Excel vba from text to number

In this VBA Tutorial, you learn how to convert strings to numbers of the Byte, Integer, Long, Single, Double, Currency and Decimal data types.

This VBA Tutorial is accompanied by an Excel workbook containing the macros, data and formulas I use in the examples below. You can get immediate access to this example workbook by subscribing to the Power Spreadsheets Newsletter.

Use the following Table of Contents to navigate to the section that interests you.

Related VBA and Macro Tutorials

The following VBA and Macro Tutorials may help you better understand and implement the contents below:

• General VBA constructs and structures:
  • Learn about essential VBA terms here.
  • Learn how to work in the Visual Basic Editor here.
  • Learn how to create Sub procedures here.
  • Learn how to create Function procedures here.
  • Learn how to work with variables here.
  • Learn about VBA data types here.
  • Learn about the Range object here.
• Tutorials about other useful topics:
  • Learn how to work with the IFERROR worksheet function here.

You can find additional VBA and Macro Tutorials in the Archives.

#1: Convert String to Byte

VBA code to convert String to Byte

To convert a string to a number of the Byte data type, use the following statement:

CByte(String)

Process followed by VBA to convert String to Byte

To convert a string to a number of the Byte data type, use the CByte function to convert the String to a number of the Byte data type.

VBA statement explanation

1. Item: CByte.
   • VBA construct: CByte function.
   • Description: The CByte function coerces String to the Byte data type.

     CByte is usually able to carry out internationally-aware conversions from the String to the Byte data type. In other words, CByte generally recognizes between the different decimal/thousand separators and currency options that depend on your computer’s locale.

     The Byte data type can hold numbers ranging from 0 to 255. If String is outside this range, an error occurs.

2. Item: String.
   • VBA construct: String expression and expression argument of the CByte function.
   • Description: String is the string or numeric expression you convert to the Byte data type. If you explicitly declare a variable to represent String, use the Variant data type.

Macro example to convert String to Byte

The following macro example, a User-Defined Function, converts a string passed as argument (myString) to Byte.

Function stringToByte(myString As Variant)
    'source: https://powerspreadsheets.com/
    'converts String to Byte
    'for further information: https://powerspreadsheets.com/vba-string-to-number/

    'convert String to Byte
    stringToByte = CByte(myString)

End Function

Effects of executing macro example to convert String to Byte

The following image illustrates the results of using the macro example in a worksheet formula. For these purposes:

• Column A contains a numeric string.
• Column B contains a worksheet formula that uses the UDF example.

  When String is outside the range of Byte, the worksheet formula returns the #VALUE! error.

• Column C displays the worksheet formula used in column B.

#2: Convert String to Integer

VBA code to convert String to Integer

To convert a string to a number of the Integer data type, use the following statement:

CInt(String)

Process followed by VBA to convert String to Integer

To convert a string to a number of the Integer data type, use the CInt function to convert the String to a number of the Integer data type.

VBA statement explanation

1. Item: CInt.
   • VBA construct: CInt function.
   • Description: The CInt function coerces String to the Integer data type.

     If String contains a fraction, CInt rounds it. If this fraction is precisely 0.5, CInt rounds to the nearest even number. For example:

     • 0.5 is rounded to 0.
     • Both 1.5 and 2.5 are rounded to 2.
     • Both 3.5 and 4.5 are rounded to 4.
   • CInt is usually able to carry out internationally-aware conversions from the String to the Integer data type. In other words, CInt generally recognizes between the different decimal/thousand separators and currency options that depend on your computer’s locale.

     The Integer data type can hold numbers ranging from -32,768 to 32,767. If String is outside this range, an error occurs.

2. Item: String.
   • VBA construct: String expression and expression argument of the CInt function.
   • Description: String is the string or numeric expression you convert to the Integer data type. If you explicitly declare a variable to represent String, use the Variant data type.

Macro example to convert String to Integer

The following macro example, a User-Defined Function, converts a string passed as argument (myString) to Integer.

Function stringToInteger(myString As Variant)
    'source: https://powerspreadsheets.com/
    'converts String to Integer
    'for further information: https://powerspreadsheets.com/vba-string-to-number/

    'convert String to Integer
    stringToInteger = CInt(myString)

End Function

Effects of executing macro example to convert String to Integer

The following image illustrates the results of using the macro example in a worksheet formula. For these purposes:

• Column A contains a numeric string.
• Column B contains a worksheet formula that uses the UDF example.

  When String is outside the range of Integer, the worksheet formula returns the #VALUE! error. Additionally, if String contains a fraction that’s precisely 0.5, the UDF rounds to the nearest even number.

• Column C displays the worksheet formula used in column B.

#3: Convert String to Long

VBA code to convert String to Long

To convert a string to a number of the Long data type, use the following statement:

CLng(String)

Process followed by VBA to convert String to Long

To convert a string to a number of the Long data type, use the CLng function to convert the String to a number of the Integer data type.

VBA statement explanation

1. Item: CLng.
   • VBA construct: CLng function.
   • Description: The CLng function coerces String to the Long data type.

     If String contains a fraction, CLng rounds it. If this fraction is precisely 0.5, CLng rounds to the nearest even number. For example:

     • 0.5 is rounded to 0.
     • Both 1.5 and 2.5 are rounded to 2.
     • Both 3.5 and 4.5 are rounded to 4.

     CLng is usually able to carry out internationally-aware conversions from the String to the Long data type. In other words, CLng generally recognizes between the different decimal/thousand separators and currency options that depend on your computer’s locale.

     The Long data type can hold numbers ranging from -2,147,483,648 to 2,147,483,647. If String is outside this range, an error occurs.

2. Item: String.
   • VBA construct: String expression and expression argument of the CLng function.
   • Description: String is the string or numeric expression you convert to the Long data type. If you explicitly declare a variable to represent String, use the Variant data type.

Macro example to convert String to Long

The following macro example, a User-Defined Function, converts a string passed as argument (myString) to Long.

Function stringToLong(myString As Variant)
    'source: https://powerspreadsheets.com/
    'converts String to Long
    'for further information: https://powerspreadsheets.com/vba-string-to-number/

    'convert String to Long
    stringToLong = CLng(myString)

End Function

Effects of executing macro example to convert String to Long

The following image illustrates the results of using the macro example in a worksheet formula. For these purposes:

• Column A contains a numeric string.
• Column B contains a worksheet formula that uses the UDF example.

  When String is outside the range of Long, the worksheet formula returns the #VALUE! error. Additionally, if String contains a fraction that’s precisely 0.5, the UDF rounds to the nearest even number.

• Column C displays the worksheet formula used in column B.

#4: Convert String to Single

VBA code to convert String to Single

To convert a string to a number of the Single data type, use the following statement:

CSng(String)

Process followed by VBA to convert String to Single

To convert a string to a number of the Single data type, use the CSng function to convert the String to a number of the Single data type.

VBA statement explanation

1. Item: CSng.
   • VBA construct: CSng function.
   • Description: The CSng function coerces String to the Single data type.

     CSng is usually able to carry out internationally-aware conversions from the String to the Single data type. In other words, CSng generally recognizes between the different decimal/thousand separators and currency options that depend on your computer’s locale.

     The Single data type can hold floating-point numbers ranging from:

     • -3.402823E38 to -1.401298E-45 for negative values; and
     • 1.401298E-45 to 3.402823E38 for positive values.

     If String is outside the required range, an error occurs.

2. Item: String.
   • VBA construct: String expression and expression argument of the CSng function.
   • Description: String is the string or numeric expression you convert to the Single data type. If you explicitly declare a variable to represent String, use the Variant data type.

Macro example to convert String to Single

The following macro example, a User-Defined Function, converts a string passed as argument (myString) to Single.

Function stringToSingle(myString As Variant)
    'source: https://powerspreadsheets.com/
    'converts String to Single
    'for further information: https://powerspreadsheets.com/vba-string-to-number/

    'convert String to Single
    stringToSingle = CSng(myString)

End Function

Effects of executing macro example to convert String to Single

The following image illustrates the results of using the macro example in a worksheet formula. For these purposes:

• Column A contains a numeric string.
• Column B contains a worksheet formula that uses the UDF example.

  When String is outside the range of Single, the worksheet formula returns the #VALUE! error.

• Column C displays the worksheet formula used in column B.

#5: Convert String to Double

VBA code to convert String to Double

To convert a string to a number of the Double data type, use the following statement:

CDbl(String)

Process followed by VBA to convert String to Double

To convert a string to a number of the Double data type, use the CDbl to convert the String to a number of the Double data type.

VBA statement explanation

1. Item: CDbl.
   • VBA construct: CDbl function.
   • Description: The CDbl function coerces String to the Double data type.

     CDbl is usually able to carry out internationally-aware conversions from the String to the Double data type. In other words, CDbl generally recognizes between the different decimal/thousand separators and currency options that depend on your computer’s locale.

     The Double data type can hold floating-point numbers ranging from:

     • -1.79769313486231E308 to -4.94065645841247E-324 for negative values; and
     • 4.94065645841247E-324 to 1.79769313486232E308 for positive values.

     If String is outside the required range, an error occurs.
2. Item: String.
   • VBA construct: String expression and expression argument of the CDbl function.
   • Description: String is the string or numeric expression you convert to the Double data type. If you explicitly declare a variable to represent String, use the Variant data type.

Macro example to convert String to Double

The following macro example, a User-Defined Function, converts a string passed as argument (myString) to Double.

Function stringToDouble(myString As Variant)
    'source: https://powerspreadsheets.com/
    'converts String to Double
    'for further information: https://powerspreadsheets.com/vba-string-to-number/

    'convert String to Double
    stringToDouble = CDbl(myString)

End Function

Effects of executing macro example to convert String to Double

The following image illustrates the results of using the macro example in a worksheet formula. For these purposes:

• Column A contains a numeric string.
• Column B contains a worksheet formula that uses the UDF example.

  When String is outside the range of Double, the worksheet formula returns the #VALUE! error.

• Column C displays the worksheet formula used in column B.

#6: Convert String to Currency

VBA code to convert String to Currency

To convert a string to a number of the Currency data type, use the following statement:

CCur(String)

Process followed by VBA to convert String to Currency

To convert a string to a number of the Currency data type, use the CCur to convert the String to a number of the Currency data type.

VBA statement explanation

1. Item: CCur.
   • VBA construct: CCur function.
   • Description: The CCur function coerces String to the Currency data type.

     CCur is usually able to carry out internationally-aware conversions from the String to the Currency data type. In other words, CCur generally recognizes between the different decimal/thousand separators and currency options that depend on your computer’s locale.

     The Currency data type holds integers scaled by 10,000. This results in Currency holding fixed-point numbers with 15 digits to the left of the decimal point and 4 digits to the right of the decimal point. Therefore, Currency can hold numbers ranging from -922,337,203,685,477.5808 to 922,337,203,685,477.5807. If String is outside this range, an error occurs.

2. Item: String.
   • VBA construct: String expression and expression argument of the CCur function.
   • Description: String is the string or numeric expression you convert to the Currency data type. If you explicitly declare a variable to represent String, use the Variant data type.

Macro example to convert String to Currency

The following macro example, a User-Defined Function, converts a string passed as argument (myString) to Currency.

Function stringToCurrency(myString As Variant)
    'source: https://powerspreadsheets.com/
    'converts String to Currency
    'for further information: https://powerspreadsheets.com/vba-string-to-number/

    'convert String to Currency
    stringToCurrency = CCur(myString)

End Function

Effects of executing macro example to convert String to Currency

The following image illustrates the results of using the macro example in a worksheet formula. For these purposes:

• Column A contains a numeric string.
• Column B contains a worksheet formula that uses the UDF example.

  When String is outside the range of Currency, the worksheet formula returns the #VALUE! error.
• Column C displays the worksheet formula used in column B.

#7: Convert String to Decimal

VBA code to convert String to Decimal

To convert a string to a number of the Decimal data type, use the following statement:

CDec(String)

Process followed by VBA to convert String to Decimal

To convert a string to a number of the Decimal data type, use the CDec function to convert the String to a number of the Decimal data type.

VBA statement explanation

1. Item: CDec.
   • VBA construct: CDec function.
   • Description: From a broad perspective, the CDec function coerces String to the Decimal data subtype of the Variant data type. In other words, CDec doesn’t return a discrete data type, but rather a Variant converted to the Decimal subtype.

     CDec is usually able to carry out internationally-aware conversions from the String to the Decimal data type. In other words, CDec generally recognizes between the different decimal/thousand separators and currency options that depend on your computer’s locale.

     The Decimal data type holds integers scaled by a variable power of 10. This power of 10 specifies the number of digits to the right of the decimal point. Therefore, the value ranges Decimal can hold are as follows:

     • When working with a scale of 0, which results in no decimal places: -79,228,162,514,264,337,593,543,950,335 to 79,228,162,514,264,337,593,543,950,335.
     • When working with 28 decimal places:
       • The largest and smallest values are +7.9228162514264337593543950335 and -7.9228162514264337593543950335.
       • The smallest non-zero values are -0.0000000000000000000000000001 and 0.0000000000000000000000000001.

     If String is outside the required range, an error occurs.

2. Item: String.
   • VBA construct: String expression and expression argument of the CDec function.
   • Description: String is the string or numeric expression you convert to the CDec data type. If you explicitly declare a variable to represent String, use the Variant data type.

Macro example to convert String to Decimal

The following macro example, a User-Defined Function, converts a string passed as argument (myString) to Decimal.

Function stringToDecimal(myString As Variant)
    'source: https://powerspreadsheets.com/
    'converts String to Decimal
    'for further information: https://powerspreadsheets.com/vba-string-to-number/

    'convert String to Decimal
    stringToDecimal = CDec(myString)

End Function

Effects of executing macro example to convert String to Decimal

The following image illustrates the results of using the macro example in a worksheet formula. For these purposes:

• Column A contains a numeric string.
• Column B contains a worksheet formula that uses the UDF example.

  When String is outside the range of Decimal, the worksheet formula returns the #VALUE! error.

• Column C displays the worksheet formula used in column B.

Sometimes you get a dataset that has numbers stored as text. This means you cannot work with the values as you would with actual numbers.

If you try to, they give unexpected results. For example, if you sum them, you get a 0 (zero) regardless of the values involved. This tutorial shows how to convert numbers stored as text to actual numbers using Excel VBA.

How to Identify Numbers Stored as Text

Sometimes Excel fails to convert numeric values to number format and stores them as text as in the example dataset below:

The values in the dataset are left-aligned meaning Excel treats them as text values.

When you select any cell in the dataset a yellow triangle with an exclamation point pops up beside it:

When you hover over the yellow triangle, you see the message “The number in this cell is formatted as text or preceded by an apostrophe.”

3 Methods to Convert Text to Number Using Excel VBA

There are several ways we can use to convert numbers stored as text to number format in Excel. This tutorial focuses on converting using Excel VBA. We shall use copies of the example dataset in our illustrations.

Method 1: Use the Excel VBA Range.NumberFormat Property

The Range.NumberFormat property returns or sets a Variant value that represents the format code for the object.

We use the following steps:

1. In the active worksheet that contains the dataset, press Alt + F11 to open the Visual Basic Editor (VBE).
2. Click Insert >> Module to insert a new module.

1. Type the following procedure in the module and remember to change the range to your range:

1. Save the procedure and save the workbook as a macro-enabled workbook.
2. Place the cursor anywhere in the procedure and press F5 to run the code.
3. Press Alt + F11 to switch back to the active worksheet to see the results of the procedure.

The values in the data range are now right-aligned because they have been converted to number format.

1. Close the Visual Basic Editor.

Explanation of the procedure

• The With statement is used with the mentioned range to minimize the code.
• NumberFormat = “General”. The General number format is assigned to the values in the mentioned range.
• Value = Value. The values that have been converted to the General number format are assigned to the cells in the range.

Method 2: Use Excel VBA Loop and CSng function

In this method, the procedure loops through the dataset and converts the values to single-precision numbers using the CSng function.

We use the following steps:

1. In the active worksheet that contains the dataset press Alt + F11 to open the Visual Basic Editor.
2. Click Insert >> Module to insert a new module.
3. Type the following procedure in the new module:

1. Save the procedure and save the workbook as a macro-enabled workbook.
2. Place the cursor anywhere in the procedure and press F5 to run the procedure.
3. Press Alt + F11 to switch back to the active worksheet to see the results of the procedure.

The values in the data range are now right-aligned because they have been converted to number format.

1. Close the Visual Basic Editor.

Explanation of the code

• The variable called r of type Variant is declared. The Variant data type can contain any type of data except the fixed-length String data. It is appropriate because the variable will first contain text values and then the converted numeric values.
• For Each Loop goes through each cell that contains a constant (a value that is directly inserted into a cell) in the used range of the mentioned worksheet and does the following:
• Checks if it is a number using the IsNumeric function. If it is a number, it turns it to single precision using the CSng function and assigns the General number format to it.

Method 3: Convert Text to Number in a Dynamic Range

In the previous methods, we worked with selected ranges.

In this method, we work with a dynamic range.

We use the following steps:

1. In the active worksheet that contains the dataset press Alt + F11 to open the Visual Basic Editor.
2. Click Insert >> Module to insert a new module.
3. Type the following procedure in the new module:

1. Save the procedure and save the workbook as a macro-enabled workbook.
2. Place the cursor anywhere in the procedure and press F5 to run the code.
3. Press Alt + F11 to switch back to the active workbook to see the results of the procedure.

The values in the data range are now right-aligned because they have been converted to number format.

1. Close the Visual Basic Editor.

Explanation of the procedure

• The With statement is used with the mentioned range to minimize the code.
• “A2:A” & Cells(Rows.Count, “A”).End(xlUp).Row. The number of the last nonblank row in column A is dynamically identified by Cells(Rows.Count, “A”).End(xlUp).Row. That number is concatenated with “A2:A” to identify the range.
• NumberFormat = “General”. The number format of the range is set to General.
• Value = Value. The values that are now in General number format are assigned to the cells in the range.

Conclusion

If you get a dataset that has numbers that are stored as text, you cannot work with the values as you would with numbers. For example, if you try to sum them, you get a 0 (zero) regardless of the values involved. This tutorial explained how to convert such data range from text format to number format using Excel VBA.

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