Convert Number to Words In Excel

Convert Number to Words

If you ever need to convert number to words in Excel, there’s a sample file on my Contextures site, to help you do that.

Ron Coderre created the workbook, and he just updated it.

Convert Number to Words

In Ron’s workbook, you can type a number in a cell, and that number will be shown as text, in a cell below.

  • For example, type this decimal number:  56.12
  • In the cell below, this text version of the number appears:
    • Fifty Six Dollars and Twelve Cents

Macros or Formulas

Ron created two versions of the workbook – one with macros, and another file that uses formulas and named ranges to convert number to words (no macros).

Recently, Ron updated the macro version, to fix some international issues that a user reported recently.

The file uses a User Defined Function (UDF) to change a number into written words, with options to specify a major currency, such as dollars and a minor currency, such as cents.

NumsToWords UDF

The UDF that Ron created is named NumsToWords, and you can see how it will convert a number to words, in the screen shot below.

  • A decimal number – 56.12 – was typed in cell C2.
  • There’s a formula in cell C4, that uses the UDF, and refers to C2:
    • =NumsToWords(C2)
  • The result is words: Fifty Six Dollars and Twelve Cents

ConvertNum

NumsToWords Required Argument

To use the NumsToWords function, you must enter the first argument – NumSource. That’s the source to convert a number to words.

  • Use a cell reference: =NumsToWords(C2)
  • Or, type a number:=NumsToWords(56.12)

NumsToWords Optional Arguments

The NumsToWords function also has 4 optional arguments. If you omit an optional argument, its default value is used:

  • MajorCurrency: Primary currency name (Default is “Dollar”)
  • MinorCurrency: Secondary currency name (Default is “Cent”)
  • MajorMinorLink: Word connecting MajorCurrency and MinorCurrency (Default is “and”)
  • SkipMinor: True/False flag to ignore the MinorCurrency (Default is FALSE)

NumToWords Examples

Here are a few examples of using the optional arguments with the NumToWords UDF. There are more examples in the workbook, that show how to convert number to words with this UDF.

Instead of the default Dollars and Cents, you can enter different text for the first two arguments – MajorCurrency (Goat) and MinorCurrency (Kid):

  • =NumsToWords(C2,”Goat”,”Kid”)

Here’s the result: Fifty Six Goats and Twelve Kids

Instead of showing “and” between the major and minor currencies, use an empty string as the 3rd argument, MajorMinorLink.

  • =NumsToWords(C2,,,””)

Here’s the result: Fifty Six Dollars Twelve Cents

For MajorCurrency, use an empty string, change MinorCurrency (Knot), and the MajorMinorLink text (Point).

  • =NumsToWords(C2,””,”Knot”,”Point”)

Here’s the result: Fifty Six Dollars Twelve Cents

Convert Numbers to Words in Your File

In Ron’s workbook, there is a button that will automatically export the NumToWords function into any open workbook.

You don’t have to know how to use VBA – just click the button, and the work is done for you! You don’t need any programming skills to get started.

button to add udf to file

Convert Number to Words Sample File

To get Ron’s  Number to Words sample files, go to his page on my Contextures website.

In the Excel Functions section, look for RF0001- Convert Numbers to Words, and download either the VBA version or the non-VBA version — or both!

NOTE: If you need to do the opposite, get Jerry Latham’s sample file to convert words to numbers in Excel.

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10 thoughts on “Convert Number to Words In Excel”

  1. This is a very nice VBA, quite similar to something which I’ve used previously. I have one issue with it though, which I seem unable to fix (my VBA skills are not the best).

    I’m from Ireland, and on this side of the Atlantic, we speak numbers slightly differently than our American cousins. Whereas Americans (and probably many others) say “one hundred twenty three dollars” we would say “one hundred AND twenty three dollars (or Euro or pounds or …)”.

    Unfortunately, it’s not always as simple as having an AND after the hundred, i.e., “one hundred euro and twenty three cent”. I’ve gotten lost trying to change the VBA, and I’m sure it’s fairly simple, but I’d love to see if/how it could be done.

    Thanks in advance.

  2. It works!~ Thanks a lot! I’m looking for this for months and cannot sovle it!

    Best Regards to you!

    Lu Liang from China

  3. Ron’s VBA function works beautifully. Well thought out – making it easy to use. I have incorporated it into several files – saving me valuable time every week. Thanks!

  4. After I have created the NumberAsText in one spreadsheet, how do I enable the
    same to be used in other spreadsheet?

    Regards,
    Deepadevi

  5. Hi can u any one says how to convert numbers into words in Excel without macros?
    (i.e. when i am entering the 5 display Five)
    Thanks in advance..

  6. Is there a way to make negative numbers show “left” and positive numbers show “right”? Thanks in advance!!!

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