TEXT Function in Google Sheets
Use TEXT to turn a number or date into formatted text — a currency string, a percentage, a padded number, or a date written the way you want.
=TEXT(A2, "$#,##0.00")
Turns the number in A2 into a string like $1,250.00 using the format pattern in quotes.
How it works
TEXT takes a value and a format pattern written like a custom number format. Digits are shown with 0 (always) or # (only if needed), thousands with a comma, decimals with a period, and dates with codes like yyyy, mm, dd. The result is text, so it lines up for display and joins cleanly with other strings — but you can't do math on it anymore.
Variations
Percentage with one decimal
=TEXT(A2, "0.0%")
0.25 becomes 25.0%. The value is multiplied by 100 automatically.
Date as a readable string
=TEXT(A2, "ddd, dd mmm yyyy")
Turns a date into e.g. Mon, 05 Jan 2026.
Leading zeros / fixed width
=TEXT(A2, "00000")
Pads a number to 5 digits, e.g. 42 becomes 00042 — good for IDs and zip codes.
Number joined into a sentence
="Total: "&TEXT(A2, "$#,##0")
Formats the number and glues it into text with &.
Examples
| Scenario | Formula |
|---|---|
| Money label | =TEXT(A2, "$#,##0.00") |
| Month and year | =TEXT(A2, "mmmm yyyy") |
| Phone-style grouping | =TEXT(A2, "(000) 000-0000") |
FAQ
Why can't I do math on a TEXT result?
TEXT returns a string, not a number. Keep the original number for calculations and use TEXT only for display, or convert back with VALUE.
How do I add leading zeros?
Use a pattern of 0s for the width you want, e.g. TEXT(A2, "00000") pads to five digits.
How do I format a date with TEXT?
Use date codes in the pattern: TEXT(A2, "dd/mm/yyyy") or TEXT(A2, "ddd, dd mmm yyyy") for a written form.