How to use LOWER in Excel
Converts to lowercase.
Syntax
textText or a cellExample
Here’s LOWER on a small table of orders. The highlighted cells are the ones the formula reads.
=LOWER(B2)Edit this formula live Change the ranges and watch the answer update. Free, no sign-up.
Common mistakes with LOWER
Useful before comparing text
Most Excel comparisons ignore case already, but LOWER helps when cleaning data for other systems like email lists.
It returns text
The original cell isn’t changed; copy and paste as values if you want to replace it.
What the error messages mean
Type these slips into Gridwise and this is the feedback you get:
Leaving off the closing bracket
=LOWER(B2
Parentheses don’t match. You have 1 opening and 0 closing parentheses. Every ( needs a ).
Questions
What does the LOWER function do in Excel?
Converts to lowercase. The syntax is LOWER(text).
Why is my LOWER formula giving the wrong answer?
Useful before comparing text: Most Excel comparisons ignore case already, but LOWER helps when cleaning data for other systems like email lists. It returns text: The original cell isn’t changed; copy and paste as values if you want to replace it.
Does LOWER work in Google Sheets?
Most Excel functions, including the core ones on this page, work the same way in Google Sheets. A few newer functions arrived in Sheets later or behave slightly differently, so test it on your own data.