RIGHT Function
RIGHT extracts a specified number of characters from the right side of a text string.
Syntax
Parameters
| Parameter | Description | Required |
|---|---|---|
| text | The text string from which to extract characters. | Required |
| num_chars | Optional. The number of characters to extract (default is 1). | Optional |
Basic Example
Extract last 4 characters
=RIGHT("Hello World", 4)Extracts the last 4 characters from "Hello World".
Advanced Examples
Example 1: Extract file extension
File managementGet the extension from a filename
=RIGHT(A1, LEN(A1)-FIND(".", A1))Example 2: Extract last name
Name parsingGet the last name from "First Last" format
=RIGHT(A1, LEN(A1)-FIND(" ", A1))How RIGHT Works
RIGHT counts from the end of the text string and returns the specified number of characters. If num_chars is omitted, it returns just the last character.
Important Notes & Limitations
RIGHT counts each character as 1, including spaces.
Use LEFT to extract from the beginning, or MID to extract from the middle.
Common Errors & Fixes
#VALUE!num_chars is negativeFix: Ensure num_chars is a positive number.
Download Practice File
RIGHT
rightPractice RIGHT with Real Data
Download a sample CSV file with pre-populated data and practice exercises for the RIGHT function. Works in both Excel and Google Sheets.
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.
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.