How to Combine Two Columns in Excel

Excel is widely known for its ability to sort, filter, and analyze large amounts of data. One such task that may arise is the need to combine two columns into one. This could be due to many reasons such as duplicates or the need for a concatenation of two columns. If you’re new to Excel, combining columns can seem like a daunting task. Fortunately, it’s a straightforward process, and this article will guide you through the steps required to combine two columns in Excel in a few simple steps.

Step 1: Open Excel and Add Data to Columns

The first step is to open Excel and input the data you want to combine into two separate columns. Label the headers of each column to ensure accuracy in your data. Ensure that the data in each column has the same type of information—for example, names in both columns rather than names in one and dates in the other.

Step 2: Create a Third Column

To combine the two columns, you will need to create a third column. Go ahead and insert a new column in the location where you want to have the combined data. In this new column, you can name it whatever you want, but ensure that the header is intuitive and relevant—something like “Combined Names” or “Merged Data.”

Step 3: Use CONCATENATE Function

Next, you will need to use the CONCATENATE function to merge the data from the two different columns. Type “=CONCATENATE(” in the first cell of the third column, click on the first cell in column one, enter a space or comma, then click on the first cell in column two. Close the formula with a closing parenthesis and hit ENTER.

Alternate Step 3: Use “&” Symbol to Combine the Data

If you’re using Excel 2016 or later, you can use the “&” symbol to combine data in different columns. Type “=A1&” “&B1” in the first cell of the third column. Ensure to replace “A1” with the first cell in column one and “B1” with the first cell in column two. Hit ENTER.

Step 4: Fill the Third Column

Once you’ve entered the formula in the first cell, you can pull the formula across the rest of the third column by clicking and dragging the bottom right corner of the cell to fill the third column with the combined data.

Combining columns into one can be a lifesaver when analyzing large amounts of data. Follow these simple steps to combine two columns in Excel, and you’ll be able to merge your data accurately and efficiently in just a few clicks.

Alternate Method: Using the Text to Columns Feature

If you have a column of data where the information you need is separated by delimiters such as commas or spaces, you can use the Text to Columns feature to split the data into several columns and then combine them. To do this, select the column you want to split and then go to the Data tab on the Excel ribbon. In the Data Tools group, click on Text to Columns, select the delimiter type, and then choose the destination cells for your split data. Finally, create a formula that concatenates all the split data into one cell or column.

Using CONCAT Function in Excel

If you’re using an Excel version later than 2019, you can also use the CONCAT function in place of the CONCATENATE function. The CONCAT function functions similarly to the CONCATENATE function, simplifying the formula but require all values to be in cells where you can’t manually add spaces. To use the CONCAT function, select the cell where you want to combine the data, and then enter the formula =CONCAT(A1,” “,B1) and press “Enter” to combine columns A and B in the selected cell.

Using Flash Fill to Combine Column Data

If the data in the columns you want to combine follows a consistent pattern, Excel Flash Fill can automate the process of data combining for you. Flash fill recognizes patterns and fills in data for you after only a few examples. To use Flash Fill, enter an example of the required output in the third column, and Excel automatically fills out the column by recognizing the pattern, saving you time in combining columns with a lot of data.

Excel offers a plethora of ways to combine data from different columns, and once you master these skills, you can automate the process, saving you time and headaches. With the above steps, you can quickly merge your data accurately and consistently.

FAQs

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions related to combining two columns in Excel:

Can I combine columns in Excel without losing data?

Yes, it’s possible to merge data from two columns into one without losing any data. When you use the CONCATENATE or “&” functions in Excel, the original columns remain intact, and you create an entirely new column that contains the merged data.

What do I do if some cells in my columns are empty?

If some cells in your columns are empty, you can still combine them. When you use the CONCATENATE or “&” functions in Excel, the resulting merged data will include any empty cells as spaces. Alternatively, you can use the IF function to check whether a cell is empty and only include data if it’s not.

What do I do if I have more than two columns I want to merge?

You can merge data from more than two columns in Excel. To do this, use either of the options you have with just two columns one after the other in the formula by adding in variables representing the locations of the cell data in these columns.

What if I want to combine columns of data where other information separates the values?

If you have delimiters like commas or spaces in your column data that will smooth your excel combine process , use the Text to Columns feature to split your data, and then merge it in a new column using the CONCATENATE or “&” function.

Do I need to use formulas to combine columns in Excel?

No, there are other ways to combine columns in Excel, such as copying and pasting the data from one column to another manually. However, this can be time-consuming and is not recommended if you have a large dataset. Using functions like CONCATENATE, & or merging with Fill Flash makes the combining of entire columns simpler and faster even with big data sets.