Spreadsheet Practice

How to fix negative numbers with a trailing minus sign in Excel

Formula (Excel and Google Sheets)

=IF(RIGHT(A2)="-",-VALUE(LEFT(A2,LEN(A2)-1)),VALUE(A2))

Move the minus to the front: =IF(RIGHT(A2)="-",-VALUE(LEFT(A2,LEN(A2)-1)),VALUE(A2)).

Result on the example
one result per row in B2, filled down to B6
Works in
Every current version
Google Sheets
Same formula

See it work

The formula is already in B2, filled down to B6. Change any input and the result updates, or edit the formula to experiment.

How it works

Accounting systems often export negatives as "1,250.00-", which Excel reads as text. The IF checks the last character: if it is a minus, LEFT drops it, VALUE converts the rest and the leading minus makes it negative. Other amounts are simply converted with VALUE.

=IF(RIGHT(A2)="-",-VALUE(LEFT(A2,LEN(A2)-1)),VALUE(A2))

Result-1250

  1. A2"1,250.00-"

    The value in A2.

  2. RIGHT(A2)"-"

    RIGHT: Characters from the end of text.

    • textA2"1,250.00-"
  3. RIGHT(A2)="-"TRUE

    The = operator tests whether the two sides are equal.

  4. LEN(A2)9

    LEN: Number of characters.

    • textA2"1,250.00-"
  5. LEN(A2)-18

    The - operator subtracts.

  6. LEFT(A2,LEN(A2)-1)"1,250.00"

    LEFT: Characters from the start of text.

    • textA2"1,250.00-"
    • num_charsLEN(A2)-18
  7. VALUE(LEFT(A2,LEN(A2)-1))1250

    VALUE: Converts text that looks like a number into a number.

    • textLEFT(A2,LEN(A2)-1)"1,250.00"
  8. -VALUE(LEFT(A2,LEN(A2)-1))-1250

    Makes the value negative.

  9. VALUE(A2)#VALUE!not used

    VALUE: Converts text that looks like a number into a number.

    • textA2"1,250.00-"
  10. IF(RIGHT(A2)="-",-VALUE(LEFT(A2,LEN(A2)-1)),VALUE(A2))-1250

    IF: Returns one value if a test is true, another if false.

    • logical_testRIGHT(A2)="-"TRUE
    • value_if_true-VALUE(LEFT(A2,LEN(A2)-1))-1250
    • value_if_falseVALUE(A2)#VALUE!not used

In Google Sheets

The same formula works in Google Sheets: =IF(RIGHT(A2)="-",-VALUE(LEFT(A2,LEN(A2)-1)),VALUE(A2)). We ran it in Google Sheets mode on the same data and it returns the same results.

Other ways to do it

Each one was run on the same example sheet.

FormulaResultWhen to use it
=VALUE(IF(RIGHT(A2)="-","-"&LEFT(A2,LEN(A2)-1),A2))-1,250.00, 980.50, -75.25…Rebuilds the text with the minus in front, then converts once.

Common mistakes

  • A space after the minus ("75.25- ") hides it from RIGHT. Use TRIM(A2) in each place.
  • Without a formula: Data > Text to Columns > Finish, with "Trailing minus for negative numbers" checked under Advanced.

Try it yourself

Same data, empty answer cell. Your formula is graded instantly, then re-checked on changed data, so a typed-in number won't pass.

Fix negative numbers with a trailing minus sign

In B2, convert the amount to a real number, making it negative when it ends with a minus sign. Fill down to B6.

Questions

What about negatives in parentheses, like (1,250.00)?

VALUE already reads them as negative: =VALUE(A2) returns -1250.

What about a CR suffix for credits?

Test the last two characters: =IF(RIGHT(A2,2)="CR",-VALUE(LEFT(A2,LEN(A2)-2)),VALUE(A2)).

Checked by running on 2026-10-30: every formula and result on this page was calculated by the Spreadsheet Practice formula engine, in both Excel and Google Sheets modes.