---
title: "TEXT function in Excel: syntax and examples | PracticeExcel"
description: "How to use TEXT in Excel and Google Sheets: format numbers and dates as text with format codes."
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> Index of every page on this site: [llms.txt](https://practiceexcelonline.com/llms.txt)

# **The TEXT function**

Formats a number as text with a number format code, for example to put it inside a sentence.

=

TEXT(

## **Syntax**

```
TEXT(value, format_text)
```

<dl><dt>**value **</dt>
<dd>The number or date to format.</dd>
<dt>**format_text **</dt>
<dd>A format code in quotes, such as "0%", "00000" or "dd-mm-yyyy".</dd></dl>

## **Examples**

B1`=TEXT(<sup>1</sup>0.25,<sup>2</sup>"0%")`

|  | A | B |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 |  | **25%** |

**In plain words:** Show <sup>1</sup>0.25 <sup>2</sup>as a percentage with no decimals.

B1=TEXT(42,"00000")

|  | A | B |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 |  | **00042** |

B1=TEXT(1234.5,"#,##0.00")

|  | A | B |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 |  | **1,234.50** |

B1=TEXT(DATE(2024,3,5),"dd-mm-yyyy")

|  | A | B |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 |  | **05-03-2024** |

## **Read the guide**

- [**Dates in Excel: how they work and the formulas you need**](https://practiceexcelonline.com/learn/excel-dates)
- [**How to merge cells in Excel, and what to use instead**](https://practiceexcelonline.com/learn/merge-cells-excel)
- [**How to make a graph in Excel: column, line and pie charts step by step**](https://practiceexcelonline.com/learn/excel-charts)

## **Questions**

<details>

<summary>

### Why does TEXT give a different result in Danish Excel?

</summary>

Format codes follow the language of Excel. Danish Excel swaps the thousands and decimal separators and uses å for year, so "dd-mm-yyyy" is written "dd-mm-åååå".

</details>

## **Related functions**

- [**CONCAT**](https://practiceexcelonline.com/functions/concat)
- [**TEXTJOIN**](https://practiceexcelonline.com/functions/textjoin)

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