The Excel UNICHAR function returns the character for any Unicode code point — bullets, check marks, arrows, trademark signs, currency symbols, characters from any script on earth. It is the modern replacement for CHAR, which tops out at 255 characters; UNICHAR reaches the entire Unicode range. Its mirror image is UNICODE, which turns a character back into its number. Available in Excel 2013 and later.
•. Swap the number for any Unicode code point: 8482 is ™, 10004 is a check mark, 8364 is €.
Syntax
| Argument | Description | |
|---|---|---|
number | Required | A Unicode code point in decimal — from 1 up into the hundreds of thousands. Fractions are truncated; 0 and invalid code points return #VALUE!. |
Available in: Excel 2013 and later, Excel for Microsoft 365, and Excel for the web. Older versions show #NAME? — there you only have CHAR, limited to codes 1–255. Note the code is decimal: a code point listed as U+2122 (hex) is 8482 in decimal.
The symbols worth memorizing
A handful of code points cover most business uses — bullets in concatenated lists, check marks in status columns, KPI arrows in dashboards:
| A | B | C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Code | =UNICHAR(A2) | Symbol |
| 2 | 8226 | • | Bullet |
| 3 | 8482 | ™ | Trademark |
| 4 | 169 | © | Copyright |
| 5 | 10004 | ✔ | Check mark |
| 6 | 9650 | ▲ | Up triangle (KPI arrows) |
| 7 | 8364 | € | Euro sign |
Try it: interactive UNICHAR demo
Enter any Unicode code point (decimal) and see the character UNICHAR returns — try 8482, 8226, 10004, or 128202.
Line breaks, chart labels, and round trips
UNICHAR(10) is the line-feed character — the formula-side equivalent of Alt+Enter. With Wrap Text turned on, it stacks text inside one cell, which is the standard trick for two-line chart axis labels:
Pair UNICHAR with UNICODE to identify a mystery character in imported data, then reproduce it:
Emoji work too. Code points above 65535 — like 128202, the bar-chart emoji — are fair game in modern Excel. Rendering depends on the font, so results vary between Windows, Mac, and the web.
Errors & common pitfalls
#VALUE! — invalid code point. Zero, negative numbers, and reserved ranges (like the surrogate block 55296–57343) aren’t valid characters. Stick to documented code points.
#NAME? — Excel 2010 or earlier. UNICHAR arrived in Excel 2013. The legacy fallback, CHAR, only covers codes 1–255 — no ™, no check marks, no arrows.
Pitfall: decimal, not hex. Unicode charts list code points in hexadecimal (U+2122). UNICHAR wants decimal (8482). Convert with =UNICHAR(HEX2DEC("2122")) if you’re working from a chart.
Pitfall: the font decides what you see. UNICHAR returns the correct character, but if the cell’s font lacks a glyph for it you’ll see a hollow box. Switch to a broader font (Segoe UI Symbol on Windows) before assuming the formula failed.
Practice workbook
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between UNICHAR and CHAR?
What are the most useful UNICHAR codes?
How do I insert a line break with a formula?
=A2 & UNICHAR(10) & B2 (or CHAR(10) — same character) puts B2 on a second line. You must also turn on Wrap Text for the cell, or the break stays invisible.How do I use a Unicode chart that lists characters like U+2122?
=UNICHAR(HEX2DEC("2122")) returns ™. Or convert once — 0x2122 is 8482 — and hard-code the decimal.Why does UNICHAR show a box or question mark instead of my symbol?
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