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Quick Answer

FIND Function

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

✓ Excel✓ Google SheetsExcel All versions

Syntax

FIND
(find_text, within_text, [start_num])

Parameters

ParameterDescriptionRequired
find_textThe text to find.Required
within_textThe text to search within.Required
start_numThe 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 Tutorials

Extract Text From String

Extract text from string in Excel and Google Sheets using LEFT, RIGHT, MID, and FIND. Learn to pull the first or last word, a middle substring, or text between two delimiters.

Google Sheets REGEXEXTRACT: Extract Text by Pattern

Learn Google Sheets REGEXEXTRACT with RE2 patterns: capture groups, case-insensitive flags, error handling and how to extract all matches from a string.

Split Text By Delimiter

Split text by delimiter in Excel and Google Sheets — use TEXTSPLIT, SPLIT, LEFT with FIND, and Text to Columns to break names, emails and codes into columns.

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).