The fastest way to change letter case in Excel

Excel does not have a built-in button to change uppercase to lowercase or vice versa, but it has a function called PROPER that converts text to title case (first letter of each word capitalized), and UPPER and LOWER functions that convert all text to capitals or all lowercase. You enter the function in a new column, copy it down, then paste the results back over your original data.

The process takes about two minutes and works on any amount of text at once. You do not need to install anything or use an external tool.

Key Takeaways

  • Use the UPPER function to convert text to all capitals, LOWER for all lowercase, and PROPER for title case (first letter of each word capitalized).
  • Enter the function in an empty column next to your data, then copy the formula down to match the number of rows you have.
  • Copy the results, paste them as values only into your original column, then delete the helper column.
  • The PROPER function capitalizes the first letter after spaces and punctuation, which sometimes creates unwanted capitals in acronyms or contractions.

Using the UPPER function for all capitals

Click on an empty cell next to the text you want to change. Type =UPPER(A1), replacing A1 with the cell containing your text. Press Enter. Excel converts the text in that cell to all capitals and displays the result in your new cell.

Click the cell with the formula, then drag the small square at the bottom right corner down to the last row of your data. Excel copies the formula down and converts every cell in that range. If you have 500 rows, drag all the way to row 500.

Using the LOWER function for all lowercase

Click on an empty cell next to your text. Type =LOWER(A1), replacing A1 with your data cell. Press Enter. The text converts to all lowercase.

Drag the formula down to the last row of your data the same way you would with UPPER. Every cell in the range will convert to lowercase.

Using the PROPER function for title case

Click an empty cell and type =PROPER(A1), replacing A1 with your data cell. Press Enter. Excel capitalizes the first letter of each word and makes the rest lowercase.

Drag the formula down to cover all your data. PROPER is useful for names and titles, but it will capitalize the first letter after any space or punctuation mark. If you have text like "McDonald's" it becomes "Mcdonald'S", and "USA" becomes "Usa". Check the results before you finalize them.

How to replace your original data with the converted text

After you have run the formula on all your rows, select all the cells with the converted text. Right-click and choose Copy. Click on the first cell of your original column (the one you want to replace). Right-click and select Paste Special. A dialog box opens.

In the Paste Special dialog, click the Values radio button, then click OK. Excel pastes only the text, not the formula. Your original column now contains the converted text. Delete the helper column you created, and you are done.

What to do if PROPER creates unwanted capitals

PROPER capitalizes the first letter after every space and punctuation mark, which causes problems with acronyms, contractions, and brand names. "iPhone" becomes "Iphone", "USA" becomes "Usa", and "O'Brien" becomes "O'brien".

If your data has many of these cases, use PROPER as a starting point, then manually fix the problem cells. Alternatively, use Find and Replace to fix common patterns. For example, search for "Iphone" and replace with "iPhone" across the whole column. This is faster than editing each cell individually if you have hundreds of rows.

Combining functions for specific results

You can nest functions together to get results that a single function cannot produce. For example, =UPPER(LEFT(A1,1))&LOWER(RIGHT(A1,LEN(A1)-1)) capitalizes only the first letter and makes everything else lowercase. This is more complex, but it solves the PROPER problem for straightforward cases.

If you are not comfortable with nested formulas, stick with UPPER, LOWER, or PROPER and fix problem cells by hand. The straightforward functions work for most data and are much faster than manual editing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the case of text without creating a new column?

Not directly. Excel functions require you to put the result somewhere, so you need a helper column. Once you have the converted text, you can paste it back over your original data and delete the helper column, leaving you with just one column of converted text.

What if I only want to change the case of part of a cell?

You can combine UPPER, LOWER, or PROPER with LEFT, RIGHT, and MID functions to target specific characters. For example, =UPPER(LEFT(A1,3))&LOWER(RIGHT(A1,LEN(A1)-3)) makes the first three letters uppercase and the rest lowercase. This requires some formula knowledge, so test it on a few cells first.

Does this work on numbers or special characters?

No. UPPER, LOWER, and PROPER only affect letters. Numbers, spaces, punctuation, and symbols pass through unchanged. If your cells contain mixed text and numbers, the functions convert only the letters.

Can I undo the change if I make a mistake?

Yes, as long as you have not saved the file. Press Ctrl+Z (or Cmd+Z on Mac) to undo. If you have already saved, you will need to reopen the original file. This is why it is a good idea to test the formula on a few rows before you explore it to your entire dataset.