Convert a Text Column to Number in Power Query M

Notes

If the text uses a different decimal separator, pass a locale as the third argument, e.g. Table.TransformColumnTypes(Source, {{"ColumnName", type number}}, "en-US").

Requirements

• A text column containing numbers.

How to use this snippet

1. In Power BI Desktop, choose Transform data to open Power Query, then open the Advanced Editor on a query (or start from a blank query).
2. Paste the snippet and replace the placeholder names (tables, columns, file paths) with your own. Check the requirements above first.
3. Run it through the Power Query M Formatter to tidy the layout.

Related Power Query M snippets

• Convert Every Column to TextChanges the type of every column in a table to text in one step, useful before exporting or comparing rows.
• Convert a Text Column to DateConverts a text column containing dates into a proper Date type, using an explicit locale to avoid misreads.
• Convert Currency Text to Number ($1,200.50)Strips currency symbols and thousands separators from a text value before converting it to a proper number.
• Convert Percent Text to DecimalConverts a text value like 45% into its decimal equivalent (0.45) as a proper number.
• Dynamically Change Column TypesSets column types from a lookup list, skipping any column name that isn't actually present.
• Format a Number as Currency TextTurns a numeric column into a formatted currency string, such as $1,234.50.

More Power Query M resources

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