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Tools / Excel column letter to number converter

Excel column letter to number converter

Bi-directional converter between Excel column letters and column numbers using bijective base-26 positional encoding. Includes batch conversion tables and mathematical calculation breakdowns.

Runs entirely in your browser

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About this tool

Spreadsheets label columns with letters — A, B, … Z, then AA, AB and so on — but underneath they are just numbers, and converting between the two is a recurring need when writing formulas, macros or code that addresses cells. This tool converts a column letter to its number and a number back to its letter, in both directions, with batch support for doing many at once.

The mapping is a bijective base-26 system, which is subtly different from ordinary base-26: there is no “zero” letter, so AA is 27, not 26. That is easy to get wrong by hand, and the tool shows the calculation breakdown so you can see how a letter like XFD (the last column in modern Excel, number 16384) is derived.

It runs in your browser, so conversions are instant and private. Use it when scripting against a spreadsheet, debugging a cell reference, or generating column addresses programmatically.

Frequently asked questions

How do Excel column letters map to numbers?
A is 1, B is 2, up to Z which is 26, then AA is 27, AB is 28 and so on. It is a bijective base-26 scheme with no zero digit, which the tool converts precisely in both directions.
Why isn’t AA equal to 26?
Because there is no zero letter in this system. After Z (26) the next column is AA (27), unlike ordinary base-26 where a leading digit could be zero. The tool accounts for this.
Can I convert many values at once?
Yes. It supports batch conversion, so you can turn a list of letters into numbers (or the reverse) in one go.
What is the highest Excel column?
In modern Excel the last column is XFD, which is column number 16384. The tool can convert it and show the calculation behind it.
Is the conversion done privately?
Yes. It runs in your browser, so the values you enter are not transmitted.

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