How to use UPPER in Excel
Converts to capitals.
Syntax
textText or a cellExample
Here’s UPPER on a small table of orders. The highlighted cells are the ones the formula reads.
=UPPER(C2)Edit this formula live Change the ranges and watch the answer update. Free, no sign-up.
Common mistakes with UPPER
It changes text only
Numbers are unaffected. The result is text, even if it looks like a number.
Use PROPER for names
UPPER gives MARIA GARCIA; PROPER gives Maria Garcia.
What the error messages mean
Type these slips into Gridwise and this is the feedback you get:
Leaving off the closing bracket
=UPPER(C2
Parentheses don’t match. You have 1 opening and 0 closing parentheses. Every ( needs a ).
Questions
What does the UPPER function do in Excel?
Converts to capitals. The syntax is UPPER(text).
Why is my UPPER formula giving the wrong answer?
It changes text only: Numbers are unaffected. The result is text, even if it looks like a number. Use PROPER for names: UPPER gives MARIA GARCIA; PROPER gives Maria Garcia.
Does UPPER 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.