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Use NUMBERVALUE() to convert European Number format

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If you deal with customers or colleagues in Europe, often you may see numbers like this:

  • 1.433.502,50
  • 9.324,00
  • 3,141593

When these numbers are pasted in Excel, they become text, because Excel can’t understand them.

Here is a simple way to convert the European numbers to regular ones.

Use NUMBERVALUE() Function.

How to convert European number formats with NUMBERVALUE() ?

Let’s say you have a European format number in cell A1, something like 1.433.502,50

Syntax of NUMBERVALUE():

NUMBERVALUE() takes 3 parameters.

  • Number you want to convert
  • Decimal separator
  • Group separator

So, we can use =NUMBERVALUE(A1 , "," , ".") to convert number in A1 from European format.

Since , is the decimal point and . is the group separator in European format, NUMBERVALUE() returns 1433502.5

How to convert European number formats in earlier versions of Excel

NUMBERVALUE() is a new function added in Excel 2013. So if you are using an earlier version of Excel, then you need to come up with an alternative function. Here is one that works:

=SUBSTITUTE(SUBSTITUTE(A1, "." , "" ), "," , ".")+0

How does this work?

  • We first substitute all .s with nothing – Inner SUBSTITUTE
  • Then we substitute , with . – Outer SUBSTITUE
  • Then we add 0 to convert text to number

Convert regular numbers to European format

Let’s say for some reason you need convert numbers to European format. Here is one formula you can use:

=SUBSTITUTE(SUBSTITUTE(SUBSTITUTE(FIXED(A1,2,FALSE),".","$"),",","."),"$",",")

How it works?

  • FIXED(A1,2,FALSE) converts the number in A1 to a comma formatted number with 2 decimal points
  • SUBSTITUTE(FIXED(...), ".", "$") replaces the decimal point with $ symbol (you can replace it with any symbol)
  • SUBSTITUTE(SUBSTITUTE(FIXED(...),...), "," ,".") replaces all the commas with .s
  • SUBSTITUTE(...., "$", ",") replaces the $ with comma

More tips on number conversions in Excel

If you deal with data that needs conversion, check out below tips.

How do you convert numbers to European format?

I never saw the NUMBERVALUE function until yesterday. I think it is a cool function to solve the format problem.

What about you? How do you convert numbers to / from European format (or back)? Please share your formulas in comments.

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11 Responses to “Use NUMBERVALUE() to convert European Number format”

  1. Khalid NGO says:

    Thanks Chandoo,
    It looks interesting, didn't tried yet, currently i am using 2007 🙁

  2. MF says:

    Since I work in an European company, I do encounter this situation.
    Instead of using formula, I prefer Text to Columns
    In Step 3, go to "Advanced" --> Set
    Decimal separator to ","
    Thousands separator to "."
    OK
    Finish
    Actually Text to Columns can achieve a lot of amazing stuff. 🙂

  3. Ian says:

    Hi Chandoo,

    Re: European Format Numbers

    Much easier I think to use CTRL "h" find "," and replace with"."
    This allows entire columns of European number format to be replaced quickly and easily. Cannot see the advantage of NUMBERVALUE( ).

    Slowly catching up with the podcasts - keep them coming!!

    • Gazz says:

      But what if the number has "," and "." ?
      Chandoo's method can switch them around, but you wouldn't be able to do it with your method.

  4. Everyone who works corporations should thank you 🙂

  5. Sergio says:

    Great, thanks very much!

  6. deet says:

    Found from your substitute example and as a workaround for office 2010 and office 2003 users - one could do the following:

    SUBSTITUTE(text, old_text, new_text, [instance_num])

    EG:

    9.046,49 ( example Spanish format with comma & period)
    Then in same row and next column write this formula (cell is A1):

    =SUBSTITUTE(A1,".",",",1)

    9.046,49 becomes 9,046,49

    Next, then in same row and 2nd next column write this formula (but cell is B1):

    =SUBSTITUTE(B1,",",".",2)

    9,046,49 becomes 9,046.49

    et voila: number is your locale format
    _________________________

    this works well if the number were larger, but remember to adjust [instance_num].
    and if the situation was in reverse

    I'm sure one could improve this method into a 'chained' formula

    deet

  7. deet says:

    Forgot the following:

    then convert the 'text' number to a 'number' with the following formula:

    VALUE(text)

    ie: =VALUE(C1)

  8. Don Faison says:

    I have a problem this does not solve. The European numbers in a downloaded spreadsheet come in as 4.84 for 4.840, 3.215.4 for 3,215,400 etc. How do I add the missing zeros, especially when it may be either 1, 2, or no zeroes needed?

  9. Don Faison says:

    another problem if there is no decimal it does not replace "," with "." such as 12,160 does not yield 12.16

  10. Angela Huang says:

    How use NUMBERCALUE in VBA? When I use Cost = NUMBERVALUE(...) I got compile error "Function not recognized"
    Thank you

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