Spreadsheet Practice

How to remove currency symbols and convert text to numbers in Excel

Formula (Excel and Google Sheets)

=VALUE(SUBSTITUTE(SUBSTITUTE(A2,"USD",""),"$",""))

Strip the symbols with SUBSTITUTE, then convert with VALUE: =VALUE(SUBSTITUTE(SUBSTITUTE(A2,"USD",""),"$","")).

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

VALUE can read "$980.50" on its own, but not a currency code like "USD". The two SUBSTITUTE calls delete both, and VALUE converts what's left, ignoring the spaces and thousands commas. Format the result as currency to get the symbol back on screen.

=VALUE(SUBSTITUTE(SUBSTITUTE(A2,"USD",""),"$",""))

Result1250

  1. A2"USD 1,250.00"

    The value in A2.

  2. SUBSTITUTE(A2,"USD","")" 1,250.00"

    SUBSTITUTE: Replaces matching text.

    • textA2"USD 1,250.00"
    • old_text"USD"
    • new_text""
  3. SUBSTITUTE(SUBSTITUTE(A2,"USD",""),"$","")" 1,250.00"

    SUBSTITUTE: Replaces matching text.

    • textSUBSTITUTE(A2,"USD","")" 1,250.00"
    • old_text"$"
    • new_text""
  4. VALUE(SUBSTITUTE(SUBSTITUTE(A2,"USD",""),"$",""))1250

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

    • textSUBSTITUTE(SUBSTITUTE(A2,"USD",""),"$","")" 1,250.00"

In Google Sheets

The same formula works in Google Sheets: =VALUE(SUBSTITUTE(SUBSTITUTE(A2,"USD",""),"$","")). 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
=--TRIM(SUBSTITUTE(SUBSTITUTE(A2,"USD",""),"$",""))$1,250.00, $980.50, $2,310.00…The double minus converts like VALUE does.

Common mistakes

  • Other symbols need their own SUBSTITUTE: € and £ aren't removed by this formula.
  • Amounts written the European way (1.250,00) need the separators swapped before VALUE can read them.

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.

Remove currency symbols and convert text to numbers

In B2, remove "USD" and "$" from the amount and convert it to a real number. Fill down to B6.

Questions

How do I keep the currency code in another column?

Take the letters: =IF(ISNUMBER(SEARCH("USD",A2)),"USD",""), or TEXTBEFORE for codes at the start.

Why does SUM return 0 on the original column?

The amounts are text. SUM skips text, so convert them first.

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.