Quick Answer

CONCATENATE Function

Joins text values together (legacy function).

Syntax

CONCATENATE

(text1, [text2], ...)

Parameters

Parameter	Description	Required
text1	The first text item or cell reference to join.	Required
text2	Additional text items or cell references to join (optional, up to 255 arguments).	Optional

Basic Example

Join first and last name

=CONCATENATE("Hello"," ","World")

ResultHello World

The three text items are concatenated in order into a single string.

Advanced Examples

Example 1: Build a full name from cells

A1 = "Jane", B1 = "Doe"

Combine with a space

=CONCATENATE(A1," ",B1)

Result: Jane Doe

Cell references and literal text are joined seamlessly.

Example 2: Prefer TEXTJOIN for ranges

Join A1:A3 without listing each cell

Show the newer alternative

=TEXTJOIN(", ",TRUE,A1:A3)

Result: Items joined by a comma and space

TEXTJOIN accepts a range and delimiter directly, which CONCATENATE cannot do in one argument.

How CONCATENATE Works

CONCATENATE accepts up to 255 text arguments and appends them in the order given, returning one combined text string. It does not add any separator on its own.

1

List the items

Decide which texts or cells to join.

2

Add separators

Include literal separators like " " as their own arguments.

3

Enter CONCATENATE

Type =CONCATENATE(...) and press Enter.

Important Notes & Limitations

Cannot accept a range as a single argument; each cell must be listed separately.
Adds no delimiter automatically, so separators must be supplied manually.
Superseded by CONCAT (ranges) and TEXTJOIN (delimiters, ignore empties) in newer Excel.

Common Errors & Fixes

#VALUE! errorReferencing a range directly, e.g. =CONCATENATE(A1:A3), in versions that disallow it.

Fix: List cells individually or use CONCAT/TEXTJOIN for ranges.

Download Practice File

Practice CONCATENATE with Real Data

Download a sample CSV file with pre-populated data and practice exercises for the CONCATENATE function. Works in both Excel and Google Sheets.

Works in Google SheetsCompatible with ExcelIncludes exercises

File format: CSV (comma-separated values) - opens in Excel, Google Sheets, and all spreadsheet apps

Related Functions

CLEAN

Strips non-printable control characters from text.

CONCAT

CONCAT combines multiple text strings into a single string.

FIND

Finds the position of text within another text string, case-sensitive.

LEFT

LEFT extracts a specified number of characters from the left side of a text string.

LEN

LEN counts the number of characters in a text string.

LENB

Returns the byte length of text.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I use CONCATENATE or TEXTJOIN?

Use TEXTJOIN when joining a range or adding a delimiter; CONCATENATE is legacy.

Can CONCATENATE join a range?

Not as a single argument; you must list each cell, or use CONCAT/TEXTJOIN.

What is the 255 limit?

CONCATENATE accepts up to 255 individual text arguments.