Excel CONCAT Function Examples: Formulas and Practical Tips

Excel’s CONCAT function joins text from cells and typed text into one result, such as a full name, label, or date-based message. For example, with a first name in A2 and a last name in B2, enter =CONCAT(A2," ",B2) to return Maya Chen when those cells contain Maya and Chen.

What the CONCAT function does

CONCAT combines text in the order you provide it and returns the combined result as text. You can give it cell references, ranges, or text written directly into the formula. Text you type into a formula must be enclosed in straight double quotation marks; cell references are not. A comma separates the function’s arguments in standard English-language Excel settings.

Unlike a formula that adds numbers, CONCAT does not calculate a total. If you join 12 and 8, the result is the text 128, not the number 20. CONCAT also does not automatically add spaces, commas, or other punctuation. You need to include any separators yourself, or use a different function when you want Excel to insert a delimiter consistently.

CONCAT is the modern successor to CONCATENATE, the older function that joined text items individually. CONCAT is more convenient for ranges, while CONCATENATE remains in Excel for compatibility with older workbooks. Both functions join without automatically inserting separators. CONCAT is available in current Excel versions, including Microsoft 365 for Windows; the basic formulas below also work in Excel for Mac and Excel for the web.

Basic CONCAT examples for names and labels

The most common use is combining two or more pieces of text with a separator. The examples below assume the cells contain the sample values stated and show the exact result returned.

With Maya in A2 and Chen in B2, enter =CONCAT(A2," ",B2). The result is Maya Chen. The text argument containing one space prevents the names from running together.
With Chen in A2 and Maya in B2, enter =CONCAT(A2,", ",B2). The result is Chen, Maya, with a comma and a space between the values.
With alex in A2 and example.com in B2, enter =CONCAT(A2,"@",B2). The result is alex@example.com. This illustrates how a typed symbol can be placed between cell values.
With Order in A2 and 1042 in B2, enter =CONCAT(A2," #",B2). The result is Order #1042. The space and number sign are included as literal text in the formula.

To use an example, select the cell where you want the result, type the formula beginning with an equals sign, and press Enter. If you plan to use the same pattern for multiple rows, copy the formula down using the fill handle. Relative references normally adjust as the formula moves: A2 and B2 become A3 and B3 in the next row. If your data is in an Excel table, a formula entered in a table column can fill down automatically.

Joining a range of cells

CONCAT can take a cell range as an argument, which is helpful when you need to combine several adjacent cells. It joins the cell contents in their range order, moving from left to right across a row or from top to bottom down a column. It does not add punctuation between those values.

With Red in A2, a blank cell in B2, and Blue in C2, enter =CONCAT(A2:C2). The result is RedBlue. The blank cell contributes no visible text, and Excel does not add a space where the blank cell occurs. If the cells contain Red, Green, and Blue instead, the same formula returns RedGreenBlue.

For a column example, with 415 in A2, 555 in A3, and 0130 in A4, =CONCAT(A2:A4) returns 4155550130 if those entries are stored as text or displayed in a way that preserves those digits. If 0130 is stored as a number, Excel may treat it as 130; CONCAT cannot recover a leading zero that the cell value does not contain. For phone numbers, postal codes, and other identifiers, consider storing values with meaningful leading zeros as text or applying a deliberate formatting approach before joining.

A range is convenient when the pieces are already in neighboring cells. Use individual arguments when the formula needs separators or when the pieces are not adjacent. For example, a range-based CONCAT formula is concise, but it cannot tell Excel to insert a comma between every item.

Adding spaces, punctuation, and line breaks

Separators are ordinary text arguments, so the same technique works for spaces, commas, slashes, and labels. Include the separator between the cell references in the order it should appear. A common issue is placing a space outside the quotation marks or omitting it; Excel then either displays an unwanted character or joins the words directly.

With East in A2 and Wing in B2, enter =CONCAT(A2," - ",B2). The result is East – Wing, with one space on each side of the hyphen. With a product name in A2 and a size in B2, the same structure can create a readable label, as long as the separator and the cell values match your intended format.

You can also put two values on separate lines in one cell. With North in A2 and South in B2, enter =CONCAT(A2,CHAR(10),B2). The combined text contains a line break between North and South. To make that break visible in the cell, select the result cell and choose Home > Wrap Text. The formula’s result is still one cell value; the line break changes how the text displays, not the worksheet layout.

Formatting numbers and dates in a combined result

CONCAT uses the underlying value of a referenced cell rather than reliably preserving the way that value appears because of cell formatting. A date may be stored as a serial number, and a number formatted as currency may lose its currency symbol when joined. If a combined result needs a specific display, use TEXT to format that value as text within the formula.

With A2 containing the text Invoice, B2 containing the number 1042, and C2 containing the numeric amount 1250.5, enter =CONCAT(A2," ",B2," - ",TEXT(C2,"$#,##0.00")). The result is Invoice 1042 – $1,250.50 in a locale that uses a dollar sign, comma thousands separator, and period decimal mark. The TEXT format controls how the amount appears in the combined string; it does not change the value stored in C2.

With A2 containing a genuine Excel date value for January 15, 2026, enter =CONCAT("Due: ",TEXT(A2,"mmm d, yyyy")). The result is Due: Jan 15, 2026. If the date is stored as text rather than as an Excel date value, TEXT may not interpret it as intended. Date and number display conventions can also depend on regional settings, so check the output when sharing a workbook across locales.

Use TEXT when a specific representation matters, such as two decimal places, a month name, or leading zeros. For instance, with A2 holding the number 7, =CONCAT("Item ",TEXT(A2,"000")) returns Item 007. This is useful for constructing a display label, but the result is text; it is not a numeric value suitable for arithmetic without conversion.

CONCAT compared with TEXTJOIN and the ampersand

CONCAT is a good choice when you want to join a few known pieces or combine a range exactly as it is. For lists that need the same delimiter between many values, TEXTJOIN is often easier. It can specify a delimiter once and choose whether to ignore empty cells.

With Red in A2, a blank cell in A3, Green in A4, and Blue in A5, enter =TEXTJOIN(", ",TRUE,A2:A5). The result is Red, Green, Blue. The delimiter is comma-space, and TRUE tells TEXTJOIN to ignore empty cells. This is different from CONCAT, which inserts no delimiter at all. TEXTJOIN is available in current Excel versions, including Microsoft 365.

The ampersand operator is another straightforward alternative for a small number of pieces. With Maya in A2 and Chen in B2, =A2&" "&B2 returns Maya Chen. It gives the same kind of result as the basic CONCAT example, and many users find it quick to read for short formulas. CONCAT is often clearer when joining a range; TEXTJOIN is usually more convenient when a delimiter should repeat between many items.

CONCATENATE may appear in older workbooks and is still supported for compatibility, but it does not provide the range convenience of CONCAT in the same way. You do not need to replace a working legacy formula solely because CONCAT exists. For a new formula, choose based on the task: CONCAT for a direct join, TEXTJOIN for a delimiter-separated list, or ampersands for a short expression.

Common CONCAT problems and how to fix them

Words run together: CONCAT does not insert spaces. Add a quoted space, such as the middle argument in the name example, exactly where it belongs.
A date appears as a number: Format it inside the formula with TEXT and an appropriate date pattern, rather than assuming the source cell’s display format will carry through.
Leading zeros disappear: A numeric cell does not retain leading zeros as part of its value. Store an identifier as text or use TEXT with a format pattern when you need a fixed number of digits.
The result contains an error: If a referenced cell contains an error such as #N/A, the joined result can also show an error. Correct the source error or handle it deliberately in the formula that supplies the value.
The formula shows instead of calculating: Check that the cell is not formatted as Text, that the formula starts with an equals sign, and that Show Formulas is not turned on. If the cell was Text-formatted, change its format to General, then re-enter the formula.

When a result looks wrong, inspect the source cells as well as the formula. A value that looks like a date, code, or number might actually be text, or it might have a display format that is not part of its stored value. Testing the formula on one row with known sample data is a quick way to distinguish a separator problem from a data-format problem.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does CONCAT add spaces automatically?
No. CONCAT joins the supplied text without adding spaces or punctuation. Include a separator as a quoted argument, for example a single space between two cell references.

What is the difference between CONCAT and CONCATENATE?
Both join text, and CONCATENATE remains in Excel for compatibility with older workbooks. CONCAT is the newer function and can join ranges more conveniently. Neither function automatically inserts a delimiter between values.

Can CONCAT join cells from different parts of a worksheet?
Yes. Provide the cell references as separate arguments, in the order you want them to appear, and add any needed separators as text arguments. A range is optional; the referenced cells do not have to be adjacent.

Why does CONCAT remove the formatting from a number or date?
The function joins the cell’s value, not necessarily its displayed number format. Use TEXT inside the formula to specify how the number or date should appear in the finished text.

Should I use CONCAT or TEXTJOIN?
Use CONCAT when you want a direct join with no repeated delimiter, or when you will specify separators individually. Choose TEXTJOIN when a delimiter should appear between many values and you may want blank cells ignored.

Does the same CONCAT formula work on Mac and the web?
The function’s basic formula syntax is the same in Excel for Microsoft 365 on Windows, Excel for Mac, and Excel for the web. Ribbon placement and some interface details can vary, but the examples do not depend on a Windows-only feature.

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Sources: Function behaviour and menu paths: Microsoft Support documentation for Excel. Method & sources

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