How to Convert Numbers to Words in MS Excel

Microsoft developed an add-on application that will create a numbers-to-words function in Excel. The function will convert the numerical value of a spreadsheet cell into text; for example, $1.29 will appear as one dollar and twenty-nine cents. To convert numbers to words in Excel, the function needs to be created manually using the Visual Basic Editor, which comes standard in all Office applications. After the function has been created, it can be accessed through the Excel toolbar to convert numbers to words in a spreadsheet.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Creating the Numbers-to-Words Function in Excel

1. Open the Microsoft Excel program.

2. Hold down the Alt key and press F11 to open the Visual Basic Editor.

3. Choose "Insert" from the main toolbar and click "Module."

4. Copy and paste or type the following Microsoft formula into the module:
   
   Option Explicit
   'Main Function
   Function SpellNumber(ByVal MyNumber)
   Dim Dollars, Cents, Temp
   Dim DecimalPlace, Count
   ReDim Place(9) As String
   Place(2) = " Thousand "
   Place(3) = " Million "
   Place(4) = " Billion "
   Place(5) = " Trillion "
   ' String representation of amount.
   MyNumber = Trim(Str(MyNumber))
   ' Position of decimal place 0 if none.
   DecimalPlace = InStr(MyNumber, ".")
   ' Convert cents and set MyNumber to dollar amount.
   If DecimalPlace > 0 Then
   Cents = GetTens(Left(Mid(MyNumber, DecimalPlace + 1) & _
   "00", 2))
   MyNumber = Trim(Left(MyNumber, DecimalPlace - 1))
   End If
   Count = 1
   Do While MyNumber <> ""
   Temp = GetHundreds(Right(MyNumber, 3))
   If Temp <> "" Then Dollars = Temp & Place(Count) & Dollars
   If Len(MyNumber) > 3 Then
   MyNumber = Left(MyNumber, Len(MyNumber) - 3)
   Else
   MyNumber = ""
   End If
   Count = Count + 1
   Loop
   Select Case Dollars
   Case ""
   Dollars = "No Dollars"
   Case "One"
   Dollars = "One Dollar"
   Case Else
   Dollars = Dollars & " Dollars"
   End Select
   Select Case Cents
   Case ""
   Cents = " and No Cents"
   Case "One"
   Cents = " and One Cent"
   Case Else
   Cents = " and " & Cents & " Cents"
   End Select
   SpellNumber = Dollars & Cents
   End Function
   
   ' Converts a number from 100-999 into text
   Function GetHundreds(ByVal MyNumber)
   Dim Result As String
   If Val(MyNumber) = 0 Then Exit Function
   MyNumber = Right("000" & MyNumber, 3)
   ' Convert the hundreds place.
   If Mid(MyNumber, 1, 1) <> "0" Then
   Result = GetDigit(Mid(MyNumber, 1, 1)) & " Hundred "
   End If
   ' Convert the tens and ones place.
   If Mid(MyNumber, 2, 1) <> "0" Then
   Result = Result & GetTens(Mid(MyNumber, 2))
   Else
   Result = Result & GetDigit(Mid(MyNumber, 3))
   End If
   GetHundreds = Result
   End Function
   
   ' Converts a number from 10 to 99 into text.
   Function GetTens(TensText)
   Dim Result As String
   Result = "" ' Null out the temporary function value.
   If Val(Left(TensText, 1)) = 1 Then ' If value between 10-19...
   Select Case Val(TensText)
   Case 10: Result = "Ten"
   Case 11: Result = "Eleven"
   Case 12: Result = "Twelve"
   Case 13: Result = "Thirteen"
   Case 14: Result = "Fourteen"
   Case 15: Result = "Fifteen"
   Case 16: Result = "Sixteen"
   Case 17: Result = "Seventeen"
   Case 18: Result = "Eighteen"
   Case 19: Result = "Nineteen"
   Case Else
   End Select
   Else ' If value between 20-99...
   Select Case Val(Left(TensText, 1))
   Case 2: Result = "Twenty "
   Case 3: Result = "Thirty "
   Case 4: Result = "Forty "
   Case 5: Result = "Fifty "
   Case 6: Result = "Sixty "
   Case 7: Result = "Seventy "
   Case 8: Result = "Eighty "
   Case 9: Result = "Ninety "
   Case Else
   End Select
   Result = Result & GetDigit _
   (Right(TensText, 1)) ' Retrieve ones place.
   End If
   GetTens = Result
   End Function
   
   ' Converts a number from 1 to 9 into text.
   Function GetDigit(Digit)
   Select Case Val(Digit)
   Case 1: GetDigit = "One"
   Case 2: GetDigit = "Two"
   Case 3: GetDigit = "Three"
   Case 4: GetDigit = "Four"
   Case 5: GetDigit = "Five"
   Case 6: GetDigit = "Six"
   Case 7: GetDigit = "Seven"
   Case 8: GetDigit = "Eight"
   Case 9: GetDigit = "Nine"
   Case Else: GetDigit = ""
   End Select
   End Function

5. Choose SpellNumber from the module's pull-down menu.

Changing Numbers to Words in a Spreadsheet

6. Open an Excel spreadsheet.

7. Select the cell in which you want to convert numbers to text by clicking on the cell.

8. Click the Paste/Insert Function tab (fx).

9. Click "User Defined" in the left-hand menu and click "SpellNumber" in the right-hand menu.

10. Type in the number that you want converted to words.

11. Click "OK." The number will appear in the cell as text.

Resources

• Microsoft's SpellNumber Formula