Formula Guide

The Excel CONCAT Function
explained simply

CONCAT joins text from multiple cells or ranges into one string — the modern replacement for CONCATENATE.

ExcelPro · 4 min read · Updated June 2026
Contents
  1. What does CONCAT do?
  2. Syntax
  3. 4 examples
  4. CONCAT vs CONCATENATE vs &
  5. FAQ

What does CONCAT do?

CONCAT joins together text from separate cells, ranges, or typed text into a single string, with no separator added automatically.

It replaces the older CONCATENATE function and, unlike CONCATENATE, can take whole ranges as an argument rather than requiring every cell listed individually.

Syntax

=CONCAT(text1, [text2], ...)
ArgumentDescription
text1 requiredThe first text, cell, or range to join.
text2, ... optionalAdditional text, cells, or ranges.

Examples

Example 1
Join first and last name
=CONCAT(A2," ",B2)

Joins A2, a space, and B2 into one full name.

Example 2
Join an entire range at once
=CONCAT(A2:A5)

Unlike CONCATENATE, CONCAT can accept a whole range directly and joins every cell in it.

Example 3
Build a code from parts
=CONCAT(A2,"-",B2,"-",C2)

Combines three fields with dashes between them — useful for building reference codes.

Example 4
Compare to the & operator
=A2&" "&B2

The & operator does the same job as CONCAT for simple cases — many people prefer it for short joins, CONCAT for longer ones.

CONCAT vs CONCATENATE vs the & operator

OptionNotes
CONCATModern, accepts ranges directly, recommended going forward.
CONCATENATEOlder, kept only for compatibility with old files — Microsoft recommends switching to CONCAT.
& operatorSame result as CONCAT for simple joins, no function call needed.

Common mistakes

⚠️ Using CONCATENATE in new spreadsheets

It still works but is considered legacy — CONCAT or & are the modern choices.

⚠️ Forgetting separators are not automatic

CONCAT does not add spaces or commas between items — you must include them explicitly.

FAQ

Does CONCAT add anything between joined values?
No — if you want a space, comma, or dash between values, you must add it as its own argument.
What is the advantage of CONCAT over TEXTJOIN?
TEXTJOIN can add a separator automatically and skip blank cells; CONCAT cannot do either, but is simpler for basic joins.

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Related formulas

TEXTJOIN LEFT RIGHT TEXT