How To Remove Commas In Excel? 6 Simple Methods!

This article introduces six effective methods to help you clean up your spreadsheets. From quick fixes to more advanced techniques, these strategies will enable you to work with clean, organized data effortlessly.

Understanding Commas in Excel

Before we dive into the methods, let’s understand why commas appear and why you might want to remove them.

What Are Commas Used For?

Commas serve multiple purposes in Excel:

• Thousand Separators: They make large numbers, such as 1,000,000, easier to read.
• List Separators: Commas separate text values, like "Name, Age, Address," making the data more structured.
• Exported Data: Commas often appear in datasets from external sources like CSV files or databases, where they act as delimiters.

Why Remove Commas?

While commas improve readability, they can cause issues, such as:

1. Disrupted Calculations: Excel treats numbers with commas as text, leading to errors in formulas.
2. Formatting Errors: Removing commas ensures consistency across your dataset.
3. Data Organization: Removing unwanted commas can help split or merge data more efficiently.

How to Remove Comma in Excel: 6 Simple Methods 

Here are six tried-and-true methods to remove commas based on your specific needs.

1. SUBSTITUTE Function

How to remove commas from numbers in Excel? The SUBSTITUTE function is perfect for removing commas from without altering the original cell. 

Steps:

1. Assume the value 1,234 is in cell A1.
2. Enter the formula: =SUBSTITUTE(A1, ",", "").
3. Press Enter, and Excel will return 1234.

This method works great for mixed data but doesn’t modify the formatting of the original cell.

2. Find and Replace

For quick and direct removal, the Find and Replace tool is unbeatable.

Steps:

1. Press Ctrl + H to open the Find and Replace dialog box.
2. In the “Find what” field, type , (comma).
3. Leave the “Replace with” field blank.
4. Click Replace All.

This method works across large datasets, instantly removing commas from selected cells.

3. Text to Columns

If commas separate data fields, use the Text to Columns feature to split values into separate columns.

Steps:

1. Highlight the cells containing the data.
2. Go to the Data tab and select Text to Columns.
3. Choose Delimited and click Next.
4. Select Comma as the delimiter.
5. Click Finish to split the data into columns.

This is especially useful for CSV files or text strings containing commas.

4. Apply General Format

If you need to remove thousand separators, applying the General format can do the trick.

Steps:

1. Select the cells containing the numbers.
2. Right-click and choose Format Cells.
3. In the Number tab, select General and click OK.

This removes formatting, including thousand separators, without affecting the actual data.

5. Format Cells Dialog

For more precise control, use the Format Cells dialog to remove commas.

Steps:

1. Highlight the cells with commas.
2. Right-click and select Format Cells.
3. In the Number tab, choose Number and uncheck the “Use 1000 Separator” box.
4. Click OK.

This method keeps your data formatted as numbers while eliminating commas.

6. NUMBERVALUE Function

When numbers with commas are stored as text, the NUMBERVALUE function converts them into usable numeric values.

Steps:

1. In a blank cell, type: =NUMBERVALUE(A1) (where A1 contains the value 1,234).
2. Press Enter, and Excel will return 1234 as a numeric value.

This method is ideal for datasets imported with inconsistent formatting.

Conclusion

Managing commas in Excel doesn’t have to be a hassle. Whether you’re dealing with text or numbers, these six methods provide a comprehensive toolkit for removing commas quickly and efficiently. From simple fixes like Find and Replace to advanced functions like NUMBERVALUE, there’s a solution for every scenario.

By mastering these techniques, you can streamline your workflow, enhance data accuracy, and make your spreadsheets more professional. So the next time commas invade your Excel sheet, you’ll know exactly what to do!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What causes commas in Excel numbers?

Commas will often show up in Excel numbers because of formatting. They are usually used as thousand separators for improved readability.

Q2. How can I remove commas from numbers in Excel?

First, select the cells in which you want to remove commas. Then, click on the "Number" section in the "Home" tab and select either "General" or "Number" with no separators.

Q3. How do I remove commas from text in Excel?

You can use the Find & Replace feature. Press Ctrl + H, enter a comma in "Find what," leave "Replace with" blank, and click "Replace All.

Q4. What's the fastest way to remove thousand separators?

Highlight the cells, right-click, click format cells, number, and then uncheck “Use 1000 Separator.

Q5. Can I remove commas without using formulas?

Use that “Find & Replace” tool. It removed the commas without the use of complicated formulas.

Q6. Why use the "Find & Replace" feature?

It’s fast and simple. This tool saves time by removing all commas from selected cells at once.

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