Surprisingly, Microsoft Excel does not include a built-in “Number to Words” button. However, you can easily add this functionality yourself using a VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) script. This method is the most reliable way to handle large figures and decimals automatically.

Why Use the VBA Method?
While complex formulas exist to “spell” numbers, they are often bulky and difficult to troubleshoot. Using a User Defined Function (UDF) like SpellNumber is:

• Cleaner: It looks and acts just like a native Excel function.
• Scalable: It handles everything from units to billions effortlessly.
• Professional: It automatically formats results into “Dollars and Cents.”

Step-by-Step Guide: Adding the SpellNumber Function
Follow these steps to enable automatic conversion in your workbook.

1. Open the VBA Editor
   Open your Excel workbook and press Alt + F11 on your keyboard. This will open the Visual Basic for Applications window.
2. Insert a New Module
   In the top menu, go to Insert > Module. A blank white window will appear on the right side of the screen.
3. Add the Script
   Copy and paste the SpellNumber code into that blank module window.

   Option Explicit

   'Main Function
   Function SpellNumber(ByVal MyNumber)
   Dim Dollars, Cents, Temp
   Dim DecimalPlace, Count
   ReDim Place(9) As String
   Place(2) = " Thousand "
   Place(3) = " Million "
   Place(4) = " Billion "
   Place(5) = " Trillion "

   ' String representation of amount
   MyNumber = Trim(Str(MyNumber))

   ' Position of decimal place 0 if none
   DecimalPlace = InStr(MyNumber, ".")

   ' Convert cents and set MyNumber to dollar amount
   If DecimalPlace > 0 Then
   Cents = GetTens(Left(Mid(MyNumber, DecimalPlace + 1) & "00", 2))
   MyNumber = Trim(Left(MyNumber, DecimalPlace - 1))
   End If

   Count = 1
   Do While MyNumber <> ""
   Temp = GetHundreds(Right(MyNumber, 3))
   If Temp <> "" Then Dollars = Temp & Place(Count) & Dollars
   If Len(MyNumber) > 3 Then
   MyNumber = Left(MyNumber, Len(MyNumber) - 3)
   Else
   MyNumber = ""
   End If
   Count = Count + 1
   Loop

   ' Final result
   Select Case Dollars
   Case ""
   Dollars = "No Dollars"
   Case "One"
   Dollars = "One Dollar"
   Case Else
   Dollars = Dollars & " Dollars"
   End Select

   Select Case Cents
   Case ""
   Cents = " and No Cents"
   Case "One"
   Cents = " and One Cent"
   Case Else
   Cents = " and " & Cents & " Cents"
   End Select

   SpellNumber = Dollars & Cents
   End Function

   ' Converts a number from 100-999 into text
   Function GetHundreds(ByVal MyNumber)
   Dim Result As String

   If Val(MyNumber) = 0 Then Exit Function

   MyNumber = Right("000" & MyNumber, 3)

   ' Convert the hundreds place
   If Mid(MyNumber, 1, 1) <> "0" Then
   Result = GetDigit(Mid(MyNumber, 1, 1)) & " Hundred "
   End If

   ' Convert the tens and ones place
   If Mid(MyNumber, 2, 2) <> "00" Then
   Result = Result & GetTens(Mid(MyNumber, 2))
   End If

   GetHundreds = Result
   End Function

   ' Converts a number from 10-99 into text
   Function GetTens(TensText)
   Dim Result As String

   Result = "" ' Null out the temporary function value

   If Val(Left(TensText, 1)) = 1 Then ' If value between 10-19
   Select Case Val(TensText)
   Case 10: Result = "Ten"
   Case 11: Result = "Eleven"
   Case 12: Result = "Twelve"
   Case 13: Result = "Thirteen"
   Case 14: Result = "Fourteen"
   Case 15: Result = "Fifteen"
   Case 16: Result = "Sixteen"
   Case 17: Result = "Seventeen"
   Case 18: Result = "Eighteen"
   Case 19: Result = "Nineteen"
   Case Else
   End Select
   Else ' Value between 20-99
   Select Case Val(Left(TensText, 1))
   Case 2: Result = "Twenty "
   Case 3: Result = "Thirty "
   Case 4: Result = "Forty "
   Case 5: Result = "Fifty "
   Case 6: Result = "Sixty "
   Case 7: Result = "Seventy "
   Case 8: Result = "Eighty "
   Case 9: Result = "Ninety "
   Case Else
   End Select
   Result = Result & GetDigit(Right(TensText, 1)) ' Retrieve ones place
   End If

   GetTens = Result
   End Function

   ' Converts a number from 1-9 into text
Function GetDigit(Digit)
Select Case Val(Digit)
Case 1: GetDigit = "One"
Case 2: GetDigit = "Two"
Case 3: GetDigit = "Three"
Case 4: GetDigit = "Four"
Case 5: GetDigit = "Five"
Case 6: GetDigit = "Six"
Case 7: GetDigit = "Seven"
Case 8: GetDigit = "Eight"
Case 9: GetDigit = "Nine"
Case Else: GetDigit = ""
End Select
End Function

4. Save as a Macro-Enabled Workbook
   This is a crucial step. Go to File > Save As and ensure you select Excel Macro-Enabled Workbook (*.xlsm) from the file type dropdown. If you save it as a standard .xlsx file, the function will not work next time you open the file.
5. Use the Function
   Return to your spreadsheet. You can now use your custom function just like =SUM(). In any cell, simply type:
   =SpellNumber(A1)
   (Where A1 is the cell containing the number you want to convert.)

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