What CONCATENATE Does
CONCATENATE joins two or more text strings into a single string. It is commonly used to combine first and last names, build addresses, create IDs, or assemble dynamic labels. Google Sheets also supports the & operator as a shorthand for the same operation.
Syntax
=CONCATENATE(string1, [string2, ...])
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| string1 | The first text string or cell reference. |
| string2, ... | Additional strings to join. You can include as many as needed. |
Basic Examples
Example 1: Combine First and Last Name
| A | B | C (Formula) | C (Result) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | First | Last | Full Name | Full Name |
| 2 | Maria | Chen | =CONCATENATE(A2, " ", B2) | Maria Chen |
| 3 | James | Okafor | =CONCATENATE(A3, " ", B3) | James Okafor |
The " " adds a space between the two names.
Example 2: Build a Product Code
Combine a category prefix with an ID number:
=CONCATENATE("SKU-", A2, "-", B2)
If A2 is "ELEC" and B2 is 1042, the result is SKU-ELEC-1042.
Example 3: Using the & Operator (Shorthand)
The & operator does the same thing with less typing:
=A2 & " " & B2
This is functionally identical to =CONCATENATE(A2, " ", B2). Most experienced users prefer & for its brevity.
Advanced Examples
Building a Dynamic URL
Create Google Maps links from address components:
=CONCATENATE("https://www.google.com/maps/search/", A2, "+", B2, "+", C2)
If A2 is "123 Main St", B2 is "Denver", and C2 is "CO", the result is a working search URL.
CONCATENATE with ARRAYFORMULA
Join first and last names for an entire column in one formula:
=ARRAYFORMULA(IF(A2:A="", "", A2:A & " " & B2:B))
Note: CONCATENATE itself doesn't work inside ARRAYFORMULA, but the & operator does. The IF wrapper prevents blank rows from producing a lone space.
Common Mistakes
- Forgetting separators.
=CONCATENATE(A2, B2)produces "MaríaChen" with no space. Always include a separator string like" ",", ", or"-"between elements. - Using CONCATENATE to join a range.
=CONCATENATE(A2:A10)does work in Google Sheets, but it jams all values together with no delimiter. Use TEXTJOIN instead:=TEXTJOIN(", ", TRUE, A2:A10)adds commas between values. - Mixing numbers and text without formatting. Concatenating a date or number cell produces raw serial numbers. Use TEXT to format first:
=CONCATENATE("Date: ", TEXT(A2, "MMM D, YYYY")).
SheetAI Tip
Don't want to memorize this syntax? With SheetAI, just type what you need in plain English — like "combine first name and last name with a space" — and the formula is generated for you. Install SheetAI to try it free.