Microsoft Excel

Excel Convert Text to Numbers - Four easy methods

Chris Menard

23 Aug 2021 — 3 min read

Need to convert text to numbers in Excel? I'll demonstrate four methods in the easy-to-follow article and video. If you need to analyze data in Excel, numbers frequently come in as text and need to be converted.

**Excel convert text to numbers**

The four methods to convert text to values

- Method 1 - Green triangle - Method 2 - Value function - Method 3 - Text to columns - Method 4 - multiple by 1

YouTube video

Excel Convert Text to Numbers - Four easy methods

The Green Triangle

A green triangle in the upper-left corner of a cell indicates an error in the formula in the cell. In our example below, columns C & D contain text that should be salaries or numbers.

Select the range and use the arrow next to the green triangle to **convert to number**.

_Important note_: If you want to use text in a cell - zip codes, social security numbers, customer numbers, and employee IDs should be text, not numbers - ignore the green triangle.

**Green triangle in Excel - convert text to number**

Use the Value Function to convert text to numbers

The second method to covert text to numbers is to use the VALUE function in Excel. The VALUE function converts a text string that represents a number to a number. For example, =VALUE(A2)

In our example below, I used the VALUE function in cell F2 and Autofilled down. You need to use Copy and Paste Values. This is shown at 1:34 in the video above.

**VALUE Function in Excel**

Text to Columns Feature

The third method to convert text to number is to use the **Text to Columns** feature located on the Data Tab in the Data Tools group. This method is shown at 2:00 in the video.

**Text to Columns in Excel**

**Text to Columns dialog box**

Multiply by 1 to convert text to numbers

Method 4 is to multiple by 1 to convert text to numbers. This is my favorite method since I can select multiply items at one time and I do not have to use copy and paste values. This method is shown at 2:36 in the video.

Steps:

1. Type the number 1 in a blank cell and copy it. 2. Select the text that needs to be converted. 3. Right-click and do a **Paste Special.** Select **Multiply** and click **OK**.

**Multiply by 1 to change text to number**

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