The fastest way to merge two columns

To combine two columns in Excel, you create a formula in a third column that pulls text from both original columns, then copy that formula down for every row. The simplest formula is concatenation, which just stacks one piece of text directly after another.

In a blank column (say, column C), click the first cell and type =A1&B1. This tells Excel to take whatever is in cell A1, attach whatever is in cell B1 right after it, and show the result in C1. Press Enter. Then click C1 again, grab the small square at the bottom-right corner of the cell, and drag it down to the last row with data. Excel copies the formula down automatically, adjusting the row numbers as it goes.

If you want a space or other character between the two columns, use =A1&" "&B1 instead. The space goes inside the quotation marks. You can put a comma, a dash, or any text you want there.

Key Takeaways

  • The formula =A1&B1 combines two cells side by side; add a space with =A1&" "&B1 if you need one between them.
  • After you type the formula in one cell, drag the small square at the bottom-right corner down to copy it to every row with data.
  • Once the combined column looks right, you can copy it and paste it as values only to replace the original columns if you want to save space.
  • The CONCATENATE function does the same thing as the & symbol but is older and takes longer to type; stick with & unless you are working with very old Excel versions.

When to use CONCATENATE instead of the & symbol

The CONCATENATE function does exactly what the & symbol does, but it uses a different syntax. Instead of =A1&B1, you would type =CONCATENATE(A1,B1). Both produce the same result.

Most people use & because it is shorter and faster to type. CONCATENATE exists mainly for people working with very old versions of Excel or for teams that have a style rule requiring function names. If your spreadsheet is recent and you are the only person using it, the & symbol is the practical choice.

Handling numbers and dates in merged columns

When you combine a column of numbers with text, Excel treats the result as text, not as a number. This matters if you later want to do math with the merged column — you cannot add or average text that looks like numbers.

If you are combining a date column with other data, the date may show up as a long number instead of a readable date. To fix this, use the TEXT function to format the date first: =TEXT(A1,"MM/DD/YYYY")&" "&B1. Replace MM/DD/YYYY with whatever date format you want. This converts the date to text in the format you choose before combining it with the other column.

Replacing the original columns after merging

Once your merged column looks correct, you may want to delete the original two columns to clean up the spreadsheet. But first, you need to convert the merged column from formulas to plain text values. If you delete the original columns while formulas still point to them, the merged column will show errors.

Click the merged column header to select the entire column. Copy it (Ctrl+C on Windows, Command+C on Mac). Right-click and choose Paste Special. In the dialog, click Values only, then click OK. Now the merged column contains the text itself, not a formula, so you can safely delete columns A and B.

Using formulas to merge more than two columns

The & symbol works with as many columns as you need. To combine three columns, use =A1&" "&B1&" "&C1. To combine four, add another &" "& and the next column letter. You can chain as many together as the formula bar allows.

If you are combining many columns, CONCATENATE can be easier to read because all the cell references go inside the parentheses in one line. For example, =CONCATENATE(A1," ",B1," ",C1," ",D1) combines four columns with spaces between them. Both approaches work the same way; choose whichever looks clearer to you.

Merging columns with blank cells or missing data

If some rows have blank cells in one of the columns you are merging, the formula still works — it just combines whatever is there. A blank cell contributes nothing, so =A1&" "&B1 with a blank A1 will show just a space and whatever is in B1.

If blank cells bother you and you want to skip the space when a cell is empty, use the IF function to check first: =IF(A1="",B1,A1&" "&B1). This says: if A1 is blank, show just B1; otherwise, show A1 with a space and B1. This keeps your merged column cleaner when some rows have incomplete data.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I merge columns without creating a third column?

Not with a formula. Excel formulas need a place to put their result, so you always need a blank column to work in. However, once you convert the merged column to values (as described above), you can delete the original columns and move the merged column to where one of them was, which saves space.

What if my columns have different data types, like numbers and text?

The & symbol and CONCATENATE both treat everything as text once combined. If you need the result to be a number for calculations later, you will have to do the math before merging, or merge into a separate column and do the math there instead.

Does merging columns change the original data?

No. The formula reads the original columns but does not change them. The merged result appears in the new column only. Your original data stays exactly as it was unless you manually edit it or delete the columns.

Can I undo a merge if I change my mind?

Yes. Press Ctrl+Z (Windows) or Command+Z (Mac) to undo. If you already deleted the original columns, you can undo that too by pressing Ctrl+Z again. As long as you have not closed the file, you can step back through your changes.