Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here: Formatting Canadian Postal Codes.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated October 5, 2021)
This tip applies to Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
In Canada, postal codes consist of six characters with a space in the middle: a letter, a number, a letter, a space, a number, a letter, and a final number. Thus, A1B 2C3 is a properly formatted postal code. If you are retrieving postal codes from an external database, they might not have the required space in the middle. Excel makes it easy to add such a space.
Let's assume that the improperly formatted postal codes are in column C. In column D you could use a formula such as the following:
=LEFT(B12,3) & " " & RIGHT(B12,3)
This formula uses string-manipulation functions to place a space in between the first and last three characters. Thus, if B12 contained A1B2C3, then the cell with this formula would display A1B 2C3.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (1931) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Excel (Excel 2007 and later) here: Formatting Canadian Postal Codes.
Program Successfully in Excel! This guide will provide you with all the information you need to automate any task in Excel and save time and effort. Learn how to extend Excel's functionality with VBA to create solutions not possible with the standard features. Includes latest information for Excel 2024 and Microsoft 365. Check out Mastering Excel VBA Programming today!
When processing data in a worksheet, you may have a need to know what the smallest (lowest) even value in a range is. You ...
Discover MoreHate to take your hands off the keyboard while working on a worksheet? Here's one way to activate the Formula Bar without ...
Discover MoreWhen working with large amounts of data, it is a good idea to make sure that the data all consistently follows a pattern. ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2020-10-08 01:30:12
Andrew Hamlin
Wrap this in UPPER() to force alpha characters to capitals.
=UPPER(LEFT(H241,3) & " " & RIGHT(H241,3))
2017-06-02 15:48:16
Ajit Dudani
THANKS FOR THE TIP - GOT MY WORK DONE IN JIFFY
Got a version of Excel that uses the menu interface (Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, or Excel 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2026 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here:
Comments