MS Excel: UNICHAR function to return unicode character
- Fakhriddinbek
- May 3
- 2 min read
The UNICHAR function in Excel returns the Unicode character referenced by a given numeric code point. It is the modern equivalent of the CHAR function, but unlike CHAR, which is limited to ANSI (ASCII) characters (0–255), UNICHAR supports the full range of Unicode characters, including:
Currency symbols
Foreign alphabets
Emojis
Mathematical symbols
Special typographic marks
UNICHAR enables you to insert special characters dynamically based on their code, which is especially useful in dashboards, multilingual reports, or data visualization enhancements.
Syntax
=UNICHAR(number)
Parameter:
Argument | Description |
number | Required. A Unicode code point (decimal integer) |
Returns: The corresponding Unicode character from the code point.
Examples
Formula | Result | Description |
=UNICHAR(36) | $ | Dollar symbol |
=UNICHAR(9731) | ☃ | Snowman |
=UNICHAR(128512) | 😀 | Smiling emoji |
=UNICHAR(169) | © | Copyright symbol |
=UNICHAR(8451) | ℃ | Celsius symbol |
=UNICHAR(10004) | ✔ | Check mark |
Use Cases
Use Case | Example or Benefit |
Insert symbols dynamically | Use Unicode numbers to control formatting |
Create icon-based dashboards | Add emoji or visual cues based on values |
International language support | Display characters from foreign scripts |
Data labels or custom KPIs | Insert visual markers (✔, ✘, ➕, ➖) |
Sample Table
Status | Symbol Code | Formula | Result |
Approved | 10004 | =UNICHAR(B2) | ✔ |
Rejected | 10060 | =UNICHAR(B3) | ❌ |
Pending | 9203 | =UNICHAR(B4) | ⏳ |
This makes it easy to link status updates with visual indicators.
Notes
UNICHAR supports code points from 1 to 1,114,111, as defined by the Unicode standard.
Invalid code points will result in a #VALUE! error.
Your font must support the character; some symbols may appear as blank squares if not supported by the selected font (e.g., Calibri, Arial Unicode MS).
Related Functions
Function | Description |
UNICODE | Returns the numeric code of the first character in a text string |
CHAR | Returns a character based on ASCII code (0–255) |
CODE | Returns ASCII code for the first character |
TEXT | Converts numeric values to formatted text |
Summary
Feature | Description |
Function Name | UNICHAR |
Purpose | Return character from Unicode number |
Range Supported | 1 to 1,114,111 (full Unicode) |
Key Use Cases | Symbols, emojis, multilingual support |
Excel Version | Excel 2013 and later |
Final Thoughts
UNICHAR is an excellent function for improving user experience, especially when you're designing dashboards, interactive reports, or working with global languages. Combine it with conditional formatting or formulas like IF and SWITCH to make your spreadsheets more visual and intuitive.