How to Merge Columns in Excel

What this does

Combining columns takes the value from each row of two (or more) neighbouring columns and writes them into a single new column, row by row down the whole table — first name beside last name becomes one full-name column. The ampersand (&) joins the two cells of a row with whatever literal text you put in quotes between them, and you copy that one formula down so every row is combined at once. TEXTJOIN does the same across a wider band of columns, taking the separator a single time. This is a per-row column operation, quite different from joining a couple of stray cells or visually merging cells into one box. The same idea underpins a lot of everyday Excel work, so the few minutes spent getting it right here pay back across every sheet you build afterwards. Treat it as a pattern, not a one-off, and it stops being something you look up and starts being something you reach for. For “merge columns in excel”, the reliable version is a short checking loop, not just the first command that appears to work. Run it on a deliberately small range first, watch how the affected columns change, and only then apply the same setup to the full sheet. When a formula is involved, keep the inputs labelled beside it, reference cells instead of typing values, and apply number formatting only after the result checks out. That is what makes a layout choice that keeps the sheet readable and sortable useful in real work: repeatable, auditable, and not dependent on memory or luck.

A worked example

A2 contains Ada and B2 contains Lovelace. Enter =A2&" "&B2 in C2: the result is Ada Lovelace. Fill the formula down to combine each row separately. If B2 is empty, this formula leaves a trailing space; =TEXTJOIN(" ",TRUE,A2:B2) skips empty cells where that function is available. For three input columns A:C, put =TEXTJOIN(" ",TRUE,A2:C2) in D2, outside the input range. To remove the input columns later, first copy the results and use Paste Special > Values, then check them again. Combining columns is how you fold scattered fields into the single column a mail merge, import or lookup expects — first + last into full name, street + city into one address line. It is the everyday inverse of splitting one column into several. Check the referenced cells, argument order and result type in your workbook. Start with the worked example before changing an input, then compare the changed result with the calculation you expected. An error value or a result of a different type is a reason to inspect the inputs and arguments.

In Google Sheets

Google Sheets support for this task has not been verified. Check the function, arguments and workflow in the target product before transferring the example. Matching formula notation does not establish identical behaviour. The aim was to get you unstuck fast and leave you a little more capable than a copy-paste would. The answer is at the top and the detail above shows why it holds — so the next time a colleague asks, you can answer without reaching for search. For “merge columns in excel”, keep the input cells and the result visible while you check the formula in Excel. Follow the worked example and change one input at a time. The steps explain the workbook calculation; this page does not run a live calculator for that task.

Common mistakes

• Reaching for Merge & Center — that visually fuses cells and keeps only the top-left value, it does not combine the two columns row by row.
• Forgetting the separator, so "Ada" and "Lovelace" run together as "AdaLovelace".
• Deleting the source columns A and B while the new column still holds live =A2&B2 formulas — copy the result and Paste Special ▸ Values first.
• Combining a number or date directly and losing its formatting — wrap it in TEXT() to keep it readable.

Frequently asked questions