In Excel: use =CHAR(number) to produce a character from its code and =CODE(text) to read the code of one — CHAR(10) is a line break, CHAR(160) a non-breaking space.
Syntax
Arguments
| Argument | Description | |
|---|---|---|
number | required | For CHAR: a character code from 1 to 255. |
text | required | For CODE: text whose first character's code you want. |
Related functions
To insert a line break, concatenate CHAR(10) between the parts: =A2 & CHAR(10) & B2.
Switch on Wrap Text for that cell, or the break will not be visible.
To diagnose a stubborn value, use =CODE(LEFT(A2,1)) on its first character.
Remove the identified character with SUBSTITUTE and CHAR of the same number.
What this does
CHAR turns a number into the character it represents and CODE does the reverse. They matter for two everyday jobs. Inserting a line break inside a formula-built string requires CHAR(10) on Windows, since you cannot type Alt+Enter inside a formula — and the cell must have Wrap Text switched on or the break stays invisible. And diagnosing invisible characters requires CODE: pointing it at the first character of a stubborn value tells you exactly what is there, which is usually 160 (non-breaking space) or 10 (line feed). Keep the inputs visible and clearly labelled and the whole thing stays auditable — anyone who opens the file later, including you, can see at a glance exactly what feeds the result and change one assumption without hunting through the formula. Treat “char formula in excel” as a small repeatable workflow rather than a one-off click you hope to remember next time. Use a small test block before the live file, so any surprise in the affected formula shows up while it is still harmless. When a formula is involved, keep the inputs labelled beside it, reference cells instead of typing values, and apply number formatting only after the result checks out. That turns a text operation that turns messy entries into clean, usable data into a method you can reuse, explain, and defend when the workbook leaves your screen.
A worked example
Building a multi-line address in one cell: =A2 & CHAR(10) & B2 & CHAR(10) & C2, with Wrap Text enabled on the cell. Diagnosing a value that will not match: =CODE(LEFT(A2,1)) returning 160 identifies a non-breaking space. Removing it once identified: =SUBSTITUTE(A2, CHAR(160), " "). CHAR(10) is the only way to build a multi-line cell from a formula, and CODE is the only way to identify what invisible character is breaking a match. A practical tip before you scale it up: build it once on a small block of test data, confirm the number against the tool on this page, and only then point it at your real sheet. That one habit catches almost every mistake while it is still cheap to fix, long before a wrong figure reaches a report or a colleague.
In Google Sheets
Everything above works in Google Sheets too. Excel and Sheets share the formula syntax used here; only the surrounding menus are arranged differently. That portability is deliberate — learn it once and it follows you between the two tools and across Windows and Mac. Keep this page bookmarked for the next time the same question comes up. Better still, rebuild the example once in your own sheet — doing it yourself, with the tool above to check against, is what turns a copied formula into a technique you own. If you take one thing from this page on “char formula in excel”, make it the habit rather than the keystrokes: set the problem up with labelled inputs, reference those cells, and let Excel do the recomputing. Bookmark the page for the syntax, but do the example once in a blank sheet and check it against the tool above — five minutes of hands-on practice fixes the method in memory far better than re-reading, and it surfaces the small snags while they are still harmless. After that the technique is genuinely yours: faster than searching for it again, and reliable enough to drop into work that other people depend on.
Common mistakes
- Using CHAR(10) without enabling Wrap Text, which makes the line break invisible and looks like the formula failed.
- Using CHAR(10) on a Mac where CHAR(13) is expected in some contexts; test which one your file needs.
- Passing 0 or a number above 255 to CHAR, which returns
#VALUE!.
Frequently asked questions
How do I add a line break in a formula?
Concatenate CHAR(10): =A2 & CHAR(10) & B2, then turn on Wrap Text for the cell.
How do I find out what an invisible character is?
=CODE(LEFT(A2,1)) returns its number. 160 is a non-breaking space, 10 a line feed, 9 a tab.
Why does my CHAR(10) not show a new line?
Wrap Text is off. The break is in the value; the cell is just not rendering it.