MS Excel: How To Convert A Number To Text In Excel

Added On: Jun 5, 2023

Last Update: Aug 17, 2023

Excel gives the facility to convert the Number to Text using multiple options. This is a simple process to convert the Number to Text means it informs Excel to treat the data as Text instead of Numbers.

If the Excel worksheet cell contains a Number representation of Text, instead of actual Text then Excel will produce an error while you using these data in any of the calculations in the worksheet. Using 4 ways, you can convert the Number to Text in Excel:

Convert Number to a Text by Adding an Apostrophe
Convert Number to a Text Using Excel Text to Columns
Convert Number to a Text Using the Excel Concatenate
Convert Number to a Text Using The Excel Functions

Covert a Number to Text In Excel (Quick Guide)

Convert a Number to Text in Excel, further steps guide available below.

Select a column that contains number representation.
Go to Data tab in the top ribbon.
In the Middle, click on Text To Columns option.
Now, In the pop-up window select Column data format as text and click Finish .

1. Convert a Number to Text By Adding an Apostrophe

Excel provides the easiest way to convert a Number to Text by adding an Apostrophe symbol in Infront of a number.

Apostrophe in Excel has a special function. The apostrophe will not be shown in the cell containing the number but informs to Excel treat the data in a cell as Text instead Number. This feature of Excel can be useful to display leading zeros on numbers (telephone numbers).

2. Convert a Number to Text Using Excel Text to Columns

Excel also provides a way to convert an entire column containing numbers values to text format. Text To Columns command of Excel is used for the same purpose.

Text To Columns command only works for a single column at a time so, it is not useful if your Excel worksheet data spans more than one column.

Follow the steps to convert a Number to Text:

Select a single column of the worksheet that contains numeric data.
Now, go to Data tab in the top ribbon and click on Text to Columns options. A pop-up window will open, inside the pop-up window:
- Select Delimited option and click on Next button.
- Make sure all the Delimiters are unselected and click on Next button
- Now, in the Column Data Format select Text and click on Next button.

3. Convert a Number to Text Using Excel Concatenate

Excel’s concatenation operator is used to join the data types together in text format. So, simply & (concatenation operator) join the text and number representation into a single text value.

If you add an empty text value with a number, that will result in only a number value. This is presented using an example below image:

4. Convert a Number to Text Using Excel Functions

Excel has three functions that can be used to convert a number to text value representation:

Text Function: Text function is used to convert a selected value into text representation using a user-defined format.
Dollar Function: Dollar function is used to convert a selected value into text representation using Currency format.
Fixed Function: Fixed function is used to convert a selected value into text representation and round off decimal places as specified by the user.

Example For Each Method

Convert a Number to Text Using The Excel Text Function

Excel Text Function is used to convert a number to text in a particular format specified by the user.

Syntax:

TEXT( value, format_text )
Where,

Value: Value is the number that will be converted to Text.
Format_Text: Format_Text is the format specified by the user and it will apply to the value.

Convert a Number to Text Using The Excel Dollar Function

Excel Dollar Function is used to round a number to particular decimal places and convert a number to text (using currency format).

Syntax:

DOLLAR( number, [decimals] )
Where,

Number: Number is the number that will be converted to Text.
Decimals: Decimals is the argument (optional) that specified, how many decimal places are to be shown in the cells after the decimal point. by the user and it will apply to the value.

Convert a Number to Text Using The Excel Fixed Function

Excel Fixed Function is used to round a number to particular decimal places specified by user and convert a number to text.

Syntax:

FIXED( number, [decimals], [no_commas] )
Where,

Number: Number is the number that will be converted to Text.
Decimals: Decimals is the argument (optional) that specified, how many decimal places are to be shown in the cells after the decimal point. by the user and it will apply to the value.
No_Commas: No_Commas is the logical argument (optional) that specified the returned text will be separated by spaces or groups of digits (thousands, millions, etc.) by inserting commas.
Note: TRUE = no commas;
FALSE or omitted = include commas