Combining two Excel columns sounds simple until names, addresses, dates, or blanks start landing in the wrong format. The cleanest fix is to place the joined result in a new column, keep the original data intact, and use the method that matches the worksheet in front of you.
Start with a formula for everyday work, use Flash Fill when you want a pattern-based result, and save Power Query for repeatable cleanup.
Combine columns with ampersand
Use this when you want the fastest formula for joining two cells with a space between them.
- 1.Select the first empty cell where the combined result should appear.
- 2.Type =A2&" "&B2, changing A2 and B2 to match your row.
- 3.Press Enter.
- 4.Review the result in the output cell.
- 5.Copy the formula down for the rest of the rows.
Use CONCAT for readable formulas
CONCAT joins the same values as the ampersand formula, but it keeps each piece of the formula separated by commas. Select the output cell, type =CONCAT(A2," ",B2), and press Enter.
The comma separates each value you want to combine. The quoted space in the middle tells Excel to place a space between the two column values.
Use CONCAT for new workbooks instead of CONCATENATE. Microsoft still supports CONCATENATE for compatibility, but CONCAT replaced it in current Excel guidance. Microsoft documents the availability of CONCAT two ways, so check which one matches your install: its function page lists Excel 2016 among the supported versions, and the CONCATENATE page says that in Excel 2016, Excel Mobile, and Excel for the web that function has been replaced with CONCAT, while the same CONCAT page also notes the feature is available on Windows or Mac with Office 2019 or an Office 365 subscription. If CONCAT does not appear in your version of Excel, use the ampersand formula or CONCATENATE instead.
Ignore blanks with TEXTJOIN
TEXTJOIN fits worksheets where one of the two columns is blank and the combined result still needs clean spacing. Microsoft lists TEXTJOIN for Excel 2019 and later and for Microsoft 365, and notes the feature needs Office 2019 or a Microsoft 365 subscription, so use the ampersand formula in Excel 2016. It combines text with a delimiter and can skip empty cells.
Select the output cell.
Type =TEXTJOIN(" ",TRUE,A2,B2).
Press Enter.
Fill the formula down the column after the first result looks right.
Keep dates and numbers formatted
This fixes combined results where dates, times, percentages, currency, or other formatted numbers turn into plain underlying values.
Select the cell where the combined result should appear.
Use TEXT around the formatted value inside your combine formula.
For a name in A2 and a date in B2, type =A2&" "&TEXT(B2,"mmmm d, yyyy").
Press Enter.
Review the combined text before filling the formula down.
Fill formulas down the column
After the first row works, extend the formula through the rest of the data.
- 1.Enter the combine formula in the first output cell.
- 2.Point to the fill handle on that cell.
- 3.Drag the fill handle down through the rows you want to fill.
- 4.Open File > Options > Advanced if the handle is hidden.
- 5.Turn on Enable fill handle and cell drag-and-drop.
Let Flash Fill build the result
This fixes the job when you want combined text without keeping a formula in the output column.
Type the full combined value in the first output cell, such as the first and last name together.
Press Enter.
Start typing the next combined value in the cell below.
Press Enter when Excel shows a preview for the rest of the column.
To run it manually, enter the first example and select the next output cell or output range.
Choose Data > Flash Fill or press Ctrl+E.
Turn on Flash Fill previews
Flash Fill uses an app-level setting, so a missing preview can come from Excel settings. In Windows Excel, open File > Options > Advanced, check Automatically Flash Fill, select OK, then close and restart Excel.
Excel also places the setting under Tools > Options > Advanced > Editing Options > Automatically Flash Fill. After it is enabled, enter your first combined example again and accept the preview.
Use Power Query for repeatable cleanup
Power Query is the better fit when combining columns is part of a repeatable cleanup process in Excel for Microsoft 365, Excel 2024, or Excel 2021. It can merge selected source columns into one column, or add a custom column while keeping the originals.
Open the query by selecting a cell in the data, then choose Query > Edit. Set both columns to text with Transform > Data Type > Text.
To replace the selected source columns with one merged column, select the columns, choose Transform > Merge Columns, pick a separator in the Merge Columns dialog box, and select OK.
To keep the original columns, choose Add Column > Custom Column. Insert the first column from Available Columns, type &, add a separator such as " ", type another &, insert the second column, and select OK.
If Power Query is more setup than the worksheet needs, use TEXTJOIN for formula-based results or Flash Fill for a one-time pattern fill.
Avoid Merge and Center for data
A common cause of lost data is using cell merging when you meant to combine the contents of two columns.
Merge & Center and Merge Cells visually merge cells across columns, but they do not safely join both values into one result.
Merging can delete data from cells other than the upper-left cell.
Use a formula, Flash Fill, or Power Query when you need the actual text from both columns in one cell.
To reverse a visual merge, select the merged cell, open the Merge & Center down arrow, and choose Unmerge Cells.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest formula to combine two columns in Excel?
Use =A2&" "&B2 in a new cell. It joins the values from A2 and B2 with a space between them.
Which is better, CONCAT or TEXTJOIN?
Use CONCAT for a simple two-cell join. Use TEXTJOIN when you want a delimiter and want Excel to ignore blank cells.
Why did my date change when I combined columns?
Formatted values can lose their display format in a plain combine formula. Use TEXT around the date or number, such as =A2&" "&TEXT(B2,"mmmm d, yyyy").
Does Merge and Center combine two column values?
No. Merge and Center visually merges cells and can remove data from non-upper-left cells. Use a formula, Flash Fill, or Power Query instead.