How to use the CONCATENATE function
The CONCATENATE function lets you add text strings into one single text string.
The function has been replaced by the CONCAT function in Excel 2016, although it still exists for compatibility with earlier Excel versions.
The CONCATENATE function may be removed in a future Excel version, I recommend you use the CONCAT function or the more advanced TEXTJOIN function instead.
Table of Contents
1. CONCATENATE function Syntax
CONCATENATE(text1, [text2])
2. CONCATENATE function Arguments
| text1 | Required. The argument can be a text value, number, or cell reference. |
| [text2] | Optional. You can have up to 255 additional text strings to join. |
The new TEXTJOIN function is a lot more versatile and easier to use, however, it is only available in Excel 365.
There is a workaround available for earlier Excel versions:
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3. CONCATENATE function example
Formula in cell D3:
You cannot use a cell range as an argument, only cell references to single cells are allowed.
4. CONCATENATE function not working
The CONCATENATE function requires single cell references in order to work. For example =CONCATENATE(A1, B1) works however, the following will not work:
=CONCATENATE(B2:C7)
The #NAME error is displayed if you misspelled the CONCATENATE function.
5. Comparing related functions
The ampersand character & lets you concatenate values in a formula. Ampersand
- No advanced options.
- Easy to use.
The CONCATENATE function is a simple function that allows you to quickly join values.  CONCATENATE
- Has been replaced by the CONCAT function.
- Although the CONCATENATE function still exists in Excel for backward compatibility, it is a legacy function and may not be supported in future releases.
- You need to select each cell one by one which may become tedious and time consuming.
- Hold CTRL key while selecting cells to avoid typing delimiting characters between arguments.
The CONCAT function is a simple function that allows you to quickly join values from a cell range. CONCAT
- No delimiting value.
- CONCAT replaces the CONCATENATE function, Microsoft recommends you use this function over the CONCATENATE function from now on.
The TEXTJOIN function is more advanced, it lets you specify a delimiting value and ignore blank values. It takes multiple non adjacent cell ranges. TEXTJOIN
- The TEXTJOIN function is likely the most versatile option for concatenating text across multiple cells and ranges in Excel.
- You can specify delimiting values, however, no distinction between row and column delimiting values which is the case of the ARRAYTOTEXT function.
- You have the option to ignore blank values.
ARRAYTOTEXT function concatenates values from a given cell range or array. ARRAYTOTEXT
- Allows you to specify delimiters for both columns and rows.
- The result is a text string.
Function key F9 lets you convert the formula to the output result.
- Hard code the values in a formula.
- You have the option to select a part of the formula.
- Press Escape key to undo changes.
Here is how:
- Select the cell containing the formula you want to convert. The formula may be as simple as this: =B2:D5 which is a cell reference to cell range B2:D5.
- Press with left mouse button on in the formula bar so the prompt appears.
- Select the entire formula.
- Press F9 on your keyboard. Excel converts the formula and now shows the output from the formula.
- Press Esc key to go back to the original formula or press Enter to keep the changes.
Useful resources
CONCATENATE function - Microsoft support
Using Concatenate In Excel: A Complete Guide
'CONCATENATE' function examples
The following article has a formula that contains the CONCATENATE function.
Joining multiple cell values in Excel is not easy, for example, the CONCATENATE function allows you to only reference a […]
Functions in 'Text' category
The CONCATENATE function function is one of 30 functions in the 'Text' category.
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