Below are steps on how to combine or join (merge) multiple cells together in a table to create one cell for data.

Using the ampersand

  • In the new cell where you want the combined data to be stored, start by typing a = sign.
  • Click the first cell containing data to be combined.
  • Type &" “& in the new cell after the cell identifier (i.e., A2, B2, C2, etc.). Make sure you have a space between the two quotation marks, to allow for a space between the data being combined.
  • Click the second cell containing data to be combined.
  • Press the Enter key to combine the data in the two cells.

Example of completed formula

=A2&” “&B2

As shown below, if A2 was “Joe” and B2 was “Smith,” the cell containing the above formula would equal “Joe Smith”.

This page is for combining the values of cells, which is not the same as merging multiple cells. See: How to merge cells in Excel and Calc.

Using the CONCATENATE function

  • In the new cell where you want the combined data to be stored, start by typing =CONCATENATE(.
  • Click the first cell containing data to be combined.
  • Type ,” “, in the new cell after the cell identifier (A2, B2, C2, etc.). Make sure you have a space between the two quotation marks and commas on either side of the quotation marks. This space creates space between the data being combined.
  • Click the second cell containing data to be combined.
  • Type a ) (right parenthesis) at the end.
  • Press the Enter to combine the data in the two cells.

=CONCATENATE(A2,” “,B2)

Concatenate works like the first example. Again, if A2 had a first name of “Joe” and B2 had a last name of “Smith,” the cell containing the above formula would equal “Joe Smith”.

If needed, you can combine more than two cells of data by repeating steps 3 and 4 for each additional cell being combined.

  • How to merge cells in Excel and Calc.
  • How to split an Excel cell using the Text to Columns function.
  • See our concatenate, Excel, formula, function, and merge, definitions for further information on each of these terms and related links.
  • Microsoft Excel help and support.