N

Returns a value converted to a number.

Syntax

N(value)

Value is the value you want converted. N converts values listed in the following table.

If value is or refers to	N returns
A number	That number
A date, in one of the built-in date formats available in Microsoft Excel	The serial number of that date
TRUE	1
FALSE	0
An error value, such as #DIV/0!	The error value
Anything else	0

Remarks

It is not generally necessary to use the N function in a formula, because Excel automatically converts values as necessary. This function is provided for compatibility with other spreadsheet programs.
Excel stores dates as sequential serial numbers so they can be used in calculations. By default, January 1, 1900 is serial number 1, and January 1, 2008 is serial number 39448 because it is 39,448 days after January 1, 1900. Excel for the Macintosh uses a different date system as its default.

Example

The example may be easier to understand if you copy it to a blank worksheet.

Create a blank workbook or worksheet.
Select the example in the Help topic. Do not select the row or column headers.

Selecting an example from Help
Press CTRL+C.
In the worksheet, select cell A1, and press CTRL+V.
To switch between viewing the results and viewing the formulas that return the results, press CTRL+` (grave accent), or on the Tools menu, point to Formula Auditing, and then click Formula Auditing Mode.

A
Data
7
Even
TRUE
4/17/2008
Formula	Description (Result)
=N(A2)	Because A2 contains a number, it is returned (7)
=N(A3)	Because A3 contains text, 0 is returned (0, see above)
=N(A4)	Because A4 is the logical value TRUE, 1 is returned (1, see above)
=N(A5)	Because A5 is a date, the serial number is returned (varies with the date system used)
=N("7")	Because "7" is text, 0 is returned (0, see above)