Change the case of text

Unlike Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel doesn't have a Change Case button for changing capitalization. However, you can use the UPPER, LOWER, or PROPER functions to automatically change the case of existing text to uppercase, lowercase, or proper case. Functions are just built-in formulas that are designed to accomplish specific tasks—in this case, converting text case.

In the example below, the PROPER function is used to convert the uppercase names in column A to proper case, which capitalizes only the first letter in each name.

  1. First, insert a temporary column next to the column that contains the text you want to convert. In this case, we’ve added a new column (B) to the right of the Customer Name column.

    Empty column for entering formula

    In cell B2, type =PROPER(A2), exactly as shown below, and then press ENTER.
    PROPER function in cell B2

    This formula converts the name in cell A2 from uppercase to proper case. To convert the text to lowercase, type =LOWER(A2) instead. Use =UPPER(A2) in cases where you need to convert text to uppercase, replacing A2 with the appropriate cell reference.
  2. Now, fill down the formula in the new column. The quickest way to do this is by selecting cell B2, and then double-clicking the small black square that appears in the lower-right corner of the cell.
    Small black square for filling down the formula

     Tip    If your data is in an Excel table, a calculated column is automatically created with values filled down.

  1. At this point, the values in the new column (B) should be selected. Press CTRL+C to copy them to the Clipboard.
    Proper case text in new column (B)

    Right-click cell A2, click Paste, and then click Values. This step enables you to paste just the names and not the underlying formulas, which you don’t need to keep.
  2. Remove column (B), since it is no longer needed.
Applies to:
Excel 2010