How to combine cell values in Excel

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

Using the ampersand

1. In the new cell where you want the combined data to be stored, start by typing a = sign.
2. Click the first cell containing data to be combined.
3. 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.
4. Click the second cell containing data to be combined.
5. 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".

Using the CONCATENATE function

1. In the new cell where you want the combined data to be stored, start by typing =CONCATENATE(.
2. Click the first cell containing data to be combined.
3. 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.
4. Click the second cell containing data to be combined.
5. Type a ) (right parenthesis) at the end.
6. Press the Enter to combine the data in the two cells.

Example of completed formula

=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".