Text Manipulationbeginner
Extract the first N characters with LEFT
=LEFT(A2,3)
Function reference
LEFT in Excel & Google Sheets
LEFT is used in 1 formula pattern in this library. Browse worked examples below, or use the generator to build a custom variation for your specific data.
1 beginnerBuild a custom LEFT formula →
When to use LEFT
- Extract a two-letter country code, a department prefix, or the first word from a product code column.
Worked examples (1)
Common errors with LEFT
Returns more characters than expected
Double-check the second argument. LEFT counts from the leftmost character, so LEFT(A2,3) returns exactly 3 characters.
Returns a number instead of text
If the source cell is formatted as a number, wrap it in TEXT first — for example, LEFT(TEXT(A2,"000000"),3).
Frequently asked questions
How do I extract a variable-length prefix before a delimiter?
Combine LEFT with FIND — for example, =LEFT(A2,FIND("-",A2)-1) extracts everything before the first hyphen.
Need a custom variation?
Describe your specific LEFT problem and get a formula written for your exact data.
Open generator with LEFT