Text function
Excel UPPER function
UPPER converts every letter in a text value to capitals. Numbers and symbols are left alone. Use it to make product codes, state abbreviations, or country codes look consistent.
=UPPER(text)Arguments
text- The text or cell to convert to uppercase.
UPPER examples
Every result below was calculated live from this sample sheet.
| A | B | C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | City | State | Coupon |
| 2 | Austin | tx | spring25 |
| 3 | Denver | Co | Welcome10 |
| 4 | Seattle | wa | vip-gold |
Result: TX
Turns "tx" into the standard "TX".
Result: SPRING25
Coupon codes look cleaner in capitals: "SPRING25". The digits are unchanged.
Result: Denver, CO
Builds a tidy "Denver, CO" label from mixed-case data.
How to use UPPER
- Click an empty cell next to your data.
- Type =UPPER( and select the text cell.
- Close the bracket and copy it down.
- To replace the original, copy and Paste Values over it.
Common UPPER mistakes
Expecting it to change the original cell
Formulas return a new value. Copy the results and use Paste Special > Values to overwrite the source.
Using UPPER to make matches work
Excel comparisons with = and lookups like VLOOKUP already ignore case, so you usually do not need it for matching.
UPPER FAQ
How do I change lowercase to uppercase in Excel?
Use =UPPER(A2) in a helper column, copy it down, then paste the results as values over the original column.
Is there a shortcut for uppercase in Excel?
No. Unlike Word, Excel has no Shift+F3 shortcut for changing case. Use UPPER, or Flash Fill (Ctrl+E) after typing one example.
Does UPPER affect numbers?
No. Digits and symbols pass through unchanged, but the result is text, so a number becomes text.
Practice UPPER in these lessons
Guides that use UPPER
Related functions
Updated 2026-10-31