How to fix #N/A error in CONCAT Function in Excel?

The #N/A error typically occurs when there's an issue with the formula parameters or references. Use AskFormulas to generate validated formulas that avoid these errors.

How to fix #REF! error in CONCAT Function in Excel?

The #REF! error typically occurs when there's an issue with the formula parameters or references. Use AskFormulas to generate validated formulas that avoid these errors.

How to fix #VALUE! error in CONCAT Function in Excel?

The #VALUE! error typically occurs when there's an issue with the formula parameters or references. Use AskFormulas to generate validated formulas that avoid these errors.

How to fix #DIV/0! error in CONCAT Function in Excel?

The #DIV/0! error typically occurs when there's an issue with the formula parameters or references. Use AskFormulas to generate validated formulas that avoid these errors.

How to fix #NAME? error in CONCAT Function in Excel?

The #NAME? error typically occurs when there's an issue with the formula parameters or references. Use AskFormulas to generate validated formulas that avoid these errors.

CONCAT Function in Excel

Master the CONCAT function to combine text from multiple cells efficiently. Learn syntax, examples, and solutions to common errors in Excel and Google Sheets.

Excel

Google Sheets

text

beginner

Syntax Preview

Excel

Google Sheets

=CONCAT(text1, [text2], ...)

Quick Answer

What is the CONCAT Function?

CONCAT Syntax and Parameters

How to Use CONCAT - Step by Step

## Understanding CONCAT

The CONCAT function is Excel and Google Sheets' modern text combination tool that joins multiple text values into a single string. Introduced as the successor to CONCATENATE, it offers improved functionality and better performance for combining text from multiple sources.

## Key Capabilities

CONCAT excels at:
- **Combining cell values** without requiring individual cell references
- **Merging text and numbers** automatically converting numbers to text
- **Creating dynamic labels** for reports and presentations
- **Building formatted strings** for data export or display

## Platform Differences

**Excel Implementation:**
- Supports multiple arguments (Excel 2019+, Excel 365)
- Can handle ranges and arrays
- Automatically converts numbers to text
- Available in newer Excel versions only

**Google Sheets Implementation:**
- Accepts exactly 2 arguments only
- Equivalent to the   operator
- Converts numbers to text automatically
- Available in all Google Sheets versions

## When to Use CONCAT

Choose CONCAT when you need to:
- Combine text from exactly 2 cells (works in both platforms)
- Create simple text combinations without delimiters
- Replace older CONCATENATE formulas for better performance
- Work with both Excel and Google Sheets compatibility

For more complex text joining with delimiters or multiple values, consider TEXTJOIN instead.

## Syntax Overview

**Excel Syntax:** `=CONCAT(text1, [text2], [text3], ...)`
**Google Sheets Syntax:** `=CONCAT(value1, value2)`

## Parameters Explained

### text1 / value1 (Required)
The first text string, number, or cell reference to include in the combination. This can be:
- A cell reference like A1
- Direct text in quotes like "Hello"
- A number that will be converted to text
- A formula result

### text2, text3, ... (Excel) / value2 (Sheets)
**Excel:** Additional text strings to combine. Excel can handle multiple arguments, making it more flexible for complex combinations.

**Google Sheets:** Only accepts one additional value. For combining more than 2 values, use nested CONCAT functions or the CONCATENATE function.

## Return Value

CONCAT returns a text string containing all the combined values. Numbers are automatically converted to text format during the combination process.

## Version Requirements

- **Excel:** 2019, 2021, or Excel 365 required
- **Google Sheets:** Available in all versions
- **Excel 2016 and earlier:** Use CONCATENATE function instead

## Character Limits

Both platforms support combining strings up to their maximum cell character limits (32,767 characters in Excel, 50,000 in Google Sheets).

## Step-by-Step Guide

### Step 1: Select Your Target Cell
Click on the cell where you want the combined text to appear.

### Step 2: Start the Formula
Type `=CONCAT(` to begin the formula.

### Step 3: Add Your First Value
Enter the first cell reference, text, or value:
- For cell reference: `A1`
- For direct text: `"Hello"`
- For numbers: `123` (automatically converted to text)

### Step 4: Add Additional Values
- **Excel:** Add a comma and continue with more values: `=CONCAT(A1, B1, C1)`
- **Google Sheets:** Add only one more value: `=CONCAT(A1, B1)`

### Step 5: Close and Execute
Type the closing parenthesis `)` and press Enter.

## Best Practices

1. **Include Spaces:** CONCAT doesn't add spaces automatically. Include them manually:
   `=CONCAT(A1, " ", B1)`

2. **Handle Empty Cells:** Empty cells appear as blank in the result, which may create unexpected spacing.

3. **Data Types:** CONCAT automatically converts numbers to text, but dates may need TEXT() function for proper formatting.

4. **Platform Compatibility:** For Google Sheets, limit to 2 arguments or nest multiple CONCAT functions.

## Example Workflow

1. Enter "John" in A1 and "Smith" in B1
2. In C1, type `=CONCAT(A1, " ", B1)`
3. Press Enter
4. Result: "John Smith"

Practical CONCAT Examples

Common CONCAT Errors and Solutions

#VALUE!

CONCAT function returns #VALUE! error

Cause:

One of the referenced cells contains an error value (#N/A, #REF!, etc.), or there's a data type incompatibility

Solution:

1. Check all referenced cells for error values 2. Use IFERROR to handle cells that might contain errors: =IFERROR(CONCAT(A1, B1), "Error in data") 3. Verify that all cell references are valid 4. Use ISTEXT or ISNUMBER functions to validate data types before concatenating

Prevention:

Always validate your source data and use error handling functions like IFERROR when working with dynamic data

Frequency: High

Example:

#NAME?

Function name not recognized

Cause:

CONCAT function is not available in your Excel version (requires Excel 2019+ or Excel 365)

Solution:

1. Check your Excel version in File > Account 2. For Excel 2016 and earlier, use CONCATENATE function instead: =CONCATENATE(A1, B1) 3. Upgrade to Excel 2019, 2021, or Excel 365 for CONCAT support 4. In Google Sheets, CONCAT is always available

Prevention:

Verify function availability for your platform before creating formulas, or use CONCATENATE for broader compatibility

Frequency: Medium

Example:

Formula Shows as Text

Formula displays as text instead of calculating result

Cause:

The cell is formatted as Text, or Show Formulas mode is enabled, or there's a leading apostrophe

Solution:

1. Change cell format from Text to General 2. Check if Show Formulas is enabled (Ctrl+` to toggle) 3. Look for leading apostrophe (') and remove it 4. Re-enter the formula after fixing the format 5. Press Ctrl+Shift+Enter if needed

Prevention:

Always use General or appropriate number formatting for formula cells, avoid Text format

Frequency: Medium

Example:

Wrong Argument Count (Google Sheets)

Error: Wrong number of arguments to CONCAT. Expected 2 arguments

Cause:

Google Sheets CONCAT function only accepts exactly 2 arguments, unlike Excel which accepts multiple

Solution:

1. Use only 2 arguments in Google Sheets: =CONCAT(A1, B1) 2. For multiple values, nest CONCAT functions: =CONCAT(CONCAT(A1, B1), C1) 3. Consider using CONCATENATE for multiple arguments: =CONCATENATE(A1, B1, C1) 4. Use JOIN function for arrays with delimiters

Prevention:

Remember platform differences: Excel allows multiple arguments, Google Sheets allows only 2

Frequency: High

Example:

Unexpected Spacing Issues

Result has too many or missing spaces

Cause:

CONCAT doesn't automatically add spaces, and empty cells can cause spacing issues

Solution:

1. Manually add spaces where needed: =CONCAT(A1, " ", B1) 2. Use TRIM function to remove extra spaces: =TRIM(CONCAT(A1, " ", B1)) 3. Check for empty cells that might affect spacing 4. Use IF statements to handle empty cells: =IF(B1="", A1, CONCAT(A1, " ", B1))

Prevention:

Always include explicit spacing in your formula and test with various data scenarios including empty cells

Frequency: Medium

Example:

CONCAT Best Practices and Tips

Use only 2 arguments in CONCAT for maximum compatibility between Excel and Google Sheets. For more complex combinations, consider using CONCATENATE or TEXTJOIN which work similarly across both platforms.

CONCAT is generally faster than CONCATENATE for simple text combinations. When working with large datasets, CONCAT can improve calculation speed, especially in Excel 365 with dynamic arrays.

Empty cells in CONCAT appear as blanks in the result. Use IF statements to handle empty cells gracefully: =IF(B1="", A1, CONCAT(A1, " ", B1))

Use CONCAT for simple 2-value combinations, CONCATENATE for multiple values with backward compatibility, TEXTJOIN for combinations with delimiters, and & operator for inline concatenation.

CONCAT is not available in Excel 2016 and earlier versions. Always test your formulas across different Excel versions if sharing workbooks, or use CONCATENATE for broader compatibility.

CONCAT automatically converts numbers to text, but dates may not format as expected. Use TEXT function for proper date formatting: =CONCAT("Report Date: ", TEXT(A1, "mm/dd/yyyy"))

CONCAT vs Alternative Functions

## CONCAT vs CONCATENATE

| Feature | CONCAT | CONCATENATE |
|---------|--------|-------------|
| Excel Version | 2019+ | All versions |
| Google Sheets | 2 args only | Multiple args |
| Performance | Faster | Standard |
| Range Support | Yes (Excel) | No |
| Backward Compatibility | Limited | Excellent |

**When to choose CONCAT:** Modern Excel versions, simple 2-value combinations, performance matters
**When to choose CONCATENATE:** Broad compatibility, multiple arguments in Google Sheets

## CONCAT vs TEXTJOIN

| Feature | CONCAT | TEXTJOIN |
|---------|--------|----------|
| Delimiter Support | Manual | Automatic |
| Empty Cell Handling | Includes blanks | Can ignore blanks |
| Range Support | Limited | Excellent |
| Complexity | Simple | Advanced |

**When to choose CONCAT:** Simple combinations without delimiters
**When to choose TEXTJOIN:** Multiple values with delimiters, ignore empty cells

## CONCAT vs   Operator

| Feature | CONCAT |   Operator |
|---------|--------|-----------|
| Readability | Function syntax | Inline operator |
| Multiple Values | Yes (Excel) | Chain with   |
| Performance | Good | Slightly faster |
| Platform Support | Version dependent | Universal |

**When to choose CONCAT:** Function preference, multiple arguments (Excel)
**When to choose  :** Universal compatibility, inline concatenation

## Recommendation Matrix

- **Simple 2-value combination:** CONCAT or  
- **Multiple values with same delimiter:** TEXTJOIN  
- **Multiple values, no delimiter:** CONCATENATE
- **Maximum compatibility:**   operator
- **Performance critical:** CONCAT (modern Excel)