MS Excel: How to convert Number into Words

This Excel tutorial explains how to convert number into words (with screenshots and step-by-step instructions).

Question: In Microsoft Excel, how can I convert a numeric value to words? For example, for a value of 1, could the cell show the word "one" instead?

Answer: There is no-built in Excel function that will convert a number into words. Instead, you need to create a custom function to convert the number into words yourself. Let's explore how.

To see the completed function and how it is used in the example below, download the example spreadsheet.

Download Example

Let's get started. First, you'll need to open your Excel spreadsheet and press Alt+F11 to open the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window. Under the Insert menu, select Module.

This will insert a new module in your spreadsheet called Module1. Paste the following two functions into the new module.

' Example created by techonthenet.com
Function EnglishNumber(ByVal N As Currency) As String

   Const Thousand = 1000@
   Const Million = Thousand * Thousand
   Const Billion = Thousand * Million
   Const Trillion = Thousand * Billion

   If (N = 0@) Then EnglishNumber = "zero": Exit Function

   Dim Buf As String: If (N < 0@) Then Buf = "negative " Else Buf = ""
   Dim Frac As Currency: Frac = Abs(N - Fix(N))
   If (N < 0@ Or Frac <> 0@) Then N = Abs(Fix(N))
   Dim AtLeastOne As Integer: AtLeastOne = N >= 1

   If (N >= Trillion) Then
      Buf = Buf & EnglishNumberDigitGroup(Int(N / Trillion)) & " trillion"
      N = N - Int(N / Trillion) * Trillion
      If (N >= 1@) Then Buf = Buf & " "
   End If

   If (N >= Billion) Then
      Buf = Buf & EnglishNumberDigitGroup(Int(N / Billion)) & " billion"
      N = N - Int(N / Billion) * Billion
      If (N >= 1@) Then Buf = Buf & " "
   End If

   If (N >= Million) Then
      Buf = Buf & EnglishNumberDigitGroup(N \ Million) & " million"
      N = N Mod Million
      If (N >= 1@) Then Buf = Buf & " "
   End If

   If (N >= Thousand) Then
      Buf = Buf & EnglishNumberDigitGroup(N \ Thousand) & " thousand"
      N = N Mod Thousand
      If (N >= 1@) Then Buf = Buf & " "
   End If

   If (N >= 1@) Then
      Buf = Buf & EnglishNumberDigitGroup(N)
   End If

   EnglishNumber = Buf
End Function

Private Function EnglishNumberDigitGroup(ByVal N As Integer) As String

   Const Hundred = " hundred"
   Const One = "one"
   Const Two = "two"
   Const Three = "three"
   Const Four = "four"
   Const Five = "five"
   Const Six = "six"
   Const Seven = "seven"
   Const Eight = "eight"
   Const Nine = "nine"
   Dim Buf As String: Buf = ""
   Dim Flag As Integer: Flag = False

   Select Case (N \ 100)
      Case 0: Buf = "": Flag = False
      Case 1: Buf = One & Hundred: Flag = True
      Case 2: Buf = Two & Hundred: Flag = True
      Case 3: Buf = Three & Hundred: Flag = True
      Case 4: Buf = Four & Hundred: Flag = True
      Case 5: Buf = Five & Hundred: Flag = True
      Case 6: Buf = Six & Hundred: Flag = True
      Case 7: Buf = Seven & Hundred: Flag = True
      Case 8: Buf = Eight & Hundred: Flag = True
      Case 9: Buf = Nine & Hundred: Flag = True
   End Select

   If (Flag <> False) Then N = N Mod 100
   If (N > 0) Then
      If (Flag <> False) Then Buf = Buf & " "
   Else
      EnglishNumberDigitGroup = Buf
      Exit Function
   End If

   Select Case (N \ 10)
      Case 0, 1: Flag = False
      Case 2: Buf = Buf & "twenty": Flag = True
      Case 3: Buf = Buf & "thirty": Flag = True
      Case 4: Buf = Buf & "forty": Flag = True
      Case 5: Buf = Buf & "fifty": Flag = True
      Case 6: Buf = Buf & "sixty": Flag = True
      Case 7: Buf = Buf & "seventy": Flag = True
      Case 8: Buf = Buf & "eighty": Flag = True
      Case 9: Buf = Buf & "ninety": Flag = True
   End Select

   If (Flag <> False) Then N = N Mod 10
   If (N > 0) Then
      If (Flag <> False) Then Buf = Buf & "-"
   Else
      EnglishNumberDigitGroup = Buf
      Exit Function
   End If

   Select Case (N)
      Case 0:
      Case 1: Buf = Buf & One
      Case 2: Buf = Buf & Two
      Case 3: Buf = Buf & Three
      Case 4: Buf = Buf & Four
      Case 5: Buf = Buf & Five
      Case 6: Buf = Buf & Six
      Case 7: Buf = Buf & Seven
      Case 8: Buf = Buf & Eight
      Case 9: Buf = Buf & Nine
      Case 10: Buf = Buf & "ten"
      Case 11: Buf = Buf & "eleven"
      Case 12: Buf = Buf & "twelve"
      Case 13: Buf = Buf & "thirteen"
      Case 14: Buf = Buf & "fourteen"
      Case 15: Buf = Buf & "fifteen"
      Case 16: Buf = Buf & "sixteen"
      Case 17: Buf = Buf & "seventeen"
      Case 18: Buf = Buf & "eighteen"
      Case 19: Buf = Buf & "nineteen"
   End Select

   EnglishNumberDigitGroup = Buf

End Function

Your Excel window should look as follows:

Click the Save button (disk icon) and then go back to your spreadsheet window.

You can now use the EnglishNumber function to convert a number to words. It will work just like any other worksheet function. Just reference the EnglishNumber function in your Excel spreadsheet as follows:

Based on the spreadsheet above, the EnglishNumber function will return the following:

=EnglishNumber(1)
Result: "one"

=EnglishNumber(125)
Result: "one hundred twenty-five"

=EnglishNumber(3278)
Result: "three thousand two hundred seventy-eight"