How to Use CONCATENATE in Google Sheets

Google Sheets offers many functions to make data manipulation and analysis easier, faster, and more efficient. One such function is CONCATENATE, a powerful tool for joining two or more text strings into one string. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to improve your skills, this guide will walk you through the steps to effectively use the CONCATENATE function in Google Sheets.

What Is a CONCATENATE Function?

The CONCATENATE function is a tool in spreadsheet programs like Google Sheets that allows you to combine two or more text strings into one single string. It provides a way to merge individual text items—words, numbers, or sentences—into a complete text without manually typing the entire content. This function is particularly useful for joining data, creating labels, or formatting text dynamically.

Step 1: Open Your Google Sheet

First, make sure you have your Google Sheets open. This is where you’ll be using the CONCATENATE function. If you haven’t already prepared your spreadsheet, enter some data you want to combine.

Step 2: Decide What You Want to Combine

Look at your data and decide which texts you want to merge. The text could be first and last names, dates, events, addresses, or two or more pieces of information in different cells.

Step 3: Click on the Cell Where You Want the Result

The combined text must be displayed somewhere, so click on the cell where you want the concatenated result to appear.

Step 4: Enter the CONCATENATE Formula

In the selected cell, start typing your formula. Begin with an equals sign, followed by the word CONCATENATE and an open parenthesis:

=CONCATENATE(

Step 5: Add the Text References

Add the references of the cells you want to combine inside the parentheses. For example, if you are concatenating cell A1 and cell B1, your formula should look like this:

=CONCATENATE(A1, B1)

Result:

If you want to include spaces or other specific characters between concatenated texts, add them as part of the formula in quotes followed by a comma. Here’s how to add a space between A1 and B1:

=CONCATENATE(A1, ” “, B1)

Result:

Step 6: Copy the Formula (Optional)

You can simply copy the formula if you need to apply the same concatenation to other rows. Click on the cell with your formula, then drag the small square downwards at the bottom-right corner to fill in other cells.

Get a copy of the free CONCATENATE function template.

Final Thoughts

The CONCATENATE function opens up numerous possibilities for text manipulation in Google Sheets. Whether you’re compiling data, generating reports, or simply organizing information, learning CONCATENATE will undoubtedly make your tasks easier. You’ll find more creative and complex ways to apply this function with practice, streamlining your workflows and enhancing your data management skills.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I automatically update concatenated text when source cells change?

Concatenated text in Google Sheets automatically updates whenever the data in the source cells change. Since CONCATENATE is a formula, it re-calculates the combined text based on the current content of the referenced cells.

Can I concatenate numbers and dates?

Yes, you can concatenate numbers and dates with text in Google Sheets. Numbers and dates will be converted to their text representations in the concatenation process. If you need to format numbers or dates within your text string, consider using the TEXT function before concatenation for more control over the formatting.

How do you include line breaks in the concatenated text?

To include a line break (or newline) in concatenated text, use the CHAR function with the appropriate code (10 for a line break in Google Sheets) as part of your CONCATENATE formula, such as =CONCATENATE(A1, CHAR(10), B1). This will put the content of B1 on a new line below A1 in the same cell.