Fix Excel Formula Errors Caused by Wrong Data Types (Text vs Numbers)

Are your Excel formulas returning the wrong results — or none at all? The problem might be your data types. In this Excel 365 tutorial, learn how to detect, fix, and prevent text-vs-number errors using Excel’s VALUE() and TEXT() functions — and see how Power Query can automatically enforce the correct column data types. You’ll learn how to: • Detect when numbers are stored as text • Convert text to numbers (VALUE, ×1, –– methods) • Convert numbers to text with the TEXT function • Create fixed 5-digit employee IDs with leading zeros • Use Power Query to lock in correct data types Clean data = reliable formulas. ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 00:25 - Text vs Values example 03:18 - VALUE function 04:17 - *1 method 04:53 - –– method 06:10 - Values to text example 06:57 - TEXT function "0" 09:19 - TEXT nested in XLOOKUP example 10:53 - Power Query Change Type 13:35 - Power Query Merge instead of XLOOKUP 14:55 - Final thoughts 💬 If this helped you, hit 👍, drop a comment with your favourite method, and subscribe for weekly Excel tutorials. 🙌 Support the Channel: 👍 Like the video 💬 Leave a comment 🔁 Share with a friend 💸 https://buymeacoffee.com/benjones - to support the channel 📁 File Coming Soon 🔔 SUBSCRIBE FOR WEEKLY TUTORIALS Subscribe to BenJonesExplains Click here to subscribe and master Excel, one trick at a time! https://www.youtube.com/@BenJonesExplains?sub_confirmation=1 @BenJonesExplains 🔍 Tags / Hashtags: #ExcelTips #ExcelFormulas #Excel365 #PowerQuery #DataCleaning #ExcelTutorial