Excel numbers stored as text? Convert the cells you need to calculate

A green triangle can flag a number stored as text, but the warning is not always displayed. Select only the cells you intend to use in calculations. Leave postal codes, account identifiers, and other digit strings as text: converting them can remove leading zeros or change long identifiers.

In Excel for Windows or Excel for the web, insert a blank column. If your Excel uses English function names and the imported value is in A2, enter =VALUE(A2) in the first matching cell of the new column and fill down. In another Excel language, use the localized function name shown in its help; Spanish and Portuguese use VALOR. If a row gives an error, check for extra characters or a number format Excel cannot read before replacing the original.

Try the calculation that gave the wrong result using the new column. Compare several converted amounts with the original, including any negatives or decimals. To keep the numeric results without the helper formulas, copy the checked cells and paste using Paste Special → Values. Keep the original until the totals and sample rows agree.