Comments on: How to convert text to number in Excel

Sometimes values in your Excel worksheets look like numbers, but they don't add up, don't multiply and produce errors in formulas. A common reason for this is numbers formatted as text. This tutorial will teach you how to convert numeric strings to actual numbers. Continue reading →

Comments page 2. Total comments: 213

  1. how to convert 05.30 to 0530?

  2. The article provides clear and concise step-by-step instructions on how to effectively convert text into numerical values, saving time and reducing errors. The inclusion of screenshots and examples ensures that readers can easily follow along and implement the techniques.

  3. I have a number like ex.
    4512
    652
    1843
    4756
    8543
    1549
    7643
    94785

    and the total of 1st, 3rd and 8th Number is 101140

    But the is converted in Value (No use of Trace Precedents Option) There is no same Total and come by any other number.
    Show the formula which help me to to know that 1st 3rd and 8th Option are included in 101140 Total

  4. I have already tried something like 10 methods to convert cells like this
    1 959,94
    (where the space is the thousand separator and the comma is the decimal separator) to numbers, but nothing has worked. What would work?

    1. It works
      =VALUE(CONCAT(TEXTSPLIT(CONCAT(TEXTSPLIT(A1," ")), ",")))/100

    2. Try this
      =VALUE(CONCAT(TEXTSPLIT(CONCAT(TEXTSPLIT(A1," ")), ",")))

      1. This is odd: my fresh Excel (Win 11) does not accept colons to separate arguments of the function but requires me to use semicolons. I can do that but when I wrote
        =SUBSTITUTE(A1," ","")
        it gave me still 1 959,94.

        Only after I wrote
        =SUBSTITUTE("1 959,94"," ","")
        it gives me 1959,94
        but there is no sense to write the contents of all the cells I have to convert to numbers by hand.

        What to do?

        1. I cannot know what delimiters you use in formulas and what decimal separator is set in your regional Windows settings. Replace comma delimiters in the formula with semicolons, if necessary.
          If you use a dot as a decimal separator, replace the comma with a dot.

          =--SUBSTITUTE(SUBSTITUTE(A1," ",""),",",".")

          1. My system separators that my Excel uses are the comma for the decimal separator and the space for the thousands separator.

            I have still the problem that when having
            1 959,94 in A1 and writing
            =SUBSTITUTE(A1," ","")
            the function gives me 1 959,94.

            Only after writing
            =SUBSTITUTE("1 959,94"," ","")
            the function gives me 1959,94.

            The numbers in my original data (a table copied from the internet using copy-paste) that are below 1000 (the numbers without the thousand separator) behave nicely as numbers without any tricks. _All_ the copy-pasted numbers align right in their cells. Only the numbers that include the thousand separator can't be used in calculations as their cause #VALUE! error. What could be the cause for this?

            1. As mentioned in the article above, perform a mathematical operation on the text to convert it to a number. Read the article above carefully. Аlso take a look at my answers.
              For example,

              =--SUBSTITUTE(A1," ","")

              1. As I have tried to explain when having
                1 959,94 in A1 and writing
                =SUBSTITUTE(A1," ","")
                the function gives me 1 959,94, i.e., the function does not remove the space. And if I try to for example multiply the result by 1, the result is the error
                #VALUE!

                I have managed to remove the space only if I type the first argument of the function by hand like this:
                =SUBSTITUTE("1 959,94"," ","")

  5. I got it just by typing
    =[cell with number in text format]+0

    1. After exhausting all the methods I could find on the web, I solved the problem by copying and pasting the problematic data to MS Word, then re-exporting to Excel as Text. It was immediately recognizable by Excel as values for purposes of applying formulas, summation, etc.

      1. this works for me. thanks for your input

  6. this is not working in any of the solutions/function provided above . the excel i have uses "," for thousand separator and "." for decimals
    2.866.794,97 
    321.279,70 
    321.279,70 
    45.647,28 
    45.647,28 

  7. some times you need change seprator to"."
    may be before the change to text ,that seprator was "." but now seprator is"/"
    there is errore for change to value

  8. How can I convert a number (I get it from data from WEB) to Pivot table? Number in data is not appearing in pivot table. I used convert text to columns wizard and it work but every time I refresh the data, I need to go to convert text to columns wizard again.

  9. I want to convert from this value 1-120-00001297-7 to 1120000012977. How can i do? Thank you.

  10. Great explanation, thank you

    I encounter this problem with different way, I downlaoded a sheet that includes column "Budget", the cells in this colum are formatted as currency and it is left aligned, and the status bar shows only count. I tried to convert it to numbe by using Value function but it gives me error, the only way that worked with me, is selecting the cells and replace $ to blank, this makes the figures inside the cells numbers.
    Is there any explanation for this?

    1. Hello!
      The $ sign in the cell was not obtained using number formatting. It is written as text. So when you remove it, the value becomes a number.

  11. This has been such a mightmare. I finally got the following to work. Following all your suggestions and more, I just replace-all'd elimination of "$" and "." and ".00" to get 2, 3, 4, and 5 digit numbers that stubbornly refused to go to numeric. I extracted from the left the correct number of digits -- eg, 50 wants =let(cell,2) -- then I had to =trim(new cell) **even though there is no apparent space anywhere in sight**. Still it's not numeric but at that point you can multiply by 1 and turn it into a freaking number: yay!!!

    You cannot imagine how long it has taken to get this to work.

    And you have to manually reset the number of digits to extract. extracting more than the visible digits and then triming, just doesn't work. (@@) go figure.

    1. Did you manage to resolve this? I am having the same issue here.

  12. Hello, I'm trying to erase a space before a number (for thousands of cells which I got from another file) but I can't do it:
    Example: a cell contains a space before a number 1, and I need it to be just number 1, without a space before it.
    The problem with the number 1 after a space is that excel consider it a a text, the SUM of it is 0.
    When I overwrite a 1 in that cell which contains a space before the number 1, it converts to a number and SUM operates normally; but I can't do it cell by cell for thousands of cells.
    Please help me.

    1. Hello Tommy,
      Please try the TRIM function. (TDLR, google how to use TRIM)
      For example, if the column containing the numbers is A, and the first cell with data is A2 [not counting the header row], you should:
      1. Create (Insert a new column (B in our example)
      2 . In column B2, type: TRIM(A2)
      [this will give the output of the content of the content of cell A2 without any leading or trailing spaces]
      3. You can then fill the formula down by double-clicking the fill handle or any other way.
      [this will make the entire column B the same as A without any leading spaces]
      4. You can then copy column B and paste it in A as VALUES using the PASTE SPECIAL.

      I hope this helps.

    2. Do a 'find and replace' and put a space character in the find field and nothing in the replace field. It will apply to everything though....

    3. Hello!
      Have you tried the ways described in this blog post? Try Paste Special or Convert to Number as described in this article. These operations can be performed with the entire range of cells.

      1. Dear Alexander, thank you very much for your kind answer.
        I tried Paste Special, but when I copied the cell it copied only those which were numbers already, and didn't copy the other "numbers" which doesn't work as numbers.

        When I look at the numbers in the columns I notice that the same number is a little bit (one space) to the left of the "so called number" (which cannot be added, etc)
        If I look at that cell in particular, which contains for instance 145 it has a space before the number,
        but if I replace that writing the number 145 over it, will not have any space before it and then it will work fine as a number.

        Can't understand what kind of format those so called numbers have.

        1. Hi!
          If I understood correctly, you are copying the cells with your values, in which the numbers are written as text. Read the instructions carefully. Copy only one empty cell and then use Paste Special.

  13. Hello,
    I am trying to convert Satisfaction surveys from text to numbers, to avoid manual converting for receiving a high number of surveys in a weekly. I was provided with the following formula with little to no information on how to add it on the exported repot. There is a main sheet, but the data needs to be add once the exported sheet is completed. The formula provided is below and I am trying to convert only one column from text to numbers.
    =IF(T3489="Extremely dissatisfied",1,IF(T3489="Somewhat dissatisfied",2,IF(T3489="Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied",3,IF(T3489="Somewhat satisfied",4,IF(T3489="Extremely satisfied",5,0)))))

    Hoping to hear back!

    1. I think the above formula is just working fine & is able yo convert the col containing the survey response to numbers. What is the exact issue, unable to comprehend from your message above.

    2. Hi!
      I don't quite understand how I can help. I can't see your data. Add this formula to your worksheet. Change the cell address if necessary.

  14. 14811.10
    10363.44
    1 059.00
    -4 534.00
    -10 104.90

    How to get this into numbers ? Text to Column doesnt work

    1. Hello!
      Please try the following formula:

      =--SUBSTITUTE(A1," ","")

      If you use comma as decimal separator then use this formula

      =--SUBSTITUTE(SUBSTITUTE(A1,".",",")," ","")

      I'd recommend you to have a look at our Convert Text tool that can help you convert numbers stored as text to numbers. It is available as a part of our Ultimate Suite for Excel that you can install in a trial mode and check how it works for free.

  15. I have a list of names in excel which im looking to formulate into a list of numbers
    All names are differnt but im looking them to change into number formatt 1-8

    1. Hi!
      Unfortunately, without seeing your data it is difficult to give you any advice. Please provide me with an example of the source data and the expected result.

  16. How do I convert a duration to show a number:
    example:
    0:07
    0:15
    0:35
    And convert these to read as:
    0,07
    0,15
    0,35

  17. I have non numerical data (responded in monkey survey) the responses are in word i.e. agree, strongly agree, disagree, strongly disagree for many questions. I have exported the data of the survey to Excel sheet and all the responses are in word (string). I need to analyses basic statics corelating it with one variable (like male/female respondents). How do I convert this strings to numeric for analysis in excel?.

      1. Thank you Alexander, Very helpful

      2. @Alexander Trifuntov - Thank you very much, this has been very helpful and work simplified. Thank you very much once again.

  18. Hello
    I have
    1819VJO2045643_1
    2021RDO456326_1
    1920TDO785432_2
    Etc
    Etc

    Like this data with me i want to convert this string in to number or unique numbers how to convert please help me
    Thanks

    1. Hello!
      To extract all numbers from text, try this formula:

      =CONCAT(IF(ISNUMBER(--MID(A1,ROW($1:$94),1)),MID(A1,ROW($1:$94),1),""))

      If this is not what you wanted, please describe the problem in more detail.

      1. Sir
        how to find numbers and text

        Expl

        sunil12542kumar

        I WANT RESULT

        Sunil KUMAR 12542

  19. I have cells containing a simple subtraction like 12-9. It needs to display like that so I have applied Text formatting to it. The cell next to it needs to display the calculation - in this case 3. Excel converts it to a date and displays 44451. The 12-9 needs to be changeable and not require reformatting after data entry. Hope you can help - thanks

  20. Hi,
    I am trying to convert a value with dollar sign in text to Numeric but Value Function is giving error instead of giving 400 & 500 as results. Excel doc also says this should work. What may be the probable reasons.
    I am posting the exact code below

    A B C
    1. Name Money Won Value
    2.
    3. Mico $400 #VALUE! #=VALUE(B3)
    4. Noah $500 #VALUE! #=VALUE(B4)

    1. Hi!
      What are you trying to convert to a number, Mico $400 or $400? What formula are you using in cell B3? If you are trying to convert the value "$400" to a number, check which currency is set by default in the regional settings of Windows.

  21. Dear all, thank you for all these tips but it is not working for me. I need to change numbers stored as text into general format in order to be able to use a VLOOKUP formula. When I change my text into general I notice that the value change as well. For instance, it changes 92753660758293 into 92753660758290... How can I keep the right value? Many thanks for your answer.

    1. Hello!
      I don't know how you turn text into numbers. There are many ways. I have not been able to replicate your problem. However, keep in mind that the maximum number of numeric digits in Excel is 15.

  22. A1= 1
    A2 = (1+5)/2 as text
    A3 = (2+4)/2 as text
    in A4 i need the formulated A1*A2*A3
    A2 & A3 only can be write as text type

    1. I have same issue

  23. I have a large file with a column of data where I want to convert a 5 digit/character code alphanumeric text to number. Your instruction handles most of these cells in my file, but not for instances with an embedded alpha "E" character in the string. This column has 5-character codes that I wish to convert to number for a vlookup application. An example: a code of 71E62. I cannot get that cell (and many others) to convert to a number.

  24. I am still battling with this:
    There are a number of tricks you can use if you have a column of numbers in a format that Excel does not recognise as numbers. For example, let's say you have a column of numbers where some idiot has typed each number in using a comma as the thousands separator like this:

    52,321.45
    17,615.28
    19,785.98
    41,963.49

    If your version of Excel does not use commas for the thousands separator, (mine is et to use the apostrophe - ' -), or if some dummy actually typed in the commas, you can still quickly convert the entire column of text-numbers to numbers by using the Data - Text to columns function:

    Highlight the entire column.
    Click text to numbers
    Select "Delimited" and hit next.
    Uncheck all the delimiters and hit next
    Click General and then Advanced
    In the advanced box it asks for the decimals separator and for the thousands separator.
    Enter the separator you see on the screen (NOT the separator that you want). So in the above example you would put a comma as the thousands separator, and a full-stop as the decimal separator.
    click OK and finish.

    It works !!! - until the "text number" is in 1000's
    ie: R35,06 text converts to R35.06 number and
    R128,71 text converts to R128.71 number

    BUT -
    R4 020,40 text says as is and does not convert

    1. Hello!
      You can remove spaces from text using the formula

      =SUBSTITUTE(SUBSTITUTE(B1," ",""),",",".")

      I hope it’ll be helpful.

  25. 238453758
    182121050
    180284560
    190244150
    219852959
    68828553
    42000000

    how to Change above string to numbers? thanks

  26. Hello All,

    I have data with 10 digit followed by X. I need a digit in place of X.

    Example: 0123456789X is the data and i need the output to be like 01234567890, 01234567891,.......0123456789

    1. Hello!
      If I understand your task correctly, the following formula should work for you:

      ="0123456789"&SEQUENCE(100,1,0,1)

      You can learn more about SEQUENCE function in Excel in this article on our blog

      I hope it’ll be helpful.

  27. how do I convert all text strings to numbers in a column in Excel sheet
    'Php200.00
    'Php500.00
    'Php200.00
    'Php100.00
    'Php3,432.00
    Thank you.

    1. Hello!
      If I understand your task correctly, the following formula should work for you:

      =--MID(SUBSTITUTE(A1,",",""),4,20)

      Hope this is what you need.

  28. Thanks.

  29. Thanks a lot

  30. none of these worked for me. I have just numbers copied from powerpoint into excel. I've used, trim, value, left, text to columns, and just simply changing it, and none of these are working.

  31. Grande! Thanks!

  32. 39.2 -90.1 I have two values but i keep to both values in two different column how to do?

    1. Hi,
      Please check out this article to learn how to split text string by delimiter. Then you can convert two text strings to a numbers as described in this tutorial above.

  33. Hi!
    I work on spreadsheets daily, but all this needed info is tiresome!!
    I need a way where I can type minimum and it says it all...
    Like for instance: a column has different things like; interested, not interested, phone tomorrow, phone June, etc.
    Lazy me wants to connect each to a number and by pressing that number, it will say "Interested" or how ever it may be...
    I also need to know how to get the one column to add automatically say three days for follow-up call or to highlight the June call, that needs to be made, appear more urgent as we approach June, for instance...

    Any possible way to assist, please?

    Thank you kindly
    Annatjie

  34. How can I convert these numbers? I tried every suggestion above, but it did not work

    0.9587628865979382

  35. Hi. How do I get a column of written data selections (unlimited rows but 10 or 12 choices, eg different pathology types, to be converted to nunbers. Say, infection = 1, trauma = 2 etc.....

  36. I have a column of numbers that have an "AUD" reference at the end of each number. As a result it is not recognising them as numbers and I cannot tally the column. How do I remove the "AUD" reference from each cell to enable it to be added as numbers?

    1. Hello!
      If I understand your task correctly, you can use SUBSTITUTE function to remove unnecessary text and extract number:

      =--SUBSTITUTE(A10,"AUD","")

      If you have other questions, don't hesitate to ask.

  37. Thank you so much

  38. thank you

  39. Great Article ....

  40. in excel if cell gets value of numer as text than
    Befor enting the value in cell use =ABS(cell number)

  41. use below view for more clarity
    .................................... Total
    1 20 0 10 20 20
    2 25 25 20 10 25
    3 15 25 8 40
    4 40 200 10 30 40
    5 10 100 20 10 110
    6 30 100 6 20 30
    7 5 100 10 10 5
    8 0 100 8 20 0
    9 20 100 8 20
    10 25 200 0 30 25

  42. I have to get total of each row in below. I used "auto sum " to get the result, but it gets wrong value for each raw. How can i fix this, pls. help
    Total
    1 20 0 10 20 20
    2 25 25 20 10 25
    3 15 25 8 40
    4 40 200 10 30 40
    5 10 100 20 10 110
    6 30 100 6 20 30
    7 5 100 10 10 5
    8 0 100 8 20 0
    9 20 100 8 20
    10 25 200 0 30 25

    1. Hello!
      What formula are you using? Formula =SUM(A1:E5) doesn't work? Explain in detail what result you want to get.

  43. How to convert 89000478513C,890004687210 to 8900100047851303,8900100046871010 respectively and so on

    1. Hello!
      To replace a letter with its number in the alphabet, use the formula

      =CONCAT(IFERROR(IF(ISNUMBER(--MID(A1,ROW($1:$93),1)), MID(A1,ROW($1:$93),1), IF(CODE(MID(A1,ROW($1:$93),1))-64<=0, MID(A1,ROW($1:$93),1), CODE(MID(A1,ROW($1:$93),1))-64)),""),"")

      This is the formula for uppercase letters. If you need to replace lowercase letters, then instead of 64 use 96 in the formula

  44. how to convert area to numbers
    exp.area= 79.84 convert into number?
    please explain

  45. Hi,
    How do I recode a drop-down list in Excel, in other words assign a code number for each of the drop down responses? I've tried several of the options but they haven't worked.
    Thanks

    1. Hello Ellen!
      You can use the Combo Box (menu Developer - Insert - Form Controls - Combo Box). It returns the number of the selected item from the drop-down list to the cell you designated

  46. I have
    AA 8881/17
    BR 078/16
    BR 078/18
    BR 078/19
    CZ 458/18
    EK 148/15
    EK 148/15
    EK 9287/18
    KL 0427/15
    KL 0427/18
    and i need only the last 2 digits or to be sorted from the last 2 digits how can I do it?

    1. Hello!
      To extract the last 2 digits from the text, use the RIGHT function
      Text Result -

      =RIGHT(A1,2)

      Number result

      =--RIGHT(A1,2)

      I hope it’ll be helpful.

  47. How we can data in number when some data copied with table and pasted in excel now that numbers are in text and before starting numbers many spaces are there
    how we can do convert such cases in number format

  48. Hi,
    I cannot use vlookup formula when numbers are presented as text.
    Example I have:
    0456
    1247
    1234/1,
    and I need to have the values as text, so I can sort them A to Z. I always get the error massage, when use vlookup formula.
    Any help?

  49. I have a column on the left that goes from 0-60. The column on the right contains a formula that reads: =COUNTIF(CY$4:CY$66,0
    I put $ so that those inputs don't change but I'd like for the 0 to change to 1, 2 and so on.
    So going down the column it should look like this:
    =COUNTIF(CY$4:CY$66,0
    =COUNTIF(CY$4:CY$66,1
    =COUNTIF(CY$4:CY$66,2
    =COUNTIF(CY$4:CY$66,3
    And so on.
    That way I don't have to go into each cell to change each number individually. The reason I have to change it is because I have to add and delete rows which causes for there to be a gap which I then have to fix. I'm sure there's a way. Please help!

    1. I recommend using the ROW function as a counter.
      If your formula

      =COUNTIF(CY$4:CY$66,0)

      is in cell D2 (i.e., line 2) then change the formula

      =COUNTIF(CY$4:CY$66,ROW()-2)

      After that you can copy this formula down along the column.
      Hope this is what you need.

  50. Hi all.
    Need help on formula.
    E.g.
    In cell A2, there is 4 digit no. "1234"; cell A3, "2345".
    In cell B2, there is a text "M" and cell B3 text "C".
    How to form a formula in cell C2 and C3 that the output are "MM-181234-01" and "CC-182345-01" respectively.

    1. Hello Judith!
      If I got you right, the formula below will help you with your task:

      =CONCATENATE(B2,B2,"-18",A2,"-01")

      Hope this is what you need.

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