Excel: # Fix number error
Excel provides information about errors in formulas with cryptic codes such as #number. To fix the error, you need to know what the code means. We will explain how the error occurs and how you can solve the problem.
# Number errors in Excel: what does that mean?
- If an Excel formula is to calculate numbers that you have entered in an unsupported number format, the program returns #NUMBER! out.
- For example, unsupported number formats are things like "$ 1000".
- Another cause can be an illegal result: for example, you cannot divide by zero or take the root of a negative number.
- Even if the result is too large or too small, Excel displays the #number error.
# Fix number errors in Excel
You should now be able to fix the #number error quite easily.
- Verify that the formula uses numbers that are entered in an unsupported format.
- If this is not the case, check the individual arithmetic operations. If you use division or roots, make sure that there are no undefined calculations.
- If all numbers have been entered correctly, the result is probably too large a number. Try changing the numbers so that the result can be displayed.
- With Excel error checking, you can have Excel search for a solution. Click on the yellow framed exclamation mark next to the cell and select "Show calculation steps".
- You can now go through the steps in your formula and Excel will show you when the error occurs.
Another error in Excel that occurs frequently is the #value error. We'll show you how to fix the #value error.