Google Sheets: Combine Two Columns into One

Yes. In Google Sheets, combine two columns row by row with a formula such as =A2&" "&B2, which joins the values in A2 and B2 with a space between them; then fill the formula down. You can change the separator, skip blank cells, or turn the finished results into fixed text, depending on what you need.

What combining two columns means

Usually, “combine two columns into one” means joining the values from matching rows into a new column. For example, given a first name in A2 and a last name in B2, you might want “Maya Chen” in C2. The original columns stay in place, and the formula creates a combined result in a third column.

That is different from putting the contents of two whole columns one after another in a single vertical list, and it is also different from merging spreadsheet cells. Those jobs need different approaches. Decide which result you want before changing the sheet: joined pairs on each row, one long list, or larger cells that span multiple columns.

Join matching rows with a formula

The ampersand operator is a direct way to join text in Sheets. Assuming A2 contains Maya and B2 contains Chen, enter this in C2:

With the first name in A2 and the last name in B2, enter =A2&" "&B2. The result is Maya Chen.

The quoted space is important: without it, the result would be “MayaChen.” You can use another separator, or none at all. For instance, a hyphen is useful for a code assembled from two parts. Keep the source columns intact while you check the output, particularly if the data is important or difficult to recreate.

To apply the formula to more rows, select C2 and drag the small blue square at the bottom-right corner of the selected cell downward. Sheets adjusts the row references as it copies: the next row uses A3 and B3, then A4 and B4, and so on. Check the last few results to make sure the source rows line up as intended.

Choose the right separator

The separator should suit the data and the way the result will be used. Names generally need a space, while a product code might use a hyphen. If you are combining address fields, punctuation may be necessary to keep the result readable. A separator is ordinary text inside quotation marks in a formula.

Space: join first and last names as “Maya Chen.”
Comma and space: display a city and region as “Salem, Oregon.”
Hyphen: join code parts as “AB-204.”
No separator: join values that are already formatted to touch, such as “North” and “Star” to make “NorthStar.”

For the examples below, assume the first item is in A2 and the second is in B2. =A2&", "&B2 puts a comma and space between the values. =A2&"-"&B2 inserts a hyphen. =A2&B2 joins them directly. Think about how the combined value will be searched, sorted, exported, or read aloud before choosing punctuation.

Handle blank cells and extra spaces

A simple formula still inserts its separator when one source cell is empty. If A2 contains Maya and B2 is blank, the space-based formula may leave a trailing space. That character can be hard to spot, but it can affect exact comparisons or exported text. For a two-cell join where empty values should be ignored, TEXTJOIN is often clearer.

With the two values in A2 and B2, enter =TEXTJOIN(" ",TRUE,A2,B2). If B2 is empty, the result is Maya without an extra separator.

In this function, the first argument is the separator, and TRUE tells Sheets to ignore empty cells. It is useful when joining several fields that may not all be filled in. A cell containing spaces is not necessarily treated as empty, however; it contains characters. If imported data has inconsistent spacing, clean the source values before joining them.

With a full name in A2 and B2, this formula removes leading and trailing spaces from the combined result and reduces repeated ordinary spaces: =TRIM(A2&" "&B2). TRIM can help with accidental spaces around names, but it is not a general solution for every invisible character. If data came from a website or another system, unusual whitespace may need separate cleanup.

Combine more than two values

The same ideas work with additional columns. For example, an address might be split across a street field, city field, and postal code. TEXTJOIN lets you supply one delimiter and a list of cells or ranges, while its TRUE setting skips empty cells. That can be more convenient than adding a separate ampersand and separator for every field.

With address parts in A2, B2, and C2, enter =TEXTJOIN(", ",TRUE,A2:C2). If the cells contain “12 Pine Road,” “Salem,” and “Oregon,” the result is 12 Pine Road, Salem, Oregon.

Use a delimiter that makes sense across all the fields. A comma works for many address-style lists, but not every data structure. If values themselves may contain commas, consider a delimiter that will not be confused with the data, or keep the fields separate for later processing.

Combine two columns into one long list

If by “one column” you mean every value from column A followed by every value from column B, that is a vertical stack rather than a row-by-row join. For a temporary or one-time task, copy the values from the second column and paste them below the first in a separate destination column. Check that the destination is empty so you do not overwrite useful data.

For a formula-driven list, use bounded ranges rather than entire columns, and make sure the output area below the formula is clear. With values in A2:A100 and B2:B100, enter =FILTER(VSTACK(A2:A100,B2:B100),VSTACK(A2:A100,B2:B100)<>""). This places the first range above the second and filters out blank results. The output expands down the sheet, so existing content in its path can prevent it from displaying.

This stacked result does not pair each row’s values. If A2 is “Maya” and B2 is “Chen,” a stack puts them on separate rows; a row-wise join puts them together in one cell. That distinction matters when consolidating lists, building names, or preparing data for another tool.

Keep a live formula or save fixed values

A formula result updates when its referenced cells change. This is useful when the source columns are still being edited: correcting a name in A2 automatically changes the joined value in C2. It also means the output depends on the source cells remaining available and in the expected locations.

If you need a fixed snapshot, copy the finished formula results and paste values over a destination range. In Google Sheets, use Edit > Paste special > Values only. This replaces formulas with their displayed values, so later changes in the source cells will not update the pasted text. Consider retaining a copy of the formula output or source data until you have confirmed the pasted results.

Paste values only is also useful before sharing or exporting a sheet when you want the text but do not want formulas. It does not join the cells by itself; first create and verify the combined results, then paste those results as values where needed.

Combining values is not merging cells

Google Sheets also has a Merge cells command under Format > Merge cells. Merging changes the cell layout: several adjacent cells become one larger cell. It does not join their text into a combined value. When cells containing data are merged, Sheets keeps the upper-left cell’s content and can discard the other contents, so merging is not a safe substitute for concatenating columns.

Use a formula when you want to preserve and combine the text from multiple cells. Use cell merging only when you deliberately want a larger display area, such as a heading spanning several columns. For data tables, merged cells can also make sorting and filtering harder, so they are usually best avoided in the body of a dataset.

Common problems and checks

The output has no space: include a quoted space as the separator rather than joining the cell references directly.
A blank value leaves punctuation behind: use TEXTJOIN with TRUE to skip empty cells, or inspect the source cells for spaces that make them nonempty.
The formula appears as text: check whether the cell is formatted as plain text or whether an apostrophe precedes the equals sign. Change the format if necessary, then re-enter the formula.
The result appears in the wrong row: verify that both source values belong to the same record and that the formula was filled down without skipping or shifting rows.
A stacked formula will not expand: clear the cells below and check for existing content in the output range.
Text is lost after merging: undo immediately if possible, or restore from version history or another copy. Merging cells does not concatenate their contents.

Before replacing or deleting the original columns, review a sample of the combined results, including rows with missing values and unusually long text. If the sheet is shared, coordinate edits so another person does not change the source data while you are converting results to fixed values.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the simplest formula to combine two columns in Google Sheets?
For values in A2 and B2 with a space between them, use =A2&" "&B2 in the result cell. Fill it down to combine the corresponding rows.

Can I combine two columns and skip blank cells?
Yes. With source values in A2 and B2, =TEXTJOIN(" ",TRUE,A2,B2) joins nonempty values with a space and ignores empty cells.

Can Google Sheets combine the columns permanently?
A formula stays connected to its source cells. To keep a fixed text result, copy the formula output and use Edit > Paste special > Values only.

Does Merge cells combine the text in two columns?
No. Merge cells changes the cell layout and does not concatenate the contents. Use a formula to join text; merging can leave only the upper-left cell’s content.

How do I put both columns into one list instead of joining each row?
Stack the first column’s values above the second column’s values, either by copying and pasting or with a formula such as VSTACK on bounded ranges. That creates separate list entries rather than paired text.

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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