Excel CONCAT – Combine Text from Multiple Cells
Excel CONCAT is the modern way to merge text from two or more cells without losing data. Use it to build full names, tidy addresses, compose labels, and even create dynamic KPI titles for your dashboards—fast, clean, and formula-only.
What is CONCAT?
CONCAT joins multiple text items into one string. It replaces the older CONCATENATE function in recent Excel versions.
Syntax:
=CONCAT(text1, [text2], ...)
Quick example: full name
Marge two cells with a space in between:
=CONCAT(A2, " ", B2)
Result: John Doe, Sarah Patel, Michael Smith.
Everyday uses
- Join names, addresses, and product descriptions.
- Build IDs like INV-2025-001 from parts.
- Create dynamic messages or labels for reports.
- Prepare clean export fields for printing or mail merges.
Tips for clean results
- Add spacing or punctuation with
" ",", ", or" - ". - Wrap with
TRIM()to remove extra spaces. - Format numbers first with
TEXT():=CONCAT("Invoice #", A2, " – $", TEXT(B2, "#,##0.00")) - Use
IFERROR()when optional parts may be blank.
CONCAT vs. CONCATENATE vs. TEXTJOIN
| Function | Purpose | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| CONCATENATE | Legacy text join | Excel 2013 and older |
| CONCAT | Modern replacement; joins items | Excel 2016+ |
| TEXTJOIN | Joins with a delimiter; can ignore blanks | Excel 2016+ |
Where it helps in dashboards
- Compose KPI cards like “Region – Product – Month” on the fly.
- Generate chart titles that reflect current filters.
- Create readable labels for exports and PDFs.
Keep building smarter
Explore proven layouts and components in our curated collections:
- Excel Dashboard templates for polished reporting.
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