\":0,\\"extended_bounds\\":{}}}]'} | lens_rename_columns idMap='{\\"col-0-col1\\":{\\"label\\":\\"Count of records\\",\\"dataType\\":\\"number\\",\\"isBucketed\\":false,\\"sourceField\\":\\"Records\\",\\"operationType\\":\\"count\\",\\"id\\":\\"col1\\"},\\"col-1-col2\\":{\\"label\\":\\"Date\\",\\"dataType\\":\\"date\\",\\"isBucketed\\":true,\\"operationType\\":\\"date_histogram\\",\\"sourceField\\":\\"timestamp\\",\\"params\\":{\\"interval\\":\\"1d\\"},\\"id\\":\\"col2\\"}}'"
+              aggConfigs={lens_auto_date aggConfigs='[{\\"id\\":\\"col1\\",\\"enabled\\":true,\\"type\\":\\"count\\",\\"schema\\":\\"metric\\",\\"params\\":{}},{\\"id\\":\\"col2\\",\\"enabled\\":true,\\"type\\":\\"date_histogram\\",\\"schema\\":\\"segment\\",\\"params\\":{\\"field\\":\\"timestamp\\",\\"useNormalizedEsInterval\\":true,\\"interval\\":\\"1d\\",\\"drop_partials\\":false,\\"min_doc_count\\":0,\\"extended_bounds\\":{}}}]'} | lens_rename_columns idMap='{\\"col-0-col1\\":{\\"label\\":\\"Count of records\\",\\"dataType\\":\\"number\\",\\"isBucketed\\":false,\\"sourceField\\":\\"Records\\",\\"operationType\\":\\"count\\",\\"id\\":\\"col1\\"},\\"col-1-col2\\":{\\"label\\":\\"Date\\",\\"dataType\\":\\"date\\",\\"isBucketed\\":true,\\"operationType\\":\\"date_histogram\\",\\"sourceField\\":\\"timestamp\\",\\"params\\":{\\"interval\\":\\"1d\\"},\\"id\\":\\"col2\\"}}' "
       `);
     });
   });
diff --git a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/indexpattern.tsx b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/indexpattern.tsx
index afb88d1af795..00f52d6a1747 100644
--- a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/indexpattern.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/indexpattern.tsx
@@ -239,6 +239,7 @@ export function getIndexPatternDatasource({
                   savedObjectsClient={core.savedObjects.client}
                   layerId={props.layerId}
                   http={core.http}
+                  data={data}
                   uniqueLabel={columnLabelMap[props.columnId]}
                   dateRange={dateRange}
                   {...props}
diff --git a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/operations/definitions/cardinality.tsx b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/operations/definitions/cardinality.tsx
index 3e591c875465..33325016deae 100644
--- a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/operations/definitions/cardinality.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/operations/definitions/cardinality.tsx
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 
 import { i18n } from '@kbn/i18n';
 import { OperationDefinition } from '.';
-import { FieldBasedIndexPatternColumn } from './column_types';
+import { FormattedIndexPatternColumn } from './column_types';
 
 const supportedTypes = new Set(['string', 'boolean', 'number', 'ip', 'date']);
 
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ function ofName(name: string) {
   });
 }
 
-export interface CardinalityIndexPatternColumn extends FieldBasedIndexPatternColumn {
+export interface CardinalityIndexPatternColumn extends FormattedIndexPatternColumn {
   operationType: 'cardinality';
 }
 
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ export const cardinalityOperation: OperationDefinition<CardinalityIndexPatternCo
         (!newField.aggregationRestrictions || newField.aggregationRestrictions.cardinality)
     );
   },
-  buildColumn({ suggestedPriority, field }) {
+  buildColumn({ suggestedPriority, field, previousColumn }) {
     return {
       label: ofName(field.name),
       dataType: 'number',
@@ -58,6 +58,8 @@ export const cardinalityOperation: OperationDefinition<CardinalityIndexPatternCo
       suggestedPriority,
       sourceField: field.name,
       isBucketed: IS_BUCKETED,
+      params:
+        previousColumn && previousColumn.dataType === 'number' ? previousColumn.params : undefined,
     };
   },
   toEsAggsConfig: (column, columnId) => ({
diff --git a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/operations/definitions/column_types.ts b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/operations/definitions/column_types.ts
index fe8a3d34d1c1..639e982142f5 100644
--- a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/operations/definitions/column_types.ts
+++ b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/operations/definitions/column_types.ts
@@ -18,6 +18,18 @@ export interface BaseIndexPatternColumn extends Operation {
   suggestedPriority?: DimensionPriority;
 }
 
+// Formatting can optionally be added to any column
+export interface FormattedIndexPatternColumn extends BaseIndexPatternColumn {
+  params?: {
+    format: {
+      id: string;
+      params?: {
+        decimals: number;
+      };
+    };
+  };
+}
+
 /**
  * Base type for a column that doesn't have additional parameter.
  *
diff --git a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/operations/definitions/count.tsx b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/operations/definitions/count.tsx
index d86e688fca01..1592b1049f66 100644
--- a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/operations/definitions/count.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/operations/definitions/count.tsx
@@ -6,17 +6,16 @@
 
 import { i18n } from '@kbn/i18n';
 import { OperationDefinition } from '.';
-import { ParameterlessIndexPatternColumn, BaseIndexPatternColumn } from './column_types';
+import { FormattedIndexPatternColumn } from './column_types';
 import { IndexPatternField } from '../../types';
 
 const countLabel = i18n.translate('xpack.lens.indexPattern.countOf', {
   defaultMessage: 'Count of records',
 });
 
-export type CountIndexPatternColumn = ParameterlessIndexPatternColumn<
-  'count',
-  BaseIndexPatternColumn
->;
+export type CountIndexPatternColumn = FormattedIndexPatternColumn & {
+  operationType: 'count';
+};
 
 export const countOperation: OperationDefinition<CountIndexPatternColumn> = {
   type: 'count',
@@ -40,7 +39,7 @@ export const countOperation: OperationDefinition<CountIndexPatternColumn> = {
       };
     }
   },
-  buildColumn({ suggestedPriority, field }) {
+  buildColumn({ suggestedPriority, field, previousColumn }) {
     return {
       label: countLabel,
       dataType: 'number',
@@ -49,6 +48,8 @@ export const countOperation: OperationDefinition<CountIndexPatternColumn> = {
       isBucketed: false,
       scale: 'ratio',
       sourceField: field.name,
+      params:
+        previousColumn && previousColumn.dataType === 'number' ? previousColumn.params : undefined,
     };
   },
   toEsAggsConfig: (column, columnId) => ({
diff --git a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/operations/definitions/index.ts b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/operations/definitions/index.ts
index f357038be41a..cbced3bfc870 100644
--- a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/operations/definitions/index.ts
+++ b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/operations/definitions/index.ts
@@ -117,6 +117,7 @@ interface FieldBasedOperationDefinition<C extends BaseIndexPatternColumn>
   buildColumn: (
     arg: BaseBuildColumnArgs & {
       field: IndexPatternField;
+      previousColumn?: C;
     }
   ) => C;
   /**
@@ -169,7 +170,7 @@ export type OperationType = typeof internalOperationDefinitions[number]['type'];
 
 /**
  * This is an operation definition of an unspecified column out of all possible
- * column types. It
+ * column types.
  */
 export type GenericOperationDefinition = FieldBasedOperationDefinition<IndexPatternColumn>;
 
diff --git a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/operations/definitions/metrics.tsx b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/operations/definitions/metrics.tsx
index 09bb427d9559..c2d9478c6ea1 100644
--- a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/operations/definitions/metrics.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/operations/definitions/metrics.tsx
@@ -6,9 +6,13 @@
 
 import { i18n } from '@kbn/i18n';
 import { OperationDefinition } from '.';
-import { ParameterlessIndexPatternColumn } from './column_types';
+import { FormattedIndexPatternColumn } from './column_types';
 
-function buildMetricOperation<T extends ParameterlessIndexPatternColumn<string>>({
+type MetricColumn<T> = FormattedIndexPatternColumn & {
+  operationType: T;
+};
+
+function buildMetricOperation<T extends MetricColumn<string>>({
   type,
   displayName,
   ofName,
@@ -46,7 +50,7 @@ function buildMetricOperation<T extends ParameterlessIndexPatternColumn<string>>
           (!newField.aggregationRestrictions || newField.aggregationRestrictions![type])
       );
     },
-    buildColumn: ({ suggestedPriority, field }) => ({
+    buildColumn: ({ suggestedPriority, field, previousColumn }) => ({
       label: ofName(field.name),
       dataType: 'number',
       operationType: type,
@@ -54,6 +58,8 @@ function buildMetricOperation<T extends ParameterlessIndexPatternColumn<string>>
       sourceField: field.name,
       isBucketed: false,
       scale: 'ratio',
+      params:
+        previousColumn && previousColumn.dataType === 'number' ? previousColumn.params : undefined,
     }),
     onFieldChange: (oldColumn, indexPattern, field) => {
       return {
@@ -75,10 +81,10 @@ function buildMetricOperation<T extends ParameterlessIndexPatternColumn<string>>
   } as OperationDefinition<T>;
 }
 
-export type SumIndexPatternColumn = ParameterlessIndexPatternColumn<'sum'>;
-export type AvgIndexPatternColumn = ParameterlessIndexPatternColumn<'avg'>;
-export type MinIndexPatternColumn = ParameterlessIndexPatternColumn<'min'>;
-export type MaxIndexPatternColumn = ParameterlessIndexPatternColumn<'max'>;
+export type SumIndexPatternColumn = MetricColumn<'sum'>;
+export type AvgIndexPatternColumn = MetricColumn<'avg'>;
+export type MinIndexPatternColumn = MetricColumn<'min'>;
+export type MaxIndexPatternColumn = MetricColumn<'max'>;
 
 export const minOperation = buildMetricOperation<MinIndexPatternColumn>({
   type: 'min',
diff --git a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/operations/operations.ts b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/operations/operations.ts
index ecd0942eef7b..ce8ea55c445d 100644
--- a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/operations/operations.ts
+++ b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/operations/operations.ts
@@ -202,6 +202,7 @@ export function buildColumn({
   layerId,
   indexPattern,
   suggestedPriority,
+  previousColumn,
 }: {
   op?: OperationType;
   columns: Partial<Record<string, IndexPatternColumn>>;
@@ -209,6 +210,7 @@ export function buildColumn({
   layerId: string;
   indexPattern: IndexPattern;
   field: IndexPatternField;
+  previousColumn?: IndexPatternColumn;
 }): IndexPatternColumn {
   let operationDefinition: GenericOperationDefinition | undefined;
 
@@ -229,16 +231,19 @@ export function buildColumn({
     suggestedPriority,
     layerId,
     indexPattern,
+    previousColumn,
   };
 
   if (!field) {
     throw new Error(`Invariant error: ${operationDefinition.type} operation requires field`);
   }
 
-  return operationDefinition.buildColumn({
+  const newColumn = operationDefinition.buildColumn({
     ...baseOptions,
     field,
   });
+
+  return newColumn;
 }
 
 export { operationDefinitionMap } from './definitions';
diff --git a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/state_helpers.test.ts b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/state_helpers.test.ts
index 28486c8201da..0a58853f1ef4 100644
--- a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/state_helpers.test.ts
+++ b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/state_helpers.test.ts
@@ -173,6 +173,47 @@ describe('state_helpers', () => {
         params: { interval: 'M' },
       });
     });
+
+    it('should set optional params', () => {
+      const currentColumn: AvgIndexPatternColumn = {
+        label: 'Avg of bytes',
+        dataType: 'number',
+        isBucketed: false,
+        // Private
+        operationType: 'avg',
+        sourceField: 'bytes',
+      };
+
+      const state: IndexPatternPrivateState = {
+        indexPatternRefs: [],
+        existingFields: {},
+        indexPatterns: {},
+        currentIndexPatternId: '1',
+        showEmptyFields: false,
+        layers: {
+          first: {
+            indexPatternId: '1',
+            columnOrder: ['col1'],
+            columns: {
+              col1: currentColumn,
+            },
+          },
+        },
+      };
+
+      expect(
+        updateColumnParam({
+          state,
+          layerId: 'first',
+          currentColumn,
+          paramName: 'format',
+          value: { id: 'bytes' },
+        }).layers.first.columns.col1
+      ).toEqual({
+        ...currentColumn,
+        params: { format: { id: 'bytes' } },
+      });
+    });
   });
 
   describe('changeColumn', () => {
diff --git a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/state_helpers.ts b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/state_helpers.ts
index f56f8089ea58..a2d64e8f2eb8 100644
--- a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/state_helpers.ts
+++ b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/state_helpers.ts
@@ -9,10 +9,7 @@ import { isColumnTransferable } from './operations';
 import { operationDefinitionMap, IndexPatternColumn } from './operations';
 import { IndexPattern, IndexPatternPrivateState, IndexPatternLayer } from './types';
 
-export function updateColumnParam<
-  C extends IndexPatternColumn & { params: object },
-  K extends keyof C['params']
->({
+export function updateColumnParam<C extends IndexPatternColumn, K extends keyof C['params']>({
   state,
   layerId,
   currentColumn,
@@ -22,17 +19,13 @@ export function updateColumnParam<
   state: IndexPatternPrivateState;
   layerId: string;
   currentColumn: C;
-  paramName: K;
-  value: C['params'][K];
+  paramName: string;
+  value: unknown;
 }): IndexPatternPrivateState {
   const columnId = Object.entries(state.layers[layerId].columns).find(
     ([_columnId, column]) => column === currentColumn
   )![0];
 
-  if (!('params' in state.layers[layerId].columns[columnId])) {
-    throw new Error('Invariant: no params in this column');
-  }
-
   return {
     ...state,
     layers: {
diff --git a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/to_expression.ts b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/to_expression.ts
index 96006ae6b6ed..3747deaa6059 100644
--- a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/to_expression.ts
+++ b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/lens/public/indexpattern_datasource/to_expression.ts
@@ -40,6 +40,21 @@ function getExpressionForLayer(
       };
     }, {} as Record<string, OriginalColumn>);
 
+    const formatterOverrides = columnEntries
+      .map(([id, col]) => {
+        const format = col.params && 'format' in col.params ? col.params.format : undefined;
+        if (!format) {
+          return null;
+        }
+        const base = `| lens_format_column format="${format.id}" columnId="${id}"`;
+        if (typeof format.params?.decimals === 'number') {
+          return base + ` decimals=${format.params.decimals}`;
+        }
+        return base;
+      })
+      .filter(expr => !!expr)
+      .join(' ');
+
     return `esaggs
       index="${indexPattern.id}"
       metricsAtAllLevels=false
@@ -47,7 +62,7 @@ function getExpressionForLayer(
       includeFormatHints=true
       aggConfigs={lens_auto_date aggConfigs='${JSON.stringify(
         aggs
-      )}'} | lens_rename_columns idMap='${JSON.stringify(idMap)}'`;
+      )}'} | lens_rename_columns idMap='${JSON.stringify(idMap)}' ${formatterOverrides}`;
   }
 
   return null;