Formula guide · Excel and Google Sheets · Updated May 13, 2026
Merge Two Columns in Excel or Google Sheets
Combine first name and last name, city and state, or other columns with a delimiter.
Quick Answer
Use the ampersand operator for a simple merge, or TEXTJOIN when blanks should be ignored.
Copyable Formula
=TEXTJOIN(" ",TRUE,A2,B2)Syntax
=A2&" "&B2Excel and Google Sheets
Worked Example
| A | B | C |
|---|---|---|
| First | Last | Full name |
| Maya | Chen | Maya Chen |
Result: Combines the first and last name into one full-name cell.
Steps
- Choose the columns to combine.
- Add a delimiter such as a space, comma, or dash.
- Use TEXTJOIN when blank cells should be skipped.
- Copy the formula down or use ARRAYFORMULA in Google Sheets.
Common Mistakes
- Forgetting a delimiter and joining words together.
- Creating extra spaces when one column is blank.
- Overwriting source columns before checking the merged output.
Excel vs Google Sheets Notes
The core idea works in both Excel and Google Sheets, but separators, function availability, and array behavior can vary by account, locale, and version.
Editorial check: This guide was last updated May 13, 2026. Formula behavior can vary by Excel version, Google Sheets rollout, and spreadsheet locale.