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UNICHAR Function in Excel

Returns the Unicode character for a given number.

Syntax

  • =UNICHAR(number)

Arguments

  • number (required): Unicode code point

Examples

  • =UNICHAR(9733) - Star character - Result: ★
  • =UNICHAR(128512) - Emoji - Result: 😀

Excel UNICHAR function documentation

  • UNICHAR returns the Unicode character referenced by a numeric code point.
  • Syntax: =UNICHAR(number). Useful for symbols, arrows, status icons, and multilingual labels.
  • Use UNICHAR to build cleaner dashboard indicators without external image assets.
  • Text function category: [/categories/text/](/categories/text/).

UNICHAR syntax and code point rules

  • number is required and must be a valid Unicode code point.
  • Invalid code points return errors, so validate ranges for user-entered values.
  • Display depends on font support in Excel and destination environments.
  • Combine UNICHAR with [TEXT](/functions/text/) in visual KPI strings.

Step-by-step: add status symbols to KPI table

  • Step 1 - Keep KPI delta in B2 where positive is good.
  • Step 2 - Use =IF(B2>=0,UNICHAR(9650),UNICHAR(9660)).
  • Step 3 - Append score text using concatenation for compact dashboards.
  • Step 4 - Apply consistent font to avoid missing-glyph rendering issues.

UNICHAR vs CHAR vs emojis

  • UNICHAR supports broader Unicode ranges than CHAR.
  • CHAR is limited to ANSI-style code mapping and older character sets.
  • Emoji support may vary by Excel version and installed fonts.
  • Prefer semantic icon logic tied to numeric conditions, not manual typing.

Worked examples to copy

  • Checkmark symbol: =UNICHAR(10003).
  • Up arrow: =UNICHAR(9650).
  • Bullet: =UNICHAR(8226).
  • Status label: =UNICHAR(10003)&" "&TEXT(B2,"0.0%")

People also ask

  • UNICHAR or CHAR for modern symbols? - Use UNICHAR for wider Unicode coverage.
  • Why do boxes appear instead of symbols? - The chosen font lacks that glyph.
  • Can UNICHAR build icons in formulas? - Yes, it is common for KPI dashboards.
  • Does UNICHAR work in Excel web? - Mostly yes, depending on font rendering support.

Common errors

  • #VALUE! for invalid code points

Use cases

  • Insert symbols
  • Emoji in formulas
  • Special characters

Frequently asked questions

  • How do I insert emojis in Excel formulas? Use UNICHAR with emoji code points: =UNICHAR(128512) for 😀, =UNICHAR(10004) for ✔, =UNICHAR(9989) for ✅. Find codes at unicode.org or search 'unicode [emoji name]'. Note: display depends on font support.
  • What is the difference between CHAR and UNICHAR? CHAR only handles codes 1-255 (ASCII/extended ASCII). UNICHAR handles the full Unicode range (1-1114111), including international characters, symbols, and emojis. Use UNICHAR for anything beyond basic Latin characters.
  • What are useful UNICHAR codes for symbols? Common symbols: 9733=★, 9734=☆, 10003=✓, 10007=✗, 9679=●, 9675=○, 9650=▲, 9660=▼, 8594=→, 8592=←, 176=° (degree), 8364=€, 163=£, 165=¥. Create a reference sheet for frequently used symbols.

Editorial review

  • Reviewed by Excel.Directory Editorial Team. Updated May 2026.

When to use UNICHAR

  • Insert symbols — common Text scenario for UNICHAR.
  • Emoji in formulas — common Text scenario for UNICHAR.
  • Special characters — common Text scenario for UNICHAR.

UNICHAR in the Text category

  • Browse all Text functions at /categories/text/ for related formulas.
  • UNICHAR syntax: =UNICHAR(number)
  • number (required): Unicode code point
  • Confirm UNICHAR arguments match the syntax shown above before filling down.
  • Lock table and range references with $ when copying formulas across rows or sheets.

Formula checklist before you copy down

  • Confirm UNICHAR arguments match the syntax shown above before filling down.
  • Lock table and range references with $ when copying formulas across rows or sheets.
  • If results look wrong, check for text stored as numbers and invisible spaces with TRIM.
  • Spot-check three known input rows manually against expected output.

Related Excel functions

  • UNICODE (/functions/unicode/): Returns the Unicode code point for the first character of a text string.
  • CHAR (/functions/char/): Returns the character specified by a number (ASCII or Unicode code).
  • CODE (/functions/code/): Returns the numeric code for the first character in a text string.

Errors to watch for

  • #VALUE! for invalid code points — review causes on linked error pages in the directory.

Copy-paste audit workflow

  • Enter UNICHAR on three test rows with known expected output documented on a QA tab.
  • Fill down only after absolute references are locked on lookup tables and rate tables.
  • Compare against manual calculation or a calculator for financial and statistical functions.
  • Search this directory for comparison guides when choosing between similar functions in the same category.

UNICHAR worked examples to copy

  • =UNICHAR(9733) — Star character. Expected result: ★.
  • =UNICHAR(128512) — Emoji. Expected result: 😀.

UNICHAR reference summary for crawlers and offline review

  • UNICHAR belongs to the Text category in Excel. Returns the Unicode character for a given number.
  • Full syntax: =UNICHAR(number). Open /functions/unichar/ for parameters, FAQs, and related pages.
  • Common mistakes: #VALUE! for invalid code points
  • Pair this function with comparison guides when another Excel formula might fit the same task better.
  • Review fix-excel-formula-errors when unexpected errors appear after upgrading Excel or sharing across locales.