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How to Convert Text to Numbers in Excel

Follow these steps in order to convert text-formatted numbers into real numbers.

  1. Spot numbers stored as text

    Cells that are left-aligned or show a small green triangle in the corner are often numbers actually stored as text.

  2. Select the range of cells to convert

    Drag to select the cells you want to convert to real numbers.

  3. Click the warning icon

    Click the small yellow warning icon that appears next to the selected range.

  4. Choose "Convert to Number"

    Click "Convert to Number" in the menu, and every selected cell switches to a real number at once.

  5. Alternative: multiply by 1

    Type 1 into an empty cell, copy it, then use "Paste Special β†’ Multiply" on the range β€” this also converts text into numbers.

When your total comes out as zero

If numbers are clearly entered but AutoSum keeps returning 0, there is a good chance those values are stored as text rather than real numbers. Converting them to numbers fixes the problem immediately.

Splitting data into columns is worth knowing too

This issue often shows up right after importing or splitting data β€” pairing this fix with Text to Columns covers most of the common headaches that come with messy imported spreadsheets.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if the warning icon never appears?

Some data will not show the icon at all β€” in that case, the multiply-by-1 method or a formula-based approach is a more reliable fix.

The numbers still are not calculating correctly after converting β€” what now?

The cell format may still be set to "Text." Try changing the format to "Number" or "General" and converting again.