Excel CONCAT Function (Join Text & Ranges) – Examples & Practice
Practice the Excel CONCAT function online with an interactive grid, instant feedback, and clear formula help.
Instruction
Join A2, a hyphen "-", and B2 into one text string.
Formula Syntax
=CONCAT(text1, [text2], ...)
- text1: Text, number, or range to join.
- [text2]: Optional additional items or delimiters as quoted text.
- ...: Additional items up to limits for your Excel version.
What it does
CONCAT joins text and ranges into one string. It simplifies many patterns that used to require long CONCATENATE formulas.
Excel CONCAT Function Examples
Join with a delimiter
=CONCAT(A2, "-", B2)
Inserts a hyphen between two cells.
Join a row segment
=CONCAT(A2:D2)
Concatenates adjacent cells without separators (add delimiters manually if needed).
text-cleanup.xlsx
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raw Text | Helper |
| 2 | ACME Corporation | ACME |
| 3 | Invoice-2026-0001 | 2026 |
| 4 | VIP_CLIENT | VIP |
| 5 | John Doe | Doe |
| 6 | Product Name | Product |
| 7 | Output |
Input Formula
Need Help?
Tips
- Use TEXTJOIN when you need delimiters across many cells.
- Document delimiter choices for downstream systems.
- TRIM inputs when building match keys.
CONCAT Function Use Cases
- Build SKU or invoice keys
- Flatten multi-column identifiers for export
- Modern replacement for long CONCATENATE chains
- Combine codes with separators
- Prepare URL fragments in templates
Common mistakes - CONCAT function not working
- Expecting automatic delimiters like TEXTJOIN
- Forgetting delimiters between ranges
- Joining large ranges without performance thought
- Mixing date formatting expectations
- Using CONCAT when Power Query unpivot is clearer
FAQ
CONCAT vs CONCATENATE?
CONCAT is the modern replacement and can concatenate ranges directly.
Does CONCAT add delimiters?
No. Insert delimiters as separate arguments between ranges.
Can CONCAT spill?
CONCAT itself returns one string; spill behavior comes from other dynamic functions.
CONCAT vs TEXTJOIN?
TEXTJOIN adds delimiters between many cells more elegantly.
Will CONCAT coerce numbers?
Yes, numeric cells become text in the combined result.
Comparison
| Function | Delimiters |
|---|---|
| CONCAT | Manual per argument |
| TEXTJOIN | Built-in delimiter logic |
| CONCATENATE | Legacy piecewise join |
Example
=CONCAT(A2, "-", B2)
Advanced examples
CONCAT with TEXT columns
Normalize each piece with TRIM/TEXT before concatenation for stable keys.
Related functions
CONCATENATE is the legacy spelling of the same join idea—prefer CONCAT in new files for consistency with modern samples.
Format numbers and dates for display with TEXT, and run TRIM first when joins fail because of leading or trailing spaces.