How To Convert Text to Numbers in Excel

Have you tried calculating in Excel only to discover that your numbers act like text?

It’s a common issue that can throw off your calculations and leave you scratching your head. Fortunately, you can quickly convert text to numbers in Exce once you know the right steps.

In this guide, you will learn how to identify and resolve this issue with step-by-step methods for converting text to numbers in Excel.

Why Numbers Sometimes Appear as Text

Before exploring solutions, you should understand why this issue occurs:

1. Imported data: Data copied or imported from external sources (like websites or CSV files) often gets formatted as text.

2. Manual entry errors: Adding an apostrophe (') before a number or including spaces turns it into text.

3. Formatting issues: Cells formatted as text retain that setting, even when numbers are entered.

Read more: How to Convert Date to Text in Excel.

Identifying Numbers Stored as Text

Identifying which cells are formatted as text in your worksheet can be tricky. If you face this issue, you should try these approaches:

• Visual clues: Text-formatted numbers are usually left-aligned (unlike right-aligned numbers).

• Green triangle: Excel flags text-based numbers with a small green triangle in the top-left corner of the cell.

  

• Functions: Use =ISTEXT(cell_reference) to check if a cell contains text. If it returns TRUE, it’s text.

  

Ways to Convert Text to Numbers in Excel

Depending on the complexity of your data and the root cause of the issue, Microsoft Excel provides several tools and techniques to convert text values to number format. Let's explore them together.

1. Use the ‘Convert to Number’ option.

Excel’s built-in error-checking tool is the quickest way to fix numbers stored as text. If your cells display a green triangle in the top-left corner, Excel is already aware of the issue.

Steps to convert:

• Select the cells with the green triangle.

  

• Click the error indicator (warning sign) that appears near the selected cell(s).

  

• Choose Convert to Number from the dropdown menu.

  

Note: This method best suits small datasets and cells already flagged by Excel’s error-checking system.

2. Change the cell format.

Sometimes, the problem lies in the cell’s format being set to "Text." Changing it to "Number" or "General" often resolves the issue.

Steps to convert:

• Select the problematic cells.

  

• Right-click and choose Format Cells from the context menu.

  

• In the Format Cells dialog box, go to the Number tab.

• In the Number section, click the dropdown and select Number or General.

• Press Enter or re-enter the data into the cells.

  

Note: This approach works only if the text-formatted numbers are clean (i.e., without leading/trailing spaces or non-printable characters). Otherwise, the numbers may remain as text.

3. Paste Special to multiply by 1.

This clever trick forces Excel to recognize text-formatted numbers by performing a simple arithmetic operation.

Steps to convert:

• Type the number 1 in a blank cell and copy it (Ctrl + C).

• Select the cells containing text-formatted numbers.

  

• Right-click, choose Paste Special, and select Multiply from the Paste Special dialog box.

• Click OK to apply.

  

Note: Multiplying by 1 doesn’t change the numeric value but forces Excel to recognize the content as a number. So, this method is great for quickly fixing large datasets without altering the values.

4. Use Text to Columns.

Excel users use the Text to Columns feature to split and reformat data. It can also be used to convert text-formatted numbers.

Steps to convert:

• Highlight the column containing text strings.

• Go to the Data tab and click Text to Columns.

  

• Select Delimited and click Next twice.

  

• Under Column Data Format, choose General and click Finish.

  

Note: This approach works only if the text-formatted numbers are clean (i.e., without leading/trailing spaces or non-printable characters). Otherwise, the numbers may remain as text.

Read more: How to Convert Formula to Text String in Excel.

5. Apply the VALUE function.

By interpreting the text, the VALUE function converts numbers stored as text into proper numeric values. 

Steps to convert:

• In an adjacent column, enter the formula =VALUE(cell_reference) (e.g., =VALUE(A1)).

  

• Drag the formula down to apply it to all the cells.

• Copy the results and paste them as values (use Paste Special > Values).

Note: This method is best for data imported from external sources that need formula-based conversion.

Handling Special Cases

Sometimes, converting text to numbers in Excel isn’t as straightforward as applying one of the previous methods. Special cases like leading spaces, non-printable characters, or inconsistent formatting can complicate the process. These issues require additional cleaning before conversion.

1. Removing leading and trailing spaces.

Spaces at the beginning or end of a cell can prevent Excel from recognizing numbers properly. Using the TRIM function will solve this issue.

• In an adjacent cell, type =TRIM(cell_reference) (e.g., =TRIM(A1)).

• Drag the formula down to apply it to other cells.

• Copy the results and paste them back as values:

  • Right-click, choose Paste Special and select Values.

2. Eliminating non-printable characters.

Imported data or copied text might contain invisible, non-printable characters that interfere with Excel’s processing. The CLEAN function removes these characters.

• In a blank column, type =CLEAN(cell_reference) (e.g., =CLEAN(A1)).

• Drag the formula down to clean all affected cells.

• Copy and paste the cleaned results back as values.

Pro tip: Combine CLEAN with TRIM for thorough data cleaning with =TRIM(CLEAN(cell_reference)).

Read more: How to Convert Number to Date in Excel.

How to Prevent the Issue

As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure. To avoid dealing with text-formatted numbers in the future:

1. Set proper cell formatting: Format cells as General or Number before entering data.

2. Data validation: Use Excel’s data validation tools to restrict incorrect entries.

3. Educate users: Train collaborators to avoid adding spaces or symbols unnecessarily.

Final Thoughts on "How to Convert Text to Numbers in Excel"

Converting text to numbers in Excel is simple once you understand the problem and use the right approach. Whether it’s a quick fix or cleaning up special cases, these techniques will help you get your data back on track. You’ll master these tricks and keep your spreadsheets error-free with a little practice!

FAQ on "How to Convert Text to Numbers in Excel"

What is the fastest way to convert text to numbers in Excel?

The fastest way to convert text to numbers in Excel is by using the 'Convert to Number' option. Simply select the cells, click the error indicator (green triangle), and choose Convert to Number from the dropdown.

How can I convert text to date format in Excel?

If your text is in a recognizable date format (e.g., 01/01/2023), use =DATEVALUE(A1).

How can I extract numbers from text in Excel?

You can extract numbers from text in Excel with any of the Text functions LEFT, RIGHT, and MID. For example, =TEXT(MID(A1,ROW(INDIRECT("1:"&LEN(A1))),1)*1,"0") extracts numbers from text in A1.

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