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Text function
VALUE
Converts a number stored as text into a number.
Very commonDifficulty 1000 · CapableUsage rank #45 of 520
When to use it
Converts text that looks like a number, date, or time into a real number. The fix for imported numbers that will not add up.
The shape of it
- Syntax
=VALUE(text)
Worked examples
Number with separators
=VALUE("1,234.50") → 1234.5
Thousands separators are handled.
Currency text
=VALUE("$500") → 500
Currency symbols too.
Date text
=VALUE("3/15/2025") → 45731
Dates become serials.
Worth knowing
- Adding 0 or using -- does the same conversion inline: --A2.
- NUMBERVALUE handles other locales' separators.
- A green triangle in the corner of a cell means a number stored as text.
Where it goes wrong
- #VALUE! for text that cannot be parsed, like "1.234,56" on a US system.
- Regional settings decide what counts as a decimal separator.
Related
Learn the moves here — or let Wauvel run them on your numbers.
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