How to translate a whole Google Sheet

Translate a whole Google Sheet

Google Sheets has no menu command that translates a spreadsheet. For one column, the GOOGLETRANSLATE formula is enough; for whole tabs, Steady Translate copies each tab and translates the copy, leaving formulas, numbers and dates as they are.

200 free cells a day. Unlimited from $7.99 for 30 days, one payment, no renewal.

Three ways, and when each fits

1. The GOOGLETRANSLATE formula: one column

In an empty column, type =GOOGLETRANSLATE(A2, "auto", "fr") and fill it down. It is free and built in. For a whole tab it gets awkward: you need a second grid of formulas, numbers and dates have to be kept out of it, formats and merges do not come along, and very many formulas can be slow to fill in. The formula in detail

2. Google Translate's document upload: a one-off file

Download the spreadsheet with File, Download, Microsoft Excel (.xlsx), upload it on the Documents tab of translate.google.com, download the translated file and import it back with File, Import. At the time of writing Google Translate lists .xlsx among the file types it accepts, with a size limit. Check formulas, formats and links in the result before you rely on it.

3. An add-on: whole tabs, inside Sheets

An add-on works on the sheet where it is, with no download and upload. That is what Steady Translate is for.

With Steady Translate

Open the translator

In your spreadsheet, choose Extensions, Steady Translate, Open translator. A sidebar opens and shows how many free cells you have left today.

Choose what and where

Selected cells, This tab or All visible tabs, into A new tab or Cells I choose. Pick the language; the source is detected unless you set it.

Review, then start

The review says how many cells will be translated and what happens if the run does not fit in today's allowance. A progress bar and a Stop button follow.

What it leaves alone

Your original cells. Each tab is copied and the copy is translated, so formulas, formats and merged cells come along. Translating over the source cells is not offered.

Anything that is not words: formulas, numbers, dates, empty cells, links, email addresses and product codes such as AB-1234.

Text an array formula appears to produce, which is left alone and reported, since Sheets cannot tell the add-on how far such a formula spills.

Long runs

It continues where it stopped. If the sidebar closes or a run is cut off, press Resume and it goes on from the next cell. Cells already translated are not sent again.

Repeated short texts are translated once per run, which saves your daily translations.

About 6 to 7 cells a second on short sentences, in our own test.

Free and Unlimited

Free: 200 cells a day per Google account. Only cells that were translated and saved count; a failed attempt costs nothing. Unlimited: $7.99 for 30 days or $39.99 for one year, one payment with no automatic renewal. When the key ends you are back on the free plan.

Where the limits are

Google's daily limit applies to every plan. Translations run through Google's translation service in Apps Script, under your own account. Google publishes a daily quota for this of 5,000 on personal accounts and 20,000 on Google Workspace. When they run out, the add-on says so and you resume the next day.

One cell at a time, by machine. A short label without context can come out wrong: in our test "Honey" became the French for "sweetheart". Review anything important.

Not translated: comments, notes and drawings. Partial formatting inside a translated cell, such as one bold word, is lost.

Array formulas: skipping their output can leave some real text next to them untranslated.

Questions

Can Google Sheets translate a whole spreadsheet by itself?

Not with a menu command. Google Docs has Tools, Translate document, but Sheets has no equivalent, so you use the GOOGLETRANSLATE formula, Google Translate's document upload, or an add-on.

Does Steady Translate change my original data?

No. By default it copies each tab and translates the copy. You can choose a target range instead, and it only writes over existing content there if you tick the box allowing it.

How many cells can I translate for free?

200 cells a day per Google account, and only cells that were translated and saved count. Unlimited costs $7.99 for 30 days or $39.99 for one year, one payment with no automatic renewal.

Are formulas translated?

No. Formulas, numbers, dates and empty cells are left as they are, and so are links, email addresses and product codes.

How accurate is the translation?

It comes from Google's translation service, one cell at a time, so a short label without context can come out wrong. Review anything important.