Convert numbers into words in Excel – A comprehensive guide

Limitations of this method:

• Only works in Excel for Microsoft 365 (due to TRANSLATE() function).
• Output depends heavily on the accuracy of BAHTTEXT() formatting.
• This method is suited for currencies that, like Thai Baht, have both a main unit and a subunit (e.g., dollars and cents). It is not recommended for currencies that do not follow a similar currency structure.

Method 2: Use VBA user-defined function

In this section, you'll learn how to use a VBA-based User Defined Function (UDF) to convert numeric values into English currency words—specifically tailored for U.S. Dollars (USD) by default.

Step 1: Insert VBA code

1. Open the worksheet where you want to use this feature.
2. Press "Alt" + "F11" to open the "Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications" window.
3. In the editor, click "Insert" > "Module", and paste the following VBA code.

   Function SpellNumberToEnglish(ByVal pNumber)
   'Update by Extendoffice
   Dim Dollars, Cents
   arr = Array("", "", " Thousand ", " Million ", " Billion ", " Trillion ")
   pNumber = Trim(Str(pNumber))
   xDecimal = InStr(pNumber, ".")
   If xDecimal > 0 Then
       Cents = GetTens(Left(Mid(pNumber, xDecimal + 1) & "00", 2))
       pNumber = Trim(Left(pNumber, xDecimal - 1))
   End If
   xIndex = 1
   Do While pNumber <> ""
       xHundred = ""
       xValue = Right(pNumber, 3)
       If Val(xValue) <> 0 Then
           xValue = Right("000" & xValue, 3)
           If Mid(xValue, 1, 1) <> "0" Then
               xHundred = GetDigit(Mid(xValue, 1, 1)) & " Hundred "
           End If
           If Mid(xValue, 2, 1) <> "0" Then
               xHundred = xHundred & GetTens(Mid(xValue, 2))
           Else
               xHundred = xHundred & GetDigit(Mid(xValue, 3))
           End If
       End If
       If xHundred <> "" Then
           Dollars = xHundred & arr(xIndex) & Dollars
       End If
       If Len(pNumber) > 3 Then
           pNumber = Left(pNumber, Len(pNumber) - 3)
       Else
           pNumber = ""
       End If
       xIndex = xIndex + 1
   Loop
   Select Case Dollars
       Case ""
           Dollars = "No Dollars"
       Case "One"
           Dollars = "One Dollar"
       Case Else
           Dollars = Dollars & " Dollars"
   End Select
   Select Case Cents
       Case ""
           Cents = " and No Cents"
       Case "One"
           Cents = " and One Cent"
       Case Else
           Cents = " and " & Cents & " Cents"
   End Select
   SpellNumberToEnglish = Dollars & Cents
   End Function
   Function GetTens(pTens)
   Dim Result As String
   Result = ""
   If Val(Left(pTens, 1)) = 1 Then
       Select Case Val(pTens)
           Case 10: Result = "Ten"
           Case 11: Result = "Eleven"
           Case 12: Result = "Twelve"
           Case 13: Result = "Thirteen"
           Case 14: Result = "Fourteen"
           Case 15: Result = "Fifteen"
           Case 16: Result = "Sixteen"
           Case 17: Result = "Seventeen"
           Case 18: Result = "Eighteen"
           Case 19: Result = "Nineteen"
           Case Else
       End Select
   Else
   Select Case Val(Left(pTens, 1))
       Case 2: Result = "Twenty "
       Case 3: Result = "Thirty "
       Case 4: Result = "Forty "
       Case 5: Result = "Fifty "
       Case 6: Result = "Sixty "
       Case 7: Result = "Seventy "
       Case 8: Result = "Eighty "
       Case 9: Result = "Ninety "
       Case Else
   End Select
   Result = Result & GetDigit(Right(pTens, 1))
   End If
   GetTens = Result
   End Function
   Function GetDigit(pDigit)
   Select Case Val(pDigit)
       Case 1: GetDigit = "One"
       Case 2: GetDigit = "Two"
       Case 3: GetDigit = "Three"
       Case 4: GetDigit = "Four"
       Case 5: GetDigit = "Five"
       Case 6: GetDigit = "Six"
       Case 7: GetDigit = "Seven"
       Case 8: GetDigit = "Eight"
       Case 9: GetDigit = "Nine"
       Case Else: GetDigit = ""
   End Select
   End Function

   

4. Press "Alt" + "Q" to return to the worksheet.

Step 2: Apply the function

1. In a cell, enter the formula below and press "Enter".
   =SpellNumberToEnglish(A2)
2. Then drag the fill handle to apply it to other rows as needed. Your numbers will now be spelled out in words like:

   

Adapt for other currencies:

The function outputs values in “Dollar(s)” and “Cent(s)”, which are hardcoded for USD only. If you want to convert numbers into other currencies, for example, "British Pound", you need to manually change the major and minor units in the following code lines.

Save the workbook as a macro-enabled file

By default, VBA functions will not be retained unless the workbook is saved as a macro-enabled workbook:

1. Press "Ctrl" + "S" to save.
2. And select the "Go back" button in the pop-up message about macros.
   Note: If the pop-up shows only "Yes", "No" and "Help", click "No".

   

3. In the "Save As" window.
   1. Choose a save location.
   2. Select "Excel Macro-Enabled Workbook (*.xlsm)" in the "Save as type" drop-down list.
   3. Click "Save".

      

Limitations of the SpellNumberToEnglish VBA Function

• This function only generates results in English.
• It doesn’t support other languages (e.g., French, German), nor does it handle currency structures where the currency unit comes before the number (e.g., “Rupees One Hundred” in Indian English).

• If you don't save the workbook as a macro-enabled workbook (.xlsm), the function will be lost when you close Excel.
• If saved as a normal .xlsx file, all VBA code will be stripped out.

• Sending the macro-enabled file to others will trigger a “Security Warning – Macros have been disabled” prompt when opened.
• Some users may hesitate to enable macros, fearing potential security risks, and may choose not to use the file.

• Any changes to currency terms or formatting require editing the VBA code manually.
• Not ideal for users unfamiliar with macros or scripting.

Method 3: Use Kutools for Excel (No formulas or VBA needed)

If you install "Kutools for Excel", use its "Numbers to Words" feature to convert numbers into English (currency or plain), dozens of other languages and currencies like EUR, GBP, JPY, etc.

If you're looking for a no-code, user-friendly, and versatile solution to convert numbers to words in Excel, Kutools for Excel offers a dedicated “Numbers to Words” feature that supports:

• English (USD, GBP, EUR, etc.)
• Dozens of other languages and currencies (e.g., Japanese Yen, Indian Rupee, Chinese Yuan)
• Currency format or plain words (e.g., "One Hundred Twenty-Three" instead of "One Hundred Twenty-Three Dollars")

Steps to use:

1. Select the cells that contain the numbers you want to convert.
2. Select "Kutools" > "Content" > "Numbers to Words".
3. In the "Numbers to Currency Word" dialog box, you need to:
   1. Choose the language and currency style you prefer (e.g. English – United States for USD)
   2. Click "OK".

      

Optional: Tick "Not converted to currency" if you want plain English words (without "dollars" or "cents").

Your selected numbers will now be converted into the appropriate currency words, depending on your settings.

Reverse operation: Convert currency words to numbers

If you have a list of currency amounts written out in English words, like:

and you want to convert them to actual numbers in Excel (e.g., 123.45), you can use a custom VBA User Defined Function (UDF) as follows.

Step 1: Open the VBA Editor and insert VBA code

1. Open your Excel workbook.
2. Press "Alt" + "F11" to open the "Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications (VBA)" editor.
3. In the VBA editor, click "Insert" > "Module".
4. Copy and paste the following VBA code into the blank module window:

   Function WordsToNumber(ByVal Txt As String) As Double
   'Updated by Extendoffice
       Dim x As Object: Set x = CreateObject("Scripting.Dictionary")
       Dim units, tens, specials
       Dim part As String, parts() As String
       Dim total As Double, partial As Double, multiplier As Double
       Dim i As Long, word As String
       
       Txt = LCase(Trim(Txt))
       Txt = Replace(Txt, ",", "")
       Txt = Replace(Txt, "-", " ")
       Txt = Replace(Txt, " and ", " ")
       Txt = Replace(Txt, "  ", " ")
       
       ' Setup basic number words
       x.Add "zero", 0: x.Add "one", 1: x.Add "two", 2: x.Add "three", 3
       x.Add "four", 4: x.Add "five", 5: x.Add "six", 6: x.Add "seven", 7
       x.Add "eight", 8: x.Add "nine", 9: x.Add "ten", 10: x.Add "eleven", 11
       x.Add "twelve", 12: x.Add "thirteen", 13: x.Add "fourteen", 14
       x.Add "fifteen", 15: x.Add "sixteen", 16: x.Add "seventeen", 17
       x.Add "eighteen", 18: x.Add "nineteen", 19: x.Add "twenty", 20
       x.Add "thirty", 30: x.Add "forty", 40: x.Add "fifty", 50
       x.Add "sixty", 60: x.Add "seventy", 70: x.Add "eighty", 80
       x.Add "ninety", 90: x.Add "hundred", 100: x.Add "thousand", 1000
       x.Add "million", 1000000: x.Add "billion", 1000000000
       
       Dim dollarPart As String, centPart As String
       Dim dollarValue As Double, centValue As Double
       
       ' Split into dollars and cents
       If InStr(Txt, "dollar") > 0 Then
           dollarPart = Trim(Split(Txt, "dollar")(0))
       End If
       If InStr(Txt, "cent") > 0 Then
           centPart = Trim(Split(Txt, "cent")(0))
           If InStr(centPart, "dollar") > 0 Then
               centPart = Trim(Split(centPart, "dollar")(1))
           End If
       End If
       
       dollarValue = ParseWordsToNumber(dollarPart, x)
       centValue = ParseWordsToNumber(centPart, x)
       
       WordsToNumber = dollarValue + centValue / 100
   End Function
   
   Private Function ParseWordsToNumber(ByVal Txt As String, x As Object) As Double
       Dim parts() As String: parts = Split(Txt, " ")
       Dim total As Double, current As Double
       Dim i As Long, val As Double
       
       For i = 0 To UBound(parts)
           If x.exists(parts(i)) Then
               val = x(parts(i))
               Select Case val
                   Case 100
                       If current = 0 Then current = 1
                       current = current * val
                   Case Is >= 1000
                       If current = 0 Then current = 1
                       total = total + current * val
                       current = 0
                   Case Else
                       current = current + val
               End Select
           End If
       Next i
       
       total = total + current
       ParseWordsToNumber = total
   End Function

Step 2: Apply the function in your sheet

1. Press "Alt" + "Q" to return to Excel.
2. In any empty cell, enter this formula and press "Enter". Drag the "Fill Handle" down to get the rest of the results.
   =WordsToNumber(A2)

   

Conclusion

Converting numbers to words—or words back to numbers—is not something Excel offers natively, but this guide has shown that there are multiple practical solutions depending on your needs:

• Microsoft 365 users can take advantage of modern built-in functions like TRANSLATE to convert currency numbers to English words with formulas, especially for currencies that follow a "main + subunit" structure.
• VBA user-defined functions offer greater flexibility for both converting numbers to words and reversing currency words back to numeric values. However, they come with macro-related security concerns and are best suited for users familiar with coding.
• Kutools for Excel delivers the easiest, most multilingual, and feature-rich option—requiring no formulas or coding, and covering dozens of currencies and languages.
• If you need to reverse words back into numbers, the VBA solution fills this gap effectively, though it may require cleanup (e.g., removing commas) for accurate results.

Whether you're preparing financial documents, automating check printing, or simply enhancing data presentation, choosing the right method helps you achieve professional and accurate outputs.