To concatenate in Excel, join text from several cells into one with the ampersand operator or a function. The simplest formula is =A2&" "&B2, which combines A2 and B2 with a space between them. Excel also has three functions for the job: CONCATENATE (the original, still supported), CONCAT (its replacement, which accepts ranges), and TEXTJOIN (which adds a separator and can skip blank cells).
Example Data
The examples below use first names in column A, last names in column B, and cities in column C, starting in row 2. For instance, A2 is Maria, B2 is Lopez, and C2 is Denver.
Method 1: Use the Ampersand (&)
- Click the cell where you want the result, such as D2.
- Type
=A2&" "&B2and press Enter. The result is Maria Lopez. - Drag the fill handle down to copy the formula to the other rows.
Anything in quotation marks is added exactly as typed, so you can include spaces, commas, or words: =B2&", "&A2&" ("&C2&")" returns Lopez, Maria (Denver). The ampersand works in every version of Excel and is often the quickest option for two or three cells. For a focused walkthrough of this case, see how to combine two columns in Excel with a space or how to merge first and last names in Excel.
Method 2: Use the CONCATENATE Function
CONCATENATE takes up to 255 text items separated by commas:
=CONCATENATE(A2," ",B2)
It returns the same result as the ampersand version. Microsoft keeps CONCATENATE for compatibility with older workbooks, but recommends CONCAT in newer versions. One limitation is that CONCATENATE does not accept ranges: =CONCATENATE(A2:C2) will not join the three cells.
Method 3: Use CONCAT (Excel 2019 and Later)
CONCAT works like CONCATENATE but also accepts ranges:
=CONCAT(A2:C2) returns MariaLopezDenver.
Because CONCAT adds no separators, it is best when the pieces already contain the spacing you need, or when you mix ranges and literal text, such as =CONCAT(A2," ",B2). CONCAT is available in Excel 2019, 2021, 2024, Microsoft 365, Excel for the web, and Excel for Mac 2019 and later.
Method 4: Use TEXTJOIN for Separators and Blanks
TEXTJOIN is the most flexible option. Its syntax is =TEXTJOIN(delimiter, ignore_empty, text1, ...).
=TEXTJOIN(" ",TRUE,A2:C2)returns Maria Lopez Denver.=TEXTJOIN(", ",TRUE,A2:A10)turns a column of names into one comma-separated list.
Setting ignore_empty to TRUE skips blank cells, so you do not get doubled separators like “Maria, , Denver”. TEXTJOIN is available in the same versions as CONCAT.
Combine Text With Numbers and Dates
When you join a date or formatted number, Excel uses the underlying value, so a date can appear as 46023 and a price as 1234.5. Wrap the value in the TEXT function to keep its format:
="Due: "&TEXT(D2,"mmm d, yyyy")returns Due: Jan 1, 2026.="Total: "&TEXT(E2,"$#,##0.00")returns Total: $1,234.50.=A2&" scored "&TEXT(F2,"0%")returns Maria scored 92%.
For more on this, see how to convert a number to text in Excel.
Add a Line Break Between Items
Use CHAR(10) for a line break: =A2&" "&B2&CHAR(10)&C2. Then turn on Home > Wrap Text for the cell so the break shows. On a Mac, CHAR(10) also works in current versions. See how to add a line break in an Excel cell and how to wrap text in Excel.
Convert the Results to Plain Text
Concatenation formulas depend on the original cells. If you plan to delete those columns, convert the results first: select the result cells, press Ctrl + C, then right-click and choose Paste Special > Values (or the Values icon under Paste Options). The cells now hold plain text that will not change.
Alternative: Flash Fill
For a one-time job, type the combined result for the first row yourself (for example, Maria Lopez in D2), click D3, and press Ctrl + E. Flash Fill copies the pattern down the column. The results are plain values, so they will not update if the source cells change.
Which Method Should You Use?
- Two or three cells: the ampersand.
- A range of cells with no separator: CONCAT.
- A range with separators, or data with blanks: TEXTJOIN.
- Workbooks shared with Excel 2016 or older: the ampersand or CONCATENATE.
- The reverse, splitting one cell into several: Text to Columns. See how to split columns in Excel.
Troubleshooting
The formula shows instead of the result
The cell is formatted as Text, or the formula starts with a space instead of =. Change the cell format to General, click in the formula bar, and press Enter.
Words run together
Add a space in quotes between items, such as A2&" "&B2, or use TEXTJOIN with ” ” as the delimiter.
#NAME? error
CONCAT or TEXTJOIN is not available in your version of Excel (2016 or earlier), or the function name is misspelled. Use the ampersand or CONCATENATE instead.
Dates or currency look wrong
Wrap them in TEXT with the format you want, as shown above.
#VALUE! error
The combined result exceeds 32,767 characters, the cell limit in Excel. Join fewer cells or shorter text.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does CONCATENATE do in Excel?
It joins two or more text strings into one. =CONCATENATE(“Hello”,” “,”World”) returns Hello World.
What is the difference between CONCAT and CONCATENATE?
CONCAT accepts ranges such as A2:C2; CONCATENATE requires each cell to be listed separately. CONCAT replaces CONCATENATE in Excel 2019 and later, though both still work.
Can I concatenate numbers?
Yes. The result is text, so it will not add up in SUM. Use TEXT to control how numbers appear.
Is there a limit to how many items I can join?
CONCATENATE accepts up to 255 items, and the result can be up to 32,767 characters.
How do I concatenate in Google Sheets?
Google Sheets supports the ampersand, CONCATENATE, and TEXTJOIN in the same way. Its CONCAT function joins only two values.
Related: How to Add Dollar Signs in Excel.
Related: how to use a formula in Excel.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
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