by This tutorial explains the specificities of the Excel TEXT function and shows some clever ways to use Text formulas in Excel.
Microsoft Excel is all about numbers, and in your worksheets, you are likely to deal with numbers most of the time. However, there are situations when you need to convert numbers to text, and it is where the TEXT function steps in.
Excel TEXT function - syntax and basic uses
In its pure essence, TEXT in Excel is used to convert a numeric value to a text string in a specific format.
The syntax for the Excel TEXT function is as follows:
Where:
- Value - the numeric value to be converted to text. It can be a number, date, reference to a cell containing a numeric value or another function that returns a number or date.
- Format_text - the format that you want to apply. It is supplied in the form of a format code enclosed in the quotation marks, e.g. "mm/dd/yy".
The TEXT function is available in all versions of Excel 365, Excel 2021, Excel 2019, Excel 2016, Excel 2013, Excel 2010, Excel 2007, and lower.
Generally, an Excel TEXT formula is used in the following situations:
- To display numbers in a more readable way or in a format that makes more sense for your users.
- To display dates in a specific format.
- To combine numbers or dates with certain text or characters.
For example, if you want to pull the date from cell A2 and show it in another cell in the traditional date format like "January 1, 2016", you use the following Excel TEXT formula:
=TEXT(A2, "mmmm d, yyyy")
The result will look similar to this:
Important note! The TEXT function in Excel converts a numeric value to a text strings. Consequently, you won't be able to use the result of your Text formula in other calculations. If there's such a need, you can keep the original values (hidden or kept out of sight), and use them in other formulas.
Excel TEXT function format codes
As you have just seen, the syntax of the Excel TEXT function is very straightforward, a tricky part is supplying a proper format code that will output your number the way you want. Essentially, the TEXT function accepts most of the format codes used in Excel number formats. The table below lists the most common and frequently used ones.
| Code | Description | Format code example |
| 0 | Digit placeholder that displays insignificant zeros. | #.00 - always displays 2 decimal places.
If you type 2.5 in the referenced cell, it will display as 2.50. |
| # | Digit placeholder that does not display extra zeros. | #.## - displays up to 2 decimal places.
If you type 2.5, it will display as 2.5. If you type 2.555, it will display as 2.56. |
| ? | Digit placeholder that leaves a space for insignificant zeros but doesn't display them. It is generally used to align numbers in a column at a decimal point. | #.?? - displays a maximum of 2 decimal places and aligns the decimal points in a column. |
| . (period) | Decimal point | |
| , (comma) | Thousands separator. | ###,###.## - displays a thousands separator and 2 decimal places.
If you type 250000, it will display as 250,000.00 |
Additionally, you can include any of the following characters in the format code, and they will be displayed exactly as entered.
| Symbol | Description |
| + and - | Plus and minus signs |
| ( ) | Left and right parenthesis |
| : | Colon |
| ^ | Caret |
| ' | Apostrophe |
| { } | Curly brackets |
| < > | Less-than and greater than signs |
| = | Equal sign |
| / | Forward slash |
| ! | Exclamation point |
| & | Ampersand |
| ~ | Tilde |
| Space character |
The following spreadsheet shows how you can use a Text formula in Excel to apply different formatting types to the same value.
| A | B | C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Original Value | Formatted Value | Formula |
| 2 | 5.5 | 5.50 | =TEXT(A2, "0.00") |
| 3 | 550% | =TEXT(A2,"#%") | |
| 4 | $5.50 | =TEXT(A2, "$#,##0.00") | |
| 5 | + $5.50 | =TEXT(A2, "+ $#,##0.00;- $#,##0.00;$0.00") | |
| 6 | - $5.50 | =TEXT(A2, "- $#,##0.00;- $#,##0.00;$0.00") | |
| 7 | 5 1/2 | =TEXT(A2,"# ?/?") | |
| 8 | 5.50E+00 | =TEXT(A2,"0.00E+00") | |
| 9 | ~6 ! | =TEXT(A2,"~# !") |
When using the Excel TEXT function with dates and times, you can use any of the following format codes.
| Format code | Description | Examples |
| d | Day of month, or
day of week |
d - one or two-digit number without a leading zero (1 to 31)
dd - two-digit number with a leading zero (01 to 31) ddd - three-letter abbreviation (Mon to Sun) dddd - full name of day of week (Monday to Sunday) |
| m | Month (when used as part of a date) | m - one or two-digit number without a leading zero (1 to 12)
mm - two-digit number with a leading zero (01 to 12) mmm - abbreviated month (Jan to Dec) mmmm - full name of month (January to December) |
| y | Year | yy - two-digit number (e.g. 06 meaning 2006 or 16 meaning 2016)
yyyy - four digit number (e.g. 2006, 2016) |
| h | Hour | h - one or two-digit number without a leading zero (1 to 24)
hh - two-digit number with a leading zero (01 to 24) |
| m | Minute (when used as part of time) | m - one or two-digit number without a leading zero (1 to 60)
mm - two-digit number with a leading zero (01 to 60) |
| s | Second | s - one or two-digit number without a leading zero (1 to 60)
ss - two-digit number with a leading zero (01 to 60) |
| AM/PM | Time represented as a 12-hour clock, followed by "AM" or "PM" | |
The following spreadsheet shows a few Excel Text formulas for dates:
| A | B | C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Original Date | Formatted Date | Formula |
| 2 | 12/09/2016 | Dec 09 2016 | =TEXT(A2, "mmm dd yyyy") |
| 3 | Friday 09 December, 2016 | =TEXT(A2, "dddd dd mmmm, yyyy") | |
| 4 | 9-Dec-16 | =TEXT(A2, "d-mmm-yy") | |
| 5 | Friday | =TEXT(A2,"dddd") |
How to use TEXT function in Excel - formula examples
So far, you might have an impression that the use of the Excel TEXT function is quite limited (because a value's display can easily be changed using the Format Cells dialog available via a cell's context menu or Ctrl+1 shortcut). The situation changes as soon as you start using TEXT in combination with other Excel functions. The below examples will give you a few inspirational ideas.
Concatenate text and number (or date) in a custom format
When creating summary sheets or reports, you may often want not only calculate totals, percentages and the like, but also explain to your users what this or that number means. To do this, use the CONCATENATE function to join text and numbers, and the TEXT function to display the number (or date) like you want it.
Example 1. Format numbers inside a text string
Supposing you calculate the total amount based on the unit price in cell A2, quantity in B2, and discount percentage in C2 using this calculation: =A2*B2*(1-C2). For your users to know exactly what the output number means, you wish to display it together with some explanatory text like "Your price is". Additionally, you want to show the currency symbol, thousands separator and two decimal places.
To have it done, supply the above calculation in the 1st argument of the TEXT function, include the corresponding format code in the 2nd argument, and concatenate the Text formula with a string using either the ampersand operator or CONCATENATE function:
="Your price is "&TEXT(A2*B2*(1-C2), "$###,###.00")
or
= CONCATENATE("Your price is ",TEXT(A2*B2*(1-C2), "$###,###.00"))
The following screenshot demonstrates the result:
Example 2. Combine text and date in the desired format
When you return the current date using TODAY() or NOW() function, you may also want to display it in combination with some text so that no one has any doubt what day this date refers to.
However, if you try to concatenate a text and date in the usual way:
=CONCATENATE("Today is ", TODAY())
Excel will return a very odd result, something like "Today is 42198".
The point is that in the internal Excel system, dates are stored as numbers, and that number appears in a concatenated text string. To fix this, use the TEXT function to display the date the way you want.
For example, embedding the TODAY function in the Text formula with the format code "dddd d mmm, yyyy" will return a string similar to this: "Today is Monday 12 Dec, 2016".
The complete formula goes as follows:
=CONCATENATE("Today is ", TEXT(TODAY(), "dddd d mmm, yyyy"))
or
="Today is " & TEXT(TODAY(), "dddd d mmm, yyyy")
A few more formula examples can be found here: Concatenate numbers and dates in various formats.
Add leading zeros to numbers with variable lengths
As you know, Microsoft Excel automatically removes leading zeros typed before a number in a cell, which works fine in most situations. But what if you want to keep the preceding zeros?
The Excel TEXT function can be an easy solution to pad numbers with leading zeros in a column, even if the original values are not the same length. Simply use the format code containing only zero placeholders like "0000000", where the number of zeros corresponds to the number of digits you want to display.
For example, to display 7-digit numbers with leading zeros, use this formula (where A2 is the original number):
=TEXT(A2,"0000000")
As you can see in the screenshot below, our Excel Text formula adds as many leading zeros as necessary to make a 7-character long string (please remember, the result of the TEXT function in Excel is always a text string, even if it looks like a number).
Convert values to phone numbers in a specific format
Turning a column of numeric values into telephone numbers may sound like a tricky task, but only until you remember that the Excel TEXT function allows using dashes and parentheses in format codes.
So, to display a number in A2 in a traditional US local 7-digit phone format like 123-456, use this formula:
=TEXT(A2, "###-####")
If some of the original values may contain a domestic prefix (i.e. there can be both 7-digit or 10-digit numbers), include the following conditional format code to display 10-digit numbers in the (123) 456-789 format:
=TEXT(A2,"[<=9999999]###-####;(###) ###-####")
The screenshot below shows this Excel Text formula in action:
Excel TEXT function not working - reasons and solutions
Compared to other Excel functions, TEXT is very simple and painless, and you are unlikely to have any difficulties when using it in your spreadsheets. If, against all expectations, a Text formula is not working for you, in most cases it's because of an incorrect format code input in the format_text argument. Here are two most typical issues:
- The TEXT function returns the #NAME? error if you omit the quotation marks around the format code.
For example the formula
=TEXT(A2, mm/dd/yy)is incorrect and should be written this way:=TEXT(A2, "mm/dd/yy") - The TEXT function in Excel is language-specific, and requires using region-specific date and time format codes.
For example, the formula =TEXT(A2, "mm/dd/yy") that works fine for English users may return the #VALUE error in other locales. In particular, in Germany, you'd need to use the following format codes: "t" instead of "d" and "j" instead of "y" because "day" in German is "tag" and year is "jahr"; "m"(month) is fine because in German it also begins with "m" (monat). So, in German Excel, the above formula will read as follows: =TEXT(A2; "mm/tt/jj"). In France, you'd use the "mm/jj/aa" format code because "day" is "jour", "month" is "mois", and "year" is "an".
Also, please pay attention that in European countries, the List Separator is usually set to semicolon, not comma, and therefore ";" should be used to separate the formula's arguments.
This is how you use TEXT in Excel. If someone wants to have a closer look at the formulas discussed in this tutorial, you are welcome to download the Sample Excel TEXT function worksheet.
Other Excel Text functions
Apart from TEXT, there are a handful of other functions to work with text values in Excel. Some of them are designed to convert text into numbers and the other way round, while others are used for manipulating text strings themselves. Below you will find formula examples of both types.
99 comments
How would you convert 123,456 to 123k?
To format 123,456 to 123K use the formula
=TEXT(123,456,"#0,K") or
=TEXT(123,456,"#0,")&"K"
Notice the position of the comma in the formats. The comma is after the zero.
I use this to show the thousands, but I have problem with the Millions. "$#,##0,K;($#,##0,K)". How can I add the brackets for minus value? "$#.#,,")&"M".
Hi! To set the format for negative numbers, use the second format section.
#,##0,," M";(#,##0,," M"
The following tutorial should help: Show negative numbers in parentheses
Can I put the format_text in a cell?
A1 contains 12.345
B1 contains "0.0"
The formula =TEXT(A1,B1) does not work. But =TEXT(A1,"0.0") works fine, returning 12.3 of course.
Hello!
In cell B1, write the format as text: '0.0
Use leading apostrophe before numbers. Don't use quotation marks.
how to convert 123.410 to 123410 by excel formula?
formula for multi digit number combine to single digit in excel Example : 49 = 4+9 =13 =1+3=4 ;Answer I should Get =4
Hi,
This is very useful tutorial! I need help converting a string of alphanumeric and numbers only to text.
The function =text(cell, “0”) works for data below 15 digits. Beyond 15 digits, the text return is converted to 0. Any advice how I can overcome this?
A1=6/3
A2=text(a1,"#/#")
but Result shows 2/1
not showing 6/3
kindly support
Good day can you please help me i want to use function to show heading entry from another cell i need to know which function to use.
Hello!
What heading are you talking about? You can use a regular link like =A2 and set the desired font in the cell.
Hello,
Please could any one tell me how at add zeroes to a number with text string and arrange them in sequence. I tried text formula to make all the number 5 digits but zeroes doesn't get added on the number with string Ex:
02064
02065
02066
20641
20642
2064
2064C1
2064CRS1
2064CRS2
20645
Hello!
I’m sorry but your task is not entirely clear to me. For me to be able to help you better, please describe your task in more detail. Please specify what you were trying to find, what formula you used and what problem or error occurred. Give an example of the the expected result. what number do you want to get from 2064C1? Is it 20640?
It’ll help me understand it better and find a solution for you.
To convert a number as text to a number, you can perform any mathematical operation with it. For example,
=--A1
I want adding zero my Bank Account Number Using formula
Suppose My Card Number Is 123.456.8975 I want add 00 before 8975(123.456.008975)
how to do it
Hello!
If I got you right, the formula below will help you with your task:
=REPLACE(A4,9,0,"00")
I hope this will help
Hi, is there a formatting that can convert text to subscript or superscript?
Hello Anna!
Formatting cannot convert text to uppercase. To do this, use the UPPER function or VBA
How to display the output value as (+12) where 12 is the output value? I mean to ask how to add plus or minus sign based on the values within parentheses. Thanks in advance
Hello,
This is a very useful tutorial!
Thank you
Hello,
I am trying to sort value with alphanumeric value.
tried text and value formula - TEXT(A2,"###") and - VALUE(A2)
also tried in Data tab, in the TEXT TO COLUMNS group and
Data tab, in the Sort group
I need formula to sort randomly where value should be serial-wise in column (final date wanted). please help me in solving this.
Actual data sorting Final data wanted
5-3-56 5-3-56 2-18-1349,1340A & B
16-9-1009/13,1009 5-2-10 5-2-10
8-11-T-1044(1) 12-6-1674,1674A,B 5-3-56
18-4-T-187/18 16-10-1012/1(2) 6-10-1012,A
6-10-1012,A 16-9-1009/13,1009 8-8-1389A,B
16-10-1012/1(2) 16-9-T-9716/10(16) 8-11-T-1044(1)
26-12-T-1148/2(1) 18-4-T-187/18 8-11-11-T-18/87(36)
2-18-1349,1340A & B 19-12-1233 TO 1248 9-10-1012/9(1)
5-2-10 2-18-1349,1340A & B 12-6-1674,1674A,B
19-12-1233 TO 1248 26-12-T-1148/2(1) 16-9-1009/13,1009
8-8-1389A,B 6-10-1012,A 16-9-T-9716/10(16)
16-9-T-9716/10(16) 8-11-11-T-18/87(36) 16-10-1012/1(2)
9-10-1012/9(1) 8-11-T-1044(1) 18-4-T-187/18
12-6-1674,1674A,B 8-8-1389A,B 19-12-1233 TO 1248
8-11-11-T-18/87(36) 9-10-1012/9(1) 26-12-T-1148/2(1)
referred pages
https://www.ablebits.com/office-addins-blog/excel-text-function-formula-examples/
https://www.ablebits.com/office-addins-blog/split-cells-google-sheets/
https://www.ablebits.com/office-addins-blog/excel-value-function/
https://www.ablebits.com/office-addins-blog/alphabetize-excel-sort-columns-rows/
Hope you can help me out in solving this. Please Help.
When I import a text field "1E1" into MS Excel, it converts to "1.00E+01". How can I stop it from converting OR what is a formula to reverse the scientific notation. Currently, when I try to convert it back it turns into "10".
Kindly note for your problem "1E1"
=text(A2,"@")
Hi
I would like to convert number from currency to text
How can i do this, my number format let say for example RM34.00 so the bank want it to be in 00000340000 11 digits, how to do it
I got atleast 2k data
Hi,
How can I format a function results to "underline" part of the string??
Ex: I need to calculate todays date and print "Today is: 8/31/2019" WITH ONLY "8/31/2019" UNDERSCORED.
how would i convert amount into words
my question is =if(a1>=250rgb,"a2*60")
Hello,
I need formula where in column A with percentage changing against text which is having in column B.
Ewample : Column A = 0%, 25%, 75%, 85% and 100%
Coumn B = WIP, complete, Ready, AWIP, delivered
how can I write it.
Regards,
Kumar
Hi i am trying to create a string of numbers with initials at the end that is populated from a cell with an if statement.
i need the number to read 2019-000-AA
2019 comes from cell L12, 000 is from cell M12 (i need the leading Zero to show when the number is only a double digit or single digit - i need it to have the 0 placeholders) and AA is from J4.
I also have a macro that needs to run adding plus 1 to the number in cell M12. i have the code for this, but it is not working and cell I4 when =L12&M12&J4 does not show the 0 place holder before the middle number (M12)
You want to wrap the middle cell in a TEXT() function. The other portions seem to be taking care of themselves, but since the middle cell can be a single place, two, or three but needs to always be three here, it is a natural for the TEXT() function. For example:
=L12& TEXT( M12, "000" ) &J4
Then you will always have at least three places filled.