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How to change or convert text to number in Excel?

AuthorTech SupportLast modified

When you import data from some source, such as Access or text files, numbers may be formatted as text in cells occasionally. Calculations and sorting will go wrong if numbers are formatted or stored as text. Here are several methods to convert text to numbers in Microsoft Excel.

text formatarrow rightconvert text to number
MethodBest forKey limitation
Error CheckingConverting a small number of cells that Excel already identifies as numbers stored as textCan be tedious when many cells need to be converted
Kutools for ExcelConverting a large range of text-formatted numbers at onceRequires Kutools for Excel
Paste SpecialConverting a range without formulas or additional toolsBlank cells in the selected range may become 0

Convert text to number with Error checking rules in Excel

Generally speaking, when the numbers are formatted or stored in cells as text, there will be an error sign error sign at upper-left corner of the cell. After selecting the cell, it displays an error button error button before this cell. Click the error button error button, and it will display a menu, you can click on Convert to Number command item to convert the text in the cell into number. See screenshot:

click on Convert to Number command

Then the number stored as text has been converted to number. And then repeat this way for other cells.

If there are no error signs error sign at upper-left corner of the cells, you can also use the Error Checking command under Formula tab to deal with it. Please do as this:

1. Click Formulas > Error Checking, see screenshot:

Click Formulas > Error Checking

2. Then in the Error Checking dialog box, click Convert to Number button. And repeatedly click this button to convert other text to numbers.

click Convert to Number button in the dialog box

3. When the last cell text has been changed to number, it will pop up a prompt box to remind you all of the text has been converted to numbers.

prompt box to remind all of the text is converted to numbers

But when there are large blocks of data that need to change, this method will be tedious and time-consuming.

Quickly convert text to number with Kutools for Excel

If you have installed Kutools for Excel on your computer, its Force Values in Cells tool will help you convert all numbers stored as text into numbers without losing original formats and styles.

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1. Click Kutools > Content > Convert between Text and Number See screenshot:

2. Then, in the dialog box. Just specify the range that contains numbers stored as text, and check the Text to number option.

check the Text to number option in the dialog box

3. And then click OK or Apply, all numbers stored as text will be converted into numbers in the selected range.

Tip: To use this feature, you should install Kutools for Excel first, please click to download and have a 30-day free trial now.

Convert text to number with Paste Special

The third method is to convert numbers stored as text by calculating with Paste Special command in Microsoft Excel.

1. Please enter number 0 in a blank cell and copy it;

2. Select the range cells containing numbers stored as text;

3. Right click the selected range, and choose the Paste Special option from context menu;

4. Then it shows Paste Special dialog box, and check the All option and Add option;

check the All option and Add option in the dialog box

5. Click OK, and all the numbers stored as text will be converted to number. See screenshots:

the numbers stored as textarrow righttexts are converted to numbers
Tips:
  • If you don’t want to change the cell formatting in the range after converting text to number, please choose to paste as Value in the Paste option.
  • In the Operating options, please select the Add option or Subtract option.
  • Disadvantage of this method: if the range contains blank cells, it will fill all blank cells with number 0.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I tell if a number is stored as text in Excel?

Excel may display a green triangle in the upper-left corner of the cell and show an error indicating that the number is stored as text. In this case, you can use the error button and select Convert to Number.

Why do numbers stored as text cause problems in Excel?

Numbers stored as text may not behave correctly in calculations, sorting, or other numeric operations because Excel treats them as text instead of numeric values.

Which method is better for converting a large range of text to numbers?

The Error Checking method works well for a small number of cells, but it can be time-consuming for large ranges. Kutools for Excel can convert all numbers stored as text in a selected range at once.

Does converting text to numbers change the cell formatting?

The Kutools method is designed to convert numbers stored as text without losing the original formatting and styles. When using Paste Special, you can choose appropriate paste options depending on whether you want to preserve the existing formatting.

Why do blank cells become 0 when I use Paste Special?

When using Paste Special with an arithmetic operation such as Add, blank cells in the selected range may be converted to 0. If your range contains blank cells, check the result after applying the operation.