How to How to Use CONCATENATE vs CONCAT vs TEXTJOIN in Excel in Excel - Practical Guide

Learn the differences between CONCATENATE, CONCAT, and TEXTJOIN functions to combine text efficiently. CONCATENATE is the legacy function, CONCAT is the modern alternative, and TEXTJOIN offers advanced features like delimiters and empty cell handling. Master each function to choose the right tool for your data merging tasks.

Why This Matters

Mastering these functions streamlines data consolidation and reporting tasks. Choosing the right function improves formula efficiency and compatibility across Excel versions.

Prerequisites

•Basic understanding of Excel cell references (A1, B2, ranges)
•Familiarity with formula syntax and the formula bar

Step-by-Step Instructions

Understand CONCATENATE function

CONCATENATE is the original function for joining text. Use syntax: =CONCATENATE(text1, text2, text3...). It joins each argument directly without delimiters; available in all Excel versions.

Learn CONCAT function

CONCAT is the modern replacement for CONCATENATE (Excel 2019+, Excel 365). Use syntax: =CONCAT(text1, text2...). It's simpler and faster but still doesn't support delimiters or ignoring empty cells.

Master TEXTJOIN function

TEXTJOIN is the most powerful function (Excel 2019+, Excel 365). Use syntax: =TEXTJOIN(delimiter, ignore_empty, text1, [text2]...). It adds delimiters between items and can skip empty cells automatically.

Apply TEXTJOIN with delimiters

In cell D1, enter =TEXTJOIN(", ", TRUE, A1:A5) to join cells A1 through A5 with commas as delimiters, ignoring empty cells (TRUE parameter).

Compare results and choose your function

Test all three functions side-by-side with sample data. Use CONCATENATE for legacy compatibility, CONCAT for simplicity, or TEXTJOIN for advanced formatting with delimiters and empty-cell handling.

Alternative Methods

Ampersand (&) operator

Use =A1&" "&B1&" "&C1 to concatenate cells without functions. Simple but manual; no delimiter automation.

Using array formulas with TEXTJOIN

Combine TEXTJOIN with IF to conditionally join cells: =TEXTJOIN(",",TRUE,IF(criteria,cells,"")). Requires Ctrl+Shift+Enter in older Excel versions.

Tips & Tricks

✓Use TEXTJOIN for professional reports as it automatically handles spacing and empty cells with the ignore_empty parameter.
✓When migrating old spreadsheets, replace CONCATENATE with CONCAT for better performance in Excel 2019 and later.

Pro Tips

★Combine TEXTJOIN with FILTER function for dynamic text merging: =TEXTJOIN(", ",TRUE,FILTER(A:A,criteria)).
★Use TEXTJOIN(CHAR(10),TRUE,range) to create multi-line text combining with line breaks for better readability in cells.

Troubleshooting

Formula returns #NAME? error

Your Excel version doesn't support the function (CONCAT/TEXTJOIN require 2019+). Switch to CONCATENATE or upgrade Excel.

Unwanted spaces or delimiters appear

Check if empty cells exist in your range. Use TEXTJOIN's ignore_empty parameter (TRUE) to remove blank cell delimiters.

Formula is very slow with large datasets

TEXTJOIN with ranges can slow down recalculation. Use CONCAT or CONCATENATE with specific cell references instead of entire columns.

Related Excel Formulas

TEXTJOIN CONCATENATE CONCAT TRIM MID LEN SUBSTITUTE REPLACE

Frequently Asked Questions

Which function should I use for new spreadsheets?

Use TEXTJOIN for Excel 2019 and Excel 365 as it offers the most features (delimiters, empty cell handling). For older versions, use CONCAT if available, otherwise CONCATENATE.

Can TEXTJOIN replace CONCATENATE completely?

Yes, if your Excel version supports it (2019+). TEXTJOIN is more powerful with automatic delimiter insertion and empty cell skipping. For older Excel versions, stick with CONCATENATE.

How do I add line breaks between concatenated text?

Use TEXTJOIN with CHAR(10): =TEXTJOIN(CHAR(10),TRUE,A1:A5). Enable 'Wrap Text' in Home > Alignment to display line breaks properly in the cell.

Is there a performance difference between these functions?

CONCAT is slightly faster than CONCATENATE. TEXTJOIN is slower with large ranges but more feature-rich. For best performance, use specific cell references rather than entire column ranges.