How to upper case in Excel?

To convert text to uppercase in Excel, the most straightforward and widely used method is employing the UPPER function.

Converting Text to Uppercase with the UPPER Function

The UPPER function changes all letters in a text string to uppercase. This is incredibly useful for standardizing data, improving readability, or preparing data for other applications.

Step-by-Step Guide to Using the UPPER Function

Here’s how to apply the UPPER function to convert your text:

1. Select an Empty Cell: Choose a new, empty cell where you want the uppercase version of your text to appear. For instance, if your original text is in cell A2, you might select cell B2.
2. Enter the Formula: In the selected empty cell, type the UPPER function formula. Replace A2 with the cell reference containing the text you wish to convert.

   =UPPER(A2)

   Example: If "hello world" is in A2, then =UPPER(A2) will return "HELLO WORLD".

3. Press Enter: After entering the formula, press Enter. The cell will now display the uppercase version of the text from the referenced cell.
4. Fill Down the Formula: To apply the formula to multiple cells in your column, select the cell containing your newly entered UPPER formula (e.g., B2). Hover your mouse over the small black square (known as the fill handle) that appears in the lower-right corner of the selected cell.
5. Double-Click or Drag:
   • Double-click the fill handle: This is the quickest way to fill the formula down to the last row where adjacent data exists in the column to its left.
   • Click and drag the fill handle: Alternatively, click and hold the fill handle, then drag it down to cover all the cells where you want the formula to be applied. Excel will automatically adjust the cell references (e.g., A3, A4, etc.) for each row.

Example Table

Original Text (Column A)	Uppercase Text (Column B)
apple	=UPPER(A2)
Banana	=UPPER(A3)
orange	=UPPER(A4)
GRAPE	=UPPER(A5)

After applying the formula =UPPER(A2) in cell B2 and filling down, the table would look like this:

Original Text (Column A)	Uppercase Text (Column B)
apple	APPLE
Banana	BANANA
orange	ORANGE
GRAPE	GRAPE

Advanced Tips

• Copying Values Without Formulas: After you've converted your text to uppercase using the UPPER function, the new column contains formulas. If you want to replace these formulas with their actual text values (to remove dependency on the original column or for pasting elsewhere), follow these steps:
  1. Select the entire column with the uppercase text.
  2. Copy the selection (Ctrl+C or Cmd+C).
  3. With the same selection still highlighted, right-click and choose Paste Special > Values (or press Alt+E+S+V). This will paste only the text, removing the underlying formulas.
• Combining with Other Functions: You can nest the UPPER function within other Excel functions for more complex data manipulation. For example, =PROPER(UPPER(A2)) would first convert to uppercase and then apply proper case (though PROPER alone would handle this directly if that's the final goal).
• Flash Fill (Excel 2013 and later): For simple conversions without formulas, Excel's Flash Fill feature can be a quick alternative.
  1. Type the uppercase version of the first piece of text in an adjacent cell. For example, if "apple" is in A2, type "APPLE" in B2.
  2. Press Enter.
  3. Start typing the uppercase version of the second piece of text (B3). Excel's Flash Fill will often detect the pattern and suggest the rest of the column in uppercase. Press Enter to accept.
  4. Alternatively, after typing the first example, select the next cell (B3) and go to the Data tab > Flash Fill (or press Ctrl+E).

For more detailed information on Excel functions, refer to official Microsoft Support documentation.