CONCATENATE
Join two or more text strings into one with CONCATENATE, though Excel now recommends using CONCAT or TEXTJOIN instead.
Text
| Excel All versions
| Google Sheets Supported
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Syntax
=CONCATENATE(text1, [text2], ...)
Returns: Text Arguments
| Argument | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| text1 | Yes | The first text or cell reference to be concatenated. |
| [text2], ... | No | Additional texts or cell references to be concatenated. You can include up to 255 arguments. |
About
CONCATENATE combines separate text strings into one. Use it to merge first and last names, build custom labels, or create formatted text from multiple cells. While it still works in all Excel versions, Microsoft now recommends using CONCAT or TEXTJOIN instead. These newer functions offer better features, like working with cell ranges and adding separators automatically.
The function takes up to 255 text items as inputs. Each item can be plain text in quotes, cell references, or numbers (which get treated as text). You need to manually add any spaces or punctuation you want between items. For example, to combine a first name in A1 and last name in B1, you'd write =CONCATENATE(A1," ",B1) with the space in quotes.
Use CONCATENATE when you're working with older Excel files or need simple text joining. For new spreadsheets, consider TEXTJOIN if you want to add the same separator between all items, or CONCAT if you want to combine entire ranges at once.
The function takes up to 255 text items as inputs. Each item can be plain text in quotes, cell references, or numbers (which get treated as text). You need to manually add any spaces or punctuation you want between items. For example, to combine a first name in A1 and last name in B1, you'd write =CONCATENATE(A1," ",B1) with the space in quotes.
Use CONCATENATE when you're working with older Excel files or need simple text joining. For new spreadsheets, consider TEXTJOIN if you want to add the same separator between all items, or CONCAT if you want to combine entire ranges at once.
Examples
Working with empty cells
Notice how empty middle names create awkward double spaces in the full name. Try clearing a middle name to see the spacing issue. This is a common gotcha when combining text with empty cells.
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Numbers lose their formatting
See how dates appear as serial numbers. Use the TEXT function inside CONCATENATE to preserve formatting when working with numbers or dates.
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Building email addresses with LOWER
Combine CONCATENATE with LOWER to create standardized email addresses. Try changing the names to mixed case. The emails stay lowercase automatically. Perfect for bulk email generation.
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Watch out for
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Forgetting to add spaces between text
CONCATENATE joins text directly without adding spaces, so FirstNameLastName runs together instead of showing First Name Last Name.
→ Include spaces as separate arguments in quotes: =CONCATENATE(A1," ",B1). Or consider using TEXTJOIN which can add delimiters automatically.
⚠
Numbers lose their formatting
When you concatenate cells with numbers or dates, they appear as raw values (like 45321 for a date) instead of keeping their formatted appearance.
→ Use the TEXT function to format numbers first: =CONCATENATE("Date: ",TEXT(A1,"mm/dd/yyyy")) preserves date formatting.
Tips & notes
The CONCATENATE function treats numbers and dates as text, so it does not perform any arithmetic operations or date calculations. If you intend to concatenate numerical values or dates, their formatting and alignment within the concatenated string should be considered to ensure the desired presentation and interpretation of the concatenated output.
Common questions
Can the CONCATENATE function join more than two cell values or texts?
Yes, the CONCATENATE function can join up to 255 individual cell values or texts into a single concatenated string.
How can I include spaces or punctuation in the concatenated output using the CONCATENATE function?
You can include spaces, punctuation, or any constant characters within the CONCATENATE function by enclosing them in double quotation marks. For example, to include a space between two concatenated cell values, use the formula: =CONCATENATE(A1, " ", B1).
What happens if one of the arguments in the CONCATENATE function is an empty cell?
If one of the arguments provided to the CONCATENATE function is an empty cell, it will be treated as an empty text string, and the function will proceed to concatenate the non-empty arguments as usual.