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VALUETOTEXT Function

Excel 365, Excel 2021+

Summary

The VALUETOTEXT function converts any Excel value into its text representation. It handles numbers, booleans, text, and errors by transforming them into readable text strings using either a concise or strict formatting approach.

Syntax

VALUETOTEXT(value, [format])

Parameters

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
value	`Any`	Yes	Required. The value to convert to text format
format	`Number`	No	Optional. 0=concise (default), 1=strict. Returns #VALUE! for other values

Using the VALUETOTEXT Function

VALUETOTEXT is perfect for scenarios where you need consistent text output from mixed data types. Use the concise format (0) for readable display text, or strict format (1) when creating strings that need to be parsed back into Excel formulas.

Common VALUETOTEXT Examples

Basic Value Conversion

=VALUETOTEXT(TRUE, 0)

Returns 'TRUE' in concise format

Number to Text

=VALUETOTEXT(1234.01234, 0)

Returns '1234.01234' matching General format

Strict Text Formatting

=VALUETOTEXT("Hello", 1)

Returns '"Hello"' with quotes for parseable string

Error Handling

=VALUETOTEXT(#VALUE!, 0)

Returns '#VALUE!' as text representation

Linked Data Type

=VALUETOTEXT(A6, 1)

Returns '"Seattle"' for geography data type in strict format

Frequently Asked Questions

Format 0 (concise) creates readable text like General formatting. Format 1 (strict) adds quotes around strings and escape characters for formula bar parsing.

Yes, it converts array values to text representations, maintaining their structure in strict format.

VALUETOTEXT returns the #VALUE! error.

Common Errors and Solutions

#VALUE! error

Cause: format argument is not 0 or 1

Solution: Use only 0 (concise) or 1 (strict) for the format parameter

Unexpected text formatting

Cause: Using wrong format type for the use case

Solution: Use 0 for display text, 1 for parseable formula strings

Notes

Passes existing text values unchanged
Booleans return TRUE/FALSE without quotes
Numbers match General formatting in concise mode
Strict mode encapsulates strings in double quotes
Available only in Excel 365 and Excel 2021+

Compatibility

Available in: Excel 365, Excel 2021

Not available in: Excel 2019, Excel 2016, Excel 2013, Excel 2010, Excel 2007, Excel 2003

Content last reviewed: December 9, 2025
Update frequency: As needed
Excel versions tested: Excel 365, Excel 2021+