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How to add leading zeros in Excel and Google Sheets
Topic:Text manipulationExcel & Google Sheets
=TEXT(A2, "00000")Try it with your data
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Step by step
- 1A2 is the number to pad.
- 2"00000" forces a five-character result, adding zeros at the front.
- 3The result is text — fine for codes and IDs.
Tips
- To keep the cell numeric, apply a custom number format of 00000 instead of using TEXT.
- Change the number of zeros to set the total width you need.
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Frequently asked
Why do my leading zeros disappear?
Numbers drop leading zeros by default. Use TEXT(A2, "00000") to keep them, or format the cell as Text or with a custom 00000 format.
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