N function

This article describes the formula syntax and usage of the N function in Microsoft Excel.

Description

Returns a value converted to a number.

Syntax

N(value)

The N function syntax has the following arguments:

• Value    Required. The value you want converted. N converts values listed in the following table.

If value is or refers to	N returns
A number	That number
A date, in one of the built-in date formats available in Microsoft Excel	The serial number of that date
TRUE	1
FALSE	0
An error value, such as #DIV/0!	The error value
Anything else	0

Remarks

• It is not generally necessary to use the N function in a formula, because Excel automatically converts values as necessary. This function is provided for compatibility with other spreadsheet programs.

• Excel stores dates as sequential serial numbers so they can be used in calculations. By default, January 1, 1900 is serial number 1, and January 1, 2008 is serial number 39448 because it is 39,448 days after January 1, 1900.

Example

Copy the example data in the following table, and paste it in cell A1 of a new Excel worksheet. For formulas to show results, select them, press F2, and then press Enter. If you need to, you can adjust the column widths to see all the data.

Data
7
Even
TRUE
4/17/2011
Formula	Description	Result
=N(A2)	Because A2 contains a number, the number is returned.	7
=N(A3)	Because A3 contains text, 0 is returned.	0
=N(A4)	Because A4 is the logical value TRUE, 1 is returned.	1
=N(A5)	Because A5 is a date, the serial number of the date is returned (varies with the date system used).	40650
=N("7")	Because "7" is text, 0 is returned.	0