UPPER function
UPPER converts every letter in a text string to capitals. Use it to standardize codes that should always be uppercase, such as state abbreviations, SKUs, airport codes and postcodes.
- Available in
- Every current version
- Category
- Text functions
- Returns
- The same text in uppercase. Digits and symbols don't change.
- Google Sheets
- Works the same in Google Sheets.
Syntax
=UPPER(text)
| Argument | Required? | What it is |
|---|---|---|
text | Required | The text or cell to convert. |
Examples
Each result below is calculated from the sample sheet by our formula engine, the same one that grades the practice.
| Cell | Formula | Result | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| D2 | =UPPER(A2) | MN | A state code in capitals |
| D3 | =UPPER(B3) | GDT-RED-M | Dashes and letters together: only the letters change |
| D4 | =UPPER(LEFT(C4,FIND(" ",C4)-1)) | M1 | The first part of a UK postcode, capitalized |
Try it live
This is the sample sheet. Change any number or text, or edit a formula, and the results update.
Show the sample data as a table
| State | SKU | Postcode | Result |
| mn | wdg-blu-l | sw1a 1aa | MN |
| Ca | gdt-red-m | ec1v 9hq | GDT-RED-M |
| tx | gzm-grn-s | m1 1ae | M1 |
Practice UPPER
Graded instantly, then re-checked on changed data.
Standardize SKUs
B2, remove the stray spaces from the SKU in A2 and convert it to uppercase. Fill down to B6.Common mistakes
| What you see | Why, and how to fix it |
|---|---|
| Expecting UPPER to fix lookups | Excel lookups ignore case, so uppercase codes aren't needed for VLOOKUP or XLOOKUP to match. Convert for consistency, and use EXACT when case truly matters. |
| Numbers turn into text | UPPER on a number returns it as text, which SUM skips. Apply it only to text columns. |
Tips
- Nest TRIM inside to clean spacing at the same time: =UPPER(TRIM(A2)).
Questions
How do I make all text uppercase in Excel?
Use =UPPER(A2) in a helper column, fill it down, then copy and paste the results as values over the original.
Does UPPER change numbers or symbols?
No. Only letters change. Digits, punctuation and spaces stay as they were.
Last reviewed October 2026. Every example result on this page is calculated live by the Spreadsheet Practice formula engine.