Google Sheets: How to Combine Data From Two Columns

Yes. In Google Sheets, combine two columns row by row with the ampersand operator: if the values are in A2 and B2, enter =A2&" "&B2 in another cell to join them with a space. You can then fill the formula down to combine the rest of the rows.

Choose the right way to combine the columns

The best method depends on what you mean by “combine.” Most often, people want to join text from each row into a new value, such as a first name and last name or a city and state. A formula does that without changing the original columns.

Use & for a short, readable formula that joins two values and lets you specify punctuation or spaces.
Use CONCATENATE if you prefer a function that can join several values and separator strings in sequence.
Use TEXTJOIN when joining a range, especially if some cells may be blank and you want to skip those blanks.
Use a spreadsheet merge command only to change how cells are visually arranged. It is not the same as joining their contents.

In each formula, the output goes in a separate cell. For example, put a formula in C2 when A2 and B2 contain the source data. This preserves the originals, makes the result easy to check, and lets you revise the separator later.

How the ampersand formula works

The & operator joins values in the order you write them. Text inside quotation marks is added exactly as typed; references such as A2 and B2 contribute the contents of those cells. To put a space between a first name and surname, include a quoted space between the references.

With “Maya” in A2 and “Chen” in B2, enter =A2&" "&B2 in C2; the result is Maya Chen. Without the quoted space, the result would be “MayaChen.” For a comma and space, use =A2&", "&B2; with “Seattle” in A2 and “Washington” in B2, it returns Seattle, Washington.

The operator does not move or erase either source value. It creates a formula result that updates if either referenced cell changes. If you want to retain only the result later, you can copy it and paste its value over a destination range.

Combine two columns step by step

Check that the two columns are aligned: each pair of values to join should be on the same row.
Select an empty cell in the row where you want the combined result, such as C2.
Type the formula for your desired separator. With first names in A2 and last names in B2, enter =A2&" "&B2.
Press Enter and check that the result is correct. If it is, select C2 again.
Use the small square at the selected cell’s bottom-right corner—the fill handle—to drag the formula down the rows you need. You can also copy C2, select the destination cells, and paste.

As the formula is filled downward, Sheets adjusts the row references: the next row uses A3 and B3, then A4 and B4, and so on. If your data is in different columns, replace A2 and B2 with the appropriate cell references. Keep the formula in a column that does not contain source data you need to preserve.

Choose a function for longer joins

For just two cells, & is usually the simplest option. Google Sheets also supports CONCAT and CONCATENATE. With “Maya” in A2 and “Chen” in B2, =CONCAT(A2," ",B2) in C2 returns Maya Chen. CONCATENATE can express the same join: with those same cells, =CONCATENATE(A2," ",B2) in C2 also returns Maya Chen.

TEXTJOIN is useful when the inputs are in a range or may include blanks. With “Ada” in A2, B2 blank, and “Lovelace” in C2, enter =TEXTJOIN(" ",TRUE,A2:C2) in D2; it returns Ada Lovelace, omitting the blank cell rather than adding an extra space for it. The first argument is the separator, and TRUE tells the function to ignore empty cells.

These are alternatives, not steps you need to combine. Use one formula that matches the layout and the kind of spacing you want. If a formula uses commas between arguments but your spreadsheet’s locale expects semicolons, follow the separator style Sheets accepts for your locale.

Handle blank cells and separators

A simple ampersand formula includes the separator whether or not both source cells contain text. If A2 contains “Maya” and B2 is empty, =A2&" "&B2 returns “Maya ” with a trailing space. That extra space is often invisible, but it can matter when comparing text or exporting data.

For ranges with possible blanks, TEXTJOIN can skip empty cells. With A2:C2 holding “Ada,” a blank, and “Lovelace,” =TEXTJOIN(" ",TRUE,A2:C2) returns “Ada Lovelace.” Change the first argument to a comma and space if you want a list-like result; the same three cells with =TEXTJOIN(", ",TRUE,A2:C2) return Ada, Lovelace.

Be clear about what counts as blank. A cell containing a space character is not truly empty, so a function may not skip it as an empty cell. If results look oddly spaced, check the source cells for spaces or other invisible characters. You can also choose a separator that makes sense for the data: a space for names, a comma for locations, or a hyphen for a code.

Combine numbers and dates without losing formatting

When a formula joins a number or date with text, Sheets may use the underlying value rather than the display format you see in the source cell. For example, a date cell can be stored as a numeric serial value. If you join it directly to a word, the result may not look like the formatted date displayed in the original column.

Use TEXT to specify how a number or date should appear in the combined result. With the date November 3, 2026 in A2 and “Paid” in B2, enter =TEXT(A2,"mmm d, yyyy")&" — "&B2 in C2; the result is Nov 3, 2026 — Paid. The format pattern controls the displayed date in the joined text; it does not change the date stored in A2.

The same idea applies to amounts, percentages, and other numeric values: decide on the text format you want before joining the value to labels or other data. Once a number has been joined into a text string, the combined result is text, not a numeric value suitable for arithmetic. Keep the original numeric column for calculations.

Keep the result as a formula or make it fixed text

A formula is a good choice when the source data may change. If a surname is corrected in B2, the combined result updates automatically. That live link is useful for lists that are still being edited, but it also means the result depends on the source cells and formula remaining in place.

To make a fixed copy, select and copy the formula results, then use Edit > Paste special > Values only in Google Sheets. This pastes the displayed values rather than the formulas. If you paste values over the formula cells themselves, the results no longer update when the source cells change. Consider keeping an untouched copy of the source data if you may need to rebuild the output.

Joining text does not physically combine cells or create a single permanent record across the original columns. It produces a value in another cell. Google Sheets’ cell-merging controls are a separate layout feature; they do not perform the same job as a formula that joins the contents of two cells.

Common problems and how to fix them

The formula appears as text: Check that the entry begins with = and that the cell is not formatted as plain text. Re-entering the formula after changing the cell format may be necessary.
The result has no space or punctuation: Add the separator as quoted text between the cell references, such as " " or ", ".
Every row shows the same source values: Check that you filled the formula down normally. Relative references should change row numbers as the formula moves.
The combined date or number looks strange: Format that value with TEXT before joining it, rather than relying on how the original cell is displayed.
There are unexpected spaces: Inspect source cells for spaces and check whether one of the cells is blank. Use TEXTJOIN with its ignore-empty option when appropriate.

Also check row alignment before filling a formula. If a person’s first name is on row 2 but the matching surname is on row 3, the formula will still join the two cells on row 2; it cannot determine that the records are mismatched. Sorting only one source column can cause this problem, so sort complete rows together.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I combine two columns with a comma in Google Sheets?

Join the two row references with a quoted comma and space, such as =A2&", "&B2. Put it in an empty cell on that row, then fill it down for the remaining pairs.

Can I combine two columns and skip blank cells?

Yes. Use TEXTJOIN with TRUE as its ignore-empty argument. For example, =TEXTJOIN(" ",TRUE,A2:B2) joins the two cells with a space and skips cells that are genuinely empty.

How do I combine the columns without a formula?

Use a formula to create the joined results, then copy them and choose Edit > Paste special > Values only. The pasted results are fixed values rather than live formulas.

Does combining columns mean merging cells?

No. A formula joins cell contents into a result elsewhere. Merging cells changes the sheet’s layout and is not a substitute for joining text from two columns.

Will the combined result update when I edit a source cell?

Yes, if the result is still a formula referring to the source cells. If you paste values over the formula, the result becomes fixed and no longer updates from those cells.

Try it: the Date Difference Calculator: days, months, years and weekdays between two dates, with the DATEDIF formulas.

More in How-to basics

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

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