How do I insert a line break inside a cell using a formula?

Insert CHAR(10) wherever you want the break. For example, ="First line"&CHAR(10)&"Second line" creates a two-line cell. Remember to enable Wrap Text on the cell so the break is visible.

Can CHAR return emoji characters?

In Excel, CHAR is limited to the first 255 code points, so it cannot produce most emoji. Google Sheets supports a larger Unicode range, but for reliable emoji you should use UNICHAR with the emoji’s code point.

Why does CHAR(65) give me the letter A?

CHAR interprets its numeric argument as a code point in the character set. In the ASCII table, 65 corresponds to the uppercase letter A, so CHAR(65) returns "A".

What’s the difference between CHAR and UNICHAR?

CHAR works with the legacy 1-255 range (Excel) or a limited Unicode range, while UNICHAR accepts any valid Unicode code point up to 1,114,111. Use UNICHAR when you need symbols, emoji, or language-specific characters beyond the basic set.

CHAR function

CHAR returns the character represented by a given numeric code point, letting you embed symbols like line breaks or currency signs directly in formulas.

=CHAR(number)

Generate a CHAR formula

Describe what you need. The generator will reach for CHAR where CHAR is the right tool, and tell you when it is not.

Arguments

How CHAR reads its arguments

Argument	Required	Description
number	Required	Number – a numeric code point; in Excel it must be 1-255 (non-numeric or out-of-range values trigger errors).

Returns

A single text string containing one character.

Availability

Excel: All · Google Sheets: Supported

Worked examples

1. Create a newline-separated list of active customers

Customer	Plan	MRR	Signup Date	Churn Date
Acme Corp	Pro	500	2023-01-15
Beta LLC	Basic	200	2023-02-20	2023-08-01
Gamma Inc	Enterprise	1200	2022-11-05

=TEXTJOIN(CHAR(10),TRUE,IF(Billing!E2:E4="",Billing!A2:A4,""))

Result: Acme Corp Gamma Inc

The IF test keeps only rows where the Churn Date column is blank, meaning the subscription is still active. TEXTJOIN then concatenates the filtered Customer names, inserting CHAR(10) – the line-break character – between each name. The result is a two-line string listing the active customers.

2. Prefix MRR values with a dollar sign

Customer	Plan	MRR	Signup Date	Churn Date
Acme Corp	Pro	500	2023-01-15

=CHAR(36)&Billing!C2

Result: $500

CHAR(36) returns the dollar-sign character ($). By concatenating it with the numeric MRR value from column C, the formula produces a familiar currency display. Excel automatically coerces the number to text during concatenation, so the output is a single string.

3. Mark active subscriptions with a check mark

Customer	Plan	MRR	Signup Date	Churn Date
Acme Corp	Pro	500	2023-01-15

=IF(Billing!E2="",""&CHAR(10004),"")

Result: ✓

The IF function checks whether the Churn Date cell is empty. When it is, the formula returns CHAR(10004), which is the Unicode check-mark symbol. If a churn date exists, it returns an empty string, leaving the cell blank.

Common errors

Which CHAR error are you seeing?

Error	Why it happens	How to fix it
#VALUE!	The argument supplied to CHAR is not numeric (e.g., a text string like "ABC").	Wrap the argument in VALUE() or ensure the cell contains a plain number.
#NUM!	The numeric code is outside the supported range – below 1 or above 255 in Excel (or beyond the Unicode limit in Google Sheets).	Use a number within the valid range, or switch to UNICHAR for higher Unicode points.
#N/A	The argument cell itself contains a #N/A error, which propagates through CHAR.	Correct the source cell so it returns a valid number, or wrap the argument in IFERROR to supply a fallback.

Tips and when to use something else

Use CHAR(10) for line breaks inside cells; combine it with TEXTJOIN or CONCAT to build multi-line strings.
For Unicode symbols beyond 255 (e.g., emojis or check marks), prefer UNICHAR, which accepts the full Unicode range.
When building CSV strings, CHAR(44) gives a comma, and CHAR(34) provides a double-quote for proper quoting.
If you need to insert a tab character, use CHAR(9) – handy for creating tab-delimited export fields.

Related functions

CONCATCONCAT joins two or more text strings into one continuous string, automatically coercing numbers and dates to text without a delimiter.TEXTJOINTEXTJOIN merges multiple text strings or ranges into one string, using a chosen delimiter and optional ignoring of empty cells.LEFTLEFT returns the leftmost characters from a text string, optionally limited by a specified number of characters.RIGHTRIGHT returns the specified number of characters from the end of a text string, defaulting to one character if omitted.SUBSTITUTESUBSTITUTE returns a new text string where specified characters or substrings are replaced, optionally limiting the change to a particular occurrence.

Frequently asked questions

How do I insert a line break inside a cell using a formula?: Insert CHAR(10) wherever you want the break. For example, ="First line"&CHAR(10)&"Second line" creates a two-line cell. Remember to enable Wrap Text on the cell so the break is visible.
Can CHAR return emoji characters?: In Excel, CHAR is limited to the first 255 code points, so it cannot produce most emoji. Google Sheets supports a larger Unicode range, but for reliable emoji you should use UNICHAR with the emoji’s code point.
Why does CHAR(65) give me the letter A?: CHAR interprets its numeric argument as a code point in the character set. In the ASCII table, 65 corresponds to the uppercase letter A, so CHAR(65) returns "A".
What’s the difference between CHAR and UNICHAR?: CHAR works with the legacy 1-255 range (Excel) or a limited Unicode range, while UNICHAR accepts any valid Unicode code point up to 1,114,111. Use UNICHAR when you need symbols, emoji, or language-specific characters beyond the basic set.

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Reviewed 2026-09-17