Text function
Excel CONCAT function
CONCAT joins text from cells, ranges, or typed values into one string. Unlike the older CONCATENATE, it accepts whole ranges like A2:C2. It does not add separators, so you add spaces or dashes yourself.
=CONCAT(text1, [text2], ...)Arguments
text1- The first item to join: text, a number, a cell, or a range.
text2- More items to join, up to 253 in total.
CONCAT examples
Every result below was calculated from this sample sheet by the same spreadsheet engine the Cellwise app uses.
| A | B | C | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | First | Last | Dept | Emp # |
| 2 | Nora | Bishop | FIN | 1042 |
| 3 | Kyle | Ng | OPS | 1077 |
| 4 | Ruth | Adams | HR | 1103 |
Result: Nora Bishop
Joins first and last name with a space: "Nora Bishop".
Result: OPS-1077
Builds a badge ID from department and number: "OPS-1077".
Result: FINOPSHR
Joins a whole range with no separator: "FINOPSHR".
Result: ruth.adams@company.com
Creates an email address: "ruth.adams@company.com".
How to use CONCAT
- Click the cell for the joined text.
- Type =CONCAT( and select the first cell.
- Add each separator in quotes, like " ", between cells.
- Close the bracket and fill down.
Common CONCAT mistakes
Missing spaces
CONCAT does not add anything between items. Put " " between names, or use TEXTJOIN for a range.
Numbers lose their formatting
A date or currency joins as a raw number. Wrap it in TEXT, like TEXT(A2,"mm/dd/yyyy").
Not available in older Excel
CONCAT needs Excel 2019 or Microsoft 365. Use CONCATENATE or & in Excel 2016 and earlier.
CONCAT FAQ
What is the difference between CONCAT and CONCATENATE?
CONCAT accepts whole ranges like A2:D2, while CONCATENATE needs each cell listed separately. CONCATENATE is kept only for compatibility.
How do I combine first and last name in Excel?
Use =CONCAT(A2," ",B2) or simply =A2&" "&B2. Both give "First Last".
How do I concatenate with a comma between each value?
CONCAT has no delimiter option. Use =TEXTJOIN(", ",TRUE,A2:A10) instead.
Guides that use CONCAT
- How to combine first and last name in Excel
- How to concatenate with a space in Excel
- Excel formulas cheat sheet: the 25 everyone should know
Related functions
Updated