Technology

Convert text to numbers in Excel with just a few quick and easy steps

If you know how to convert text to numbers in Excel, you can quickly and accurately process data in your spreadsheet with just a few simple steps.

Administrator

28 December, 2023

162

When working with Excel, you may encounter many situations where you need to convert text to numbers or numbers to text. This can arise from data entry or the need to perform complex calculations. In this article, we will explore a simple and efficient way to convert text to numbers in Excel, helping you save time and improve work efficiency.

When do you need to convert text to numbers in Excel?

Converting text to numbers in Excel may be necessary in many different situations. Below are some examples of when you might need to use this trick:

Importing data from external sources: When you enter data from an external source (such as a text file or database), the data may be stored as text. To perform calculations or sort the data correctly, you need to convert this data from text to numbers.
Calculations and formulas: In many cases, you want to perform calculations or formulas on the data. Excel only understands numerical data, and you need to convert the data from text to numerical format for ease of operation.
Comparison and sorting: When you want to compare values or sort them in numerical order, converting text to numbers is essential. Excel will understand that “10” is greater than “5” and sort them accurately.
Statistics and charts: In creating charts and statistical reports, data needs to be converted to numbers to display the correct information.
Project management and finance: In project management or financial situations, you need to perform calculations on financial or time data. This requires your data to be in numeric format.
Error checking and data refreshing: Sometimes data may contain unwanted characters or errors. Converting the cell format from text to numbers can help you identify and handle these errors effectively.

In general, converting text to numbers in Excel is an important trick that helps you work with data more effectively and accurately.

Ways to convert text to numbers in Excel

Let’s say we have a table as shown in the picture. The issue here is that the numbers in the range A6:A10 are all in text format. When using calculations, the text format can make the calculation process inaccurate. At this point, you will need to convert all of them to numerical data. There are a few ways to help you do that.

Method 1: Using the VALUE function

Step 1: Create a new column to store the results of converting text to numbers (e.g., column B).

Step 2: In cell B6, enter the following formula and press Enter:

=VALUE(A6)

Where A6 is the cell that contains the value to be converted from text to a number.

Step 3: Drag the bottom right corner of the cell you just entered the formula into (B6) down to apply the formula to all cells that need to convert values from text to numbers.

Method 2: Using the NUMBERVALUE function

Step 1: Create a new column to store the results of converting text to numbers (e.g., column B).

Step 2: In cell B6, enter the following formula and press Enter:

=NUMBERVALUE(A6)

Where A6 is the cell that contains the value to be converted from text to a number.

Step 3: Drag the bottom right corner of the cell you just entered the formula into (B6) down to apply the formula to all cells that need to convert values from text to numbers.

Note: This method is only applicable to Excel 365 and Excel 2019 and above.

Method 3: Using the Text to Columns tool

Step 1: Select the range of cells that contains the data you want to convert from text to numbers.

Step 2: In the “Home” tab, find and expand the “Text” option in the Number group.

Step 3: In the new options that appear, choose “Number” or “General” to convert your data from text format to numbers.

Note: The General option will make Excel understand that your data is in numerical format when the data is not separated by any character (space, comma, or other characters).

Some notes when converting text to numbers in Excel

When converting text to numbers in Excel, you need to consider the following important points to ensure that the process is efficient and accurate:

Check the original data: Before making any changes, check the original data to determine its condition. This helps you understand how the data was entered and needs to be converted.
Use the appropriate tool: Excel provides many different tools to convert text to numbers. Therefore, choose the appropriate tool for your specific situation.
Check for unwanted characters: The data may contain unwanted characters such as commas, dollar signs, or periods in numbers. Before converting text to numbers, identify and handle these characters.
Format the cell correctly: Once you have converted text to numbers, make sure that the column or cell is formatted as numerical (Number Format). This ensures that Excel understands and processes the data as numbers.
Handle errors: There may be errors that occur during the process of converting text to numbers. Therefore, check the results and handle errors appropriately.
Back up the original data: Before making any changes, it is advisable to back up the original data or work on a copy of the file to avoid any loss of important data.
Use the IFERROR function: When converting text to numbers, use the IFERROR function to handle invalid values or errors. This will help prevent displaying error values in your spreadsheet.
Double-check the results: After converting text to numbers, double-check the results to ensure accuracy and handle any remaining errors.

In summary, knowing how to convert text to numbers in Excel is an important skill to help you work effectively with your data and spreadsheets. This trick can be applied in various situations, from managing customer lists to financial calculations. We hope you will master Excel’s functions to optimize your work.

To handle data effectively in Excel, you will need good laptops. At FPT Shop, you can find many high-quality products at affordable prices: Genuine laptops at great prices.