# How to convert text to sentence case in Excel

Capitalize the first letter and lowercase the rest: =UPPER(LEFT(TRIM(A2)))&LOWER(MID(TRIM(A2),2,LEN(A2))).

**Excel:** `=UPPER(LEFT(TRIM(A2)))&LOWER(MID(TRIM(A2),2,LEN(A2)))` (Every current version)

**Google Sheets:** the same formula works.

## Example

Sample data (row 1 is the header):

| A | B |
| --- | --- |
| Description | Sentence case |
| ERGONOMIC CHAIR WITH LUMBAR SUPPORT |  |
| wireless mouse, black |  |
| sTANDING dESK |  |
| USB-C dock with 4 ports |  |
| desk lamp |  |

Formula in B2, filled to B6: `=UPPER(LEFT(TRIM(A2)))&LOWER(MID(TRIM(A2),2,LEN(A2)))`

Result: Ergonomic chair with lumbar support; Wireless mouse, black; Standing desk; Usb-c dock with 4 ports; Desk lamp

## How it works

LEFT takes the first character and UPPER capitalizes it; MID takes everything from the second character on and LOWER lowercases it. TRIM first means a leading space doesn't get "capitalized" instead of the first letter.

## Other ways

- `=REPLACE(LOWER(TRIM(A2)),1,1,UPPER(LEFT(TRIM(A2))))`: Lowercase everything, then replace the first character with its capital.

## Common mistakes

- Acronyms are lowercased too: "USB-C" becomes "Usb-c". Fix known ones with SUBSTITUTE afterwards.
- Only the first letter of the cell is capitalized. A second sentence after a period stays lowercase.

## Questions

**How do I capitalize the first letter but leave the rest unchanged?**

Skip the LOWER: `=UPPER(LEFT(A2))&MID(A2,2,LEN(A2))`.

**How do I capitalize every word?**

Use `=PROPER(A2)`.

Every formula and result on this page was checked by running it in the Spreadsheet Practice formula engine on 2026-10-30.

Source: https://spreadsheetpractice.com/formulas/convert-text-to-sentence-case