Cellwise

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.

fx=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 live from this sample sheet.

ABCD
1FirstLastDeptEmp #
2NoraBishopFIN1042
3KyleNgOPS1077
4RuthAdamsHR1103
  1. fx=CONCAT(A2," ",B2)

    Result: Nora Bishop

    Joins first and last name with a space: "Nora Bishop".

  2. fx=CONCAT(C3,"-",D3)

    Result: OPS-1077

    Builds a badge ID from department and number: "OPS-1077".

  3. fx=CONCAT(C2:C4)

    Result: FINOPSHR

    Joins a whole range with no separator: "FINOPSHR".

  4. fx=CONCAT(LOWER(A4),".",LOWER(B4),"@company.com")

    Result: ruth.adams@company.com

    Creates an email address: "ruth.adams@company.com".

How to use CONCAT

  1. Click the cell for the joined text.
  2. Type =CONCAT( and select the first cell.
  3. Add each separator in quotes, like " ", between cells.
  4. 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

Related functions

Updated 2026-10-31