Quick Answer

FIND Function

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

Syntax

FIND

(find_text, within_text, [start_num])

Parameters

Parameter	Description	Required
find_text	The text to find.	Required
within_text	The text to search within.	Required
start_num	The character position to start searching from (default 1).	Optional

Basic Example

Find the position of a hyphen in a product code

=FIND("-", "ABC-123")

Result4

The first hyphen appears at the 4th character.

Advanced Examples

Example 1: Find a specific instance

File paths

Find the second backslash in a path

=FIND("\", A2, FIND("\", A2) + 1)

Result: Position of second backslash

The second FIND starts searching after the first backslash.

How FIND Works

FIND scans within_text for find_text and returns the position of the first match. It is case-sensitive. If the text is not found, it returns #VALUE!.

1

Enter text to find

Type the substring.

2

Enter text to search

Type the cell or string containing the text.

3

Optional start position

Add a start number to skip earlier characters.

Important Notes & Limitations

Case-sensitive. Use SEARCH for case-insensitive search.
Does not support wildcards.
Returns #VALUE! if the text is not found.

Common Errors & Fixes

#VALUE! errorThe text was not found.

Fix: Use IFERROR to handle missing text, or use SEARCH for case-insensitive matching.

Wrong positionCase mismatch because FIND is case-sensitive.

Fix: Use SEARCH if case does not matter.

Download Practice File

Practice FIND with Real Data

Download a sample CSV file with pre-populated data and practice exercises for the FIND 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.

CONCATENATE

Joins text values together (legacy function).

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

What is the difference between FIND and SEARCH?

FIND is case-sensitive and does not support wildcards. SEARCH is case-insensitive and supports wildcards.

Can FIND use wildcards?

No. Use SEARCH for wildcard support.

How do I avoid #VALUE! when text is missing?

Wrap with IFERROR: =IFERROR(FIND("-", A2), 0).