How to check if first character in a cell is a letter or number in Excel?
When working with large datasets in Excel, it's often helpful to quickly distinguish whether data entries begin with a letter, a number, or another character. For example, in lists containing codes, addresses, or mixed-format entries, you may want to validate the format or categorize data based on the first character for further processing. Excel does not have a built-in function for this specific check, but you can easily accomplish the task with formulas, and in some cases, alternative approaches such as using VBA. The methods below provide clear steps and practical advice for reliably checking the first character of a cell.
Check if first character in a cell is a letter or number with formula
Check if first character in a cell is a letter or number with formula
Excel formulas make it straightforward to determine whether the first character in a cell is a letter, number, or something else.
1. Select a blank cell where you wish to display the result. Enter the following formula into the Formula Bar. Then press the Enter key to confirm:
=IF(ISERR(LEFT(A2,1)*1),"letter","number")This formula checks the first character in cell A2. If multiplying it by 1 results in an error, it means the character is not a number—so the formula returns "letter". Otherwise, it returns "number".
Tip: Make sure that the formula refers to the correct cell. A2 in the formula above is the cell containing the value you want to check.
2. After confirming the formula in the first cell, you can quickly apply it to other rows. With the result cell selected, drag the Fill Handle down to check each corresponding cell in the column.
Your results will show "letter" if the first character is a letter, and "number" if it is a numeric digit, as illustrated below:
Parameter explanation and practical notes: The formula works well with cells that begin with standard Latin letters or numeric digits. However, it may return "letter" for any character that cannot be converted to a number, which may include some special or Unicode symbols. If your dataset contains entries beginning with such characters, it is safer to use a more precise detection formula as described below.
If you expect cells may start with punctuation, symbols, or other non-alphanumeric characters, use this enhanced formula to categorize results as "Letter", "Number", or "Other":
=IF(A2="","",IF(AND(CODE(LEFT(A2,1))>=48,CODE(LEFT(A2,1))<=57),"Number",IF(OR(AND(CODE(LEFT(A2,1))>=65,CODE(LEFT(A2,1))<=90),AND(CODE(LEFT(A2,1))>=97,CODE(LEFT(A2,1))<=122)),"Letter","Other")))This formula first checks if the cell is empty. If not, it then checks the ASCII code of the first character: numbers use codes between 48 and 57, uppercase letters between 65 and 90, and lowercase letters between 97 and 122. Anything outside these ranges will return "Other".
Alternative VBA Code Solution
For advanced use, such as batch operations or integrating character checks into a custom task, you can use a simple VBA macro to automatically evaluate the first character of selected cells and classify them as "Letter", "Number", or "Other". This approach is ideal for users comfortable with macros and large repetitive tasks.
1. Open the VBA Editor by clicking Developer Tools > Visual Basic. In the new Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window that appears, click Insert > Module, then paste the following code into the module:
Sub CheckFirstCharacterType()
Dim rng As Range
Dim cell As Range
Dim firstChar As String
Dim codeNum As Integer
On Error Resume Next
xTitleId = "KutoolsforExcel"
Set rng = Application.Selection
Set rng = Application.InputBox("Select range to check", xTitleId, rng.Address, Type:=8)
For Each cell In rng
If cell.Value <> "" Then
firstChar = Left(cell.Value, 1)
codeNum = Asc(firstChar)
If codeNum >= 48 And codeNum <= 57 Then
cell.Offset(0, 1).Value = "Number"
ElseIf (codeNum >= 65 And codeNum <= 90) Or (codeNum >= 97 And codeNum <= 122) Then
cell.Offset(0, 1).Value = "Letter"
Else
cell.Offset(0, 1).Value = "Other"
End If
Else
cell.Offset(0, 1).Value = ""
End If
Next cell
End Sub2. After pasting the code, click the 
button or press F5 to execute. A prompt will appear for you to select the range you want to check. Once you confirm, the macro will analyze each cell in your selection and output the result ("Number", "Letter", or "Other") in the column immediately to the right of your data.
Practical tips: If your worksheet already contains formulas or formatting in adjacent columns, adjust cell.Offset(0,1) as needed to output results to a different column.
- Macros can process large ranges much faster than manual formula copying, minimizing potential errors.
- Always save your workbook before running new VBA code to avoid unintended changes.
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Related articles:
- How to check if a certain range name exists in Excel?
- How to check if a cell value is between two values in Excel?
- How to check if cell begins or ends with a specific character in Excel?
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