Excel CONCATENATE Formula Examples and Uses

In Excel, join text with =CONCAT(A2," ",B2) or the ampersand operator, as in =A2&" "&B2; if A2 contains Maya and B2 contains Chen, either formula returns Maya Chen. For joining a range with a chosen separator, use TEXTJOIN. These examples work in Microsoft Excel for Microsoft 365 on Windows, and the same formulas are available in current Excel for Mac and Excel for the web.

What Excel concatenation means

Concatenation means joining text values into one longer text string. It can combine names, parts of an address, an order number and its prefix, or words from several cells. The source cells are not changed: the formula creates a result in the cell where you enter it, and that result updates when a referenced value changes.

For example, a first name in A2 and a last name in B2 can be joined with a space between them. Without the quoted space, Excel joins the values directly, so Maya and Chen would become MayaChen. The separator is part of the formula, not something Excel automatically inserts.

Concatenation is useful for display labels and identifiers, but the result is text. Joining two numbers does not add them, and a combined date-and-description string is not a date value that Excel can use directly for date arithmetic. Keep the original values in separate cells when you need to sort, calculate, or analyze them as numbers or dates.

CONCAT, CONCATENATE, and the ampersand

Excel offers three common ways to join values. CONCAT is the modern function for joining text arguments or a range. CONCATENATE is the older function name, retained for compatibility with older workbooks. The ampersand (&) is an operator that joins values directly and remains a compact, widely supported option.

CONCAT: Clear to read and able to accept a range. It joins values without inserting a separator.
CONCATENATE: Familiar in older spreadsheets and useful when maintaining existing formulas. Microsoft identifies it as a legacy function; for new work, CONCAT is generally the more current function name.
Ampersand: Convenient for short formulas that mix cell references, fixed text, and separators. Use a quoted space or punctuation mark where needed.

With the first name Maya in A2 and the last name Chen in B2, the older function returns the same result as CONCAT: =CONCATENATE(A2," ",B2) returns Maya Chen. The ampersand version is =A2&" "&B2. You do not need to use all three methods in one workbook; choose a style that is easy for you and your colleagues to understand.

Basic formula examples for names and labels

Start by deciding what should appear between the cell values. Text that you type directly into a formula must be enclosed in straight double quotation marks. Cell references do not need quotation marks, and a space between two pieces of text must be included as a quoted character.

With A2 containing Maya and B2 containing Chen, =CONCAT(A2," ",B2) returns Maya Chen.
With A2 containing INV and B2 containing 1048, =CONCAT(A2,"-",B2) returns INV-1048.
With A2 containing West and B2 containing Region, =A2&" "&B2 returns West Region.

In each case, enter the formula in the result cell, such as C2. To apply it to more rows, fill or copy the formula down the column. Relative references adjust as the formula moves, so a formula referring to A2 and B2 will normally refer to A3 and B3 in the next row.

For a more descriptive label, add fixed text before or after a reference. With A2 containing 1048, enter ="Invoice "&A2 in B2 to return Invoice 1048. The word Invoice is enclosed in quotes because it is literal text. The equals sign begins the formula, and the ampersand joins the text and cell value.

Joining several cells and adding separators

CONCAT can join a range of cells, but it does not add commas, spaces, or other separators for you. With North, East, and West in A2:A4, =CONCAT(A2:A4) returns NorthEastWest. That can be correct for some identifiers, but it is often difficult to read as a list.

TEXTJOIN is designed for a range that needs a repeated delimiter. Its first argument is the delimiter, its second says whether to ignore empty cells, and the remaining argument or arguments supply the text or range. With North in A2, a blank A3, East in A4, and West in A5, =TEXTJOIN(", ",TRUE,A2:A5) returns North, East, West. The TRUE setting skips empty cells instead of leaving an extra delimiter for the blank.

TEXTJOIN is available in Microsoft 365 and newer Excel releases; it is not the right choice when a workbook must run in an older Excel version that lacks the function. For a fixed, small number of cells, CONCAT or ampersands can be more compatible. For a long list, TEXTJOIN is easier to maintain than writing a separator and reference for every cell.

Set the delimiter to whatever the output needs. For example, a comma followed by a space makes a readable list; a hyphen suits a code; and a line break can put each value on a separate line. With entries in A2:A4, =TEXTJOIN(CHAR(10),TRUE,A2:A4) uses a line break between nonempty values. Turn on Wrap Text for the result cell so the separate lines are visible within the cell.

Formatting numbers and dates in a concatenated result

When a number or date is joined with text, Excel converts the value to text for the result. It does not necessarily use the display format you see in the original cell. A date may appear as its underlying serial number, and a number formatted with leading zeros may lose those zeros. Use TEXT to specify the format that should appear in the combined string.

With the number 27 in B2, enter =A2&"-"&TEXT(B2,"0000") in C2, where A2 contains ID. The result is ID-0027: the format pattern supplies four digits, including leading zeros. This changes only the displayed text in the result; B2 remains the number 27.

With a date value in A2 representing November 2, 2026, enter ="Due: "&TEXT(A2,"mmm d, yyyy") in B2. The result is Due: Nov 2, 2026. TEXT’s format code controls how the date is presented, while the original A2 remains a date that can still be used in date calculations. The exact display can depend on Excel’s language and regional settings, so check the result in the workbook’s intended locale.

The same approach works for decimal places and percentages. Choose a format pattern that matches the meaning of the value, rather than relying on the source cell’s appearance. This is especially important when the string will be exported, printed, or used as a label: the text contains what the formula created, not a live numeric value with its original formatting.

Optional text, punctuation, and spaces

A common task is to add punctuation only when an optional cell is filled in. Otherwise, the result can end with a dangling comma or extra space. IF can test whether a cell is empty and add the separator only when there is a value.

With a product name in A2 and an optional color in B2, enter =A2&IF(B2<>"",", "&B2,"") in C2. If A2 is Notebook and B2 is Blue, the result is Notebook, Blue. If B2 is empty, the result is simply Notebook. The test uses an empty string, and the final empty string tells Excel to add nothing when the optional value is missing.

Watch for cells that look blank but contain spaces. A cell containing a space is not empty, so a formula may still add its separator. If source data is inconsistent, clean it before concatenating or use TRIM to remove extra spaces from text. Also remember that a formula such as =A2&" "&B2 always inserts the middle space, even if one of the referenced cells is blank. If empty values are common, TEXTJOIN with its ignore-empty option may be simpler.

Common problems and how to fix them

Words run together: Add a quoted space or other delimiter between references. Excel does not infer that two names or words need a gap.
Quotation marks are missing: Literal text and separators need straight double quotes inside the formula. Cell references such as A2 do not.
A date displays as a number: Format the date within the formula using TEXT, rather than relying on the date cell’s number format.
Leading zeros disappear: If the joined item is numeric, use TEXT with a pattern such as 0000 when the output needs fixed-width digits.
There is an unwanted separator: Check for blank cells containing spaces, or use TEXTJOIN with TRUE to ignore empty cells.
The formula appears as text: Check that the cell is not formatted as Text and that the formula begins with an equals sign. If needed, set the cell to General, edit the formula, and press Enter.

When copying a formula, check that its references point to the intended cells. If part of a reference must stay fixed while filling down or across, use an absolute reference such as $A$2. On Windows, F4 cycles through reference styles while editing a reference in a formula; on Mac, the equivalent shortcut can depend on the keyboard and function-key settings. You can also type the dollar signs directly.

Choosing the right method for your workbook

For two or three pieces of text, the ampersand is often easiest to scan. CONCAT is a good choice when you want a named function or need to combine a range without a delimiter. TEXTJOIN is usually the clearest choice for a range with a repeated separator or blanks that should be skipped. CONCATENATE is mainly useful when you are reading or preserving an older workbook.

Consider who will open the file and what they need to do with the result. A formula supported in Microsoft 365 may not work in an older Excel version. If compatibility with older software matters, favor simpler operators and check the workbook in the oldest version your team uses. If the output is only a presentation label, a text result is usually appropriate; if later calculations depend on the original values, keep those values separate.

You can enter formulas directly in a cell or in Excel’s formula bar. On Windows, press Enter to commit a formula; on Mac, Return normally commits it. To copy a formula downward, select its cell and drag the fill handle, or use Ctrl+D on Windows after selecting the formula cell and the cells below it. On Mac, the fill-down shortcut is generally Control+D; shortcut behavior can vary with keyboard settings. Excel for the web supports these formulas too, though shortcuts and interface details can differ by browser and operating system.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the simplest Excel formula to join two cells?
Use CONCAT or the ampersand operator. Include a quoted space between the references if the result needs one; Excel will not insert a separator automatically.

What is the difference between CONCAT and CONCATENATE?
Both join text, but CONCAT is the newer function and can take a range directly. CONCATENATE is retained for compatibility with older workbooks. Neither function automatically inserts spaces or punctuation.

How do I combine cells with a comma and a space?
Use TEXTJOIN with a comma-space delimiter for a range, or place the quoted delimiter between individual cell references. TEXTJOIN can also be told to ignore empty cells.

Can concatenation add numbers?
No. Concatenation joins values as text; it does not perform arithmetic. Use a calculation such as addition when you need a numeric total, and concatenate only when you need a text label.

Why does my concatenated date look like a number?
Excel may convert the date to its underlying serial value in a text string. Use TEXT with a date format pattern in the formula to control how the date appears, while keeping the source cell as a date.

Can I join cells onto separate lines inside one cell?
Yes. Use CHAR(10) as the delimiter in a concatenation formula or TEXTJOIN, then enable Wrap Text for the result cell. The line breaks appear within the cell rather than in separate worksheet rows.

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