Can I use AMPERSAND to combine more than 2 values?

No, AMPERSAND takes exactly 2 arguments. For 3+ values, use CONCAT() which accepts unlimited arguments, or nest multiple AMPERSAND calls: =AMPERSAND(AMPERSAND(A2, B2), C2). CONCAT is simpler for this scenario.

Does AMPERSAND automatically convert numbers and dates to text?

Yes, numbers and dates are automatically converted to text using your spreadsheet's locale default format. If you need custom formatting (e.g., currency, specific date layout), wrap the value in TEXT first: =AMPERSAND(A2, TEXT(C2, "$#,##0.00")).

What's the difference between AMPERSAND and the & operator?

AMPERSAND and & are functionally identical; both concatenate text. AMPERSAND is a function syntax that some prefer for clarity in complex formulas, while & is an infix operator. Choose whichever is more readable for your use case.

Does AMPERSAND work in Microsoft Excel?

No, AMPERSAND is exclusive to Google Sheets. Excel users should use CONCATENATE() or the & operator instead: =A2&B2 or =CONCATENATE(A2, B2) produce the same result.

AMPERSAND function

Combines two text values into a single string; use AMPERSAND to join customer names, plan types, or any text fragments into one field.

=AMPERSAND(text1, text2)

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Arguments

How AMPERSAND reads its arguments

Argument	Required	Description
text1	Required	The first text value to concatenate; accepts text, numbers, dates, or cell references. Numbers and dates convert to text using your locale's default format.
text2	Required	The second text value to concatenate; accepts text, numbers, dates, or cell references. Numbers and dates convert to text using your locale's default format.

Returns

Returns a text string containing text1 and text2 joined together in order.

Availability

Excel: Not available · Google Sheets: Supported

Worked examples

1. Create a customer-plan label for billing

Customer	Plan	MRR	Signup Date	Churn Date
Alice Johnson	Professional	99	2023-01-15
Bob Smith	Starter	29	2023-03-22	2024-06-10
Carol Davis	Enterprise	499	2022-11-08

=AMPERSAND(A2, " - Professional Plan")

Result: Alice Johnson - Professional Plan

AMPERSAND combines the customer name from A2 with a literal text string describing the plan. This creates a readable label suitable for billing reports or customer communication. The result shows how both arguments are joined without any automatic spacing.

2. Combine customer name with formatted MRR for a billing record

Customer	Plan	MRR	Signup Date	Churn Date
Alice Johnson	Professional	99	2023-01-15
Bob Smith	Starter	29	2023-03-22	2024-06-10
Carol Davis	Enterprise	499	2022-11-08

=AMPERSAND(A2, TEXT(C2, "' $'0.00'/mo'"))

Result: Alice Johnson $99.00/mo

The TEXT function formats the MRR value (99) as currency with two decimals and a monthly suffix. AMPERSAND then joins this formatted value with the customer name, creating a complete billing descriptor. This approach ensures consistent currency formatting while keeping the formula readable.

3. Create a monthly cohort label using signup date and customer

Customer	Plan	MRR	Signup Date	Churn Date
Alice Johnson	Professional	99	2023-01-15
Bob Smith	Starter	29	2023-03-22	2024-06-10
Carol Davis	Enterprise	499	2022-11-08

=AMPERSAND(TEXT(D2, "MMM YYYY"), " cohort: Alice Johnson")

Result: Jan 2023 cohort: Alice Johnson

TEXT converts the signup date into a month-year format (Jan 2023), which AMPERSAND joins with a descriptive label. This creates a cohort identifier useful for grouping customers by signup month in analytics reports. The combination of date formatting and text joining is common in retention and churn analysis.

Common errors

Which AMPERSAND error are you seeing?

Error	Why it happens	How to fix it
#N/A	One of the text arguments references a cell containing an #N/A error (e.g., from VLOOKUP or MATCH that found no match).	Use IFNA to replace missing values before concatenating: =AMPERSAND(IFNA(A2, "Unknown"), IFNA(B2, "Plan"))
#REF!	One of the cell references in the formula is broken, usually because a referenced column or row was deleted after the formula was created.	Verify that cells A2 and B2 exist and haven't been deleted. Rewrite the formula with correct cell references or use INDIRECT to create dynamic references.
#NULL!	A syntax error in specifying the cell range, such as using a full column reference (A:A) as an argument when AMPERSAND expects single values, not ranges.	Ensure both arguments are single cells or values, not ranges: use =AMPERSAND(A2, B2) instead of =AMPERSAND(A:A, B2)

Tips and when to use something else

AMPERSAND is functionally identical to the & operator (=A2&B2 equals =AMPERSAND(A2, B2)), but is more readable in complex formulas.
To combine more than 2 text values, use CONCAT (=CONCAT(A2, " - ", B2, " ($", C2, ")")) or nest AMPERSAND: =AMPERSAND(AMPERSAND(A2, B2), C2).
Always use TEXT() to format numbers and dates before concatenating if you need consistent formatting; raw numbers and dates convert using your locale's default format, which may be unpredictable across regions.
If you need conditional text joining, use IF or SWITCH before AMPERSAND: =IF(E2="", AMPERSAND(A2, " (active)"), AMPERSAND(A2, " (churned)"))

Related functions

CONCATCONCAT joins two or more text strings into one continuous string, automatically coercing numbers and dates to text without a delimiter.CONCATENATECONCATENATE joins several text strings into one continuous string, in the order the arguments are supplied, and returns it as a single text value.TEXTTEXT converts a numeric, date, or time value into a formatted text string based on a custom format pattern you supply.IFThe IF function returns one value if a condition is true and another (or nothing) if it is false, letting you branch logic in a cell.XLOOKUPXLOOKUP returns the value from a specified return array that corresponds to a given lookup value, with optional handling for missing matches and search direction.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use AMPERSAND to combine more than 2 values?: No, AMPERSAND takes exactly 2 arguments. For 3+ values, use CONCAT() which accepts unlimited arguments, or nest multiple AMPERSAND calls: =AMPERSAND(AMPERSAND(A2, B2), C2). CONCAT is simpler for this scenario.
Does AMPERSAND automatically convert numbers and dates to text?: Yes, numbers and dates are automatically converted to text using your spreadsheet's locale default format. If you need custom formatting (e.g., currency, specific date layout), wrap the value in TEXT first: =AMPERSAND(A2, TEXT(C2, "$#,##0.00")).
What's the difference between AMPERSAND and the & operator?: AMPERSAND and & are functionally identical; both concatenate text. AMPERSAND is a function syntax that some prefer for clarity in complex formulas, while & is an infix operator. Choose whichever is more readable for your use case.
Does AMPERSAND work in Microsoft Excel?: No, AMPERSAND is exclusive to Google Sheets. Excel users should use CONCATENATE() or the & operator instead: =A2&B2 or =CONCATENATE(A2, B2) produce the same result.

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Reviewed 2026-09-17