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How to merge columns but not merging rows in Excel?

Author Siluvia Last modified

In some cases, you may select a range and only need to merge cells in each row (merge columns) but not merging rows in Excel as below screenshot shown. This article will show you how to achieve it with formula as well as useful add-in.

merge columns but not merging rows

Merge columns but not merging rows with formula
Easily merge columns but not merging rows with Kutools for Excel

Merge columns but not merging rows with formula

You can merge columns but not merging rows with the following given formula.

1. Select a blank cell for placing the combined cell, then enter formula =CONCATENATE(A2," ",B2," ",C2," ",D2) into the Formula Bar, and then press the Enter key. See screenshot:

apply a formula to merge columns

Notes:

1). This formula will separate each value by space. If you need to separate the combined value with comma or other separator, please change the “ “ to “,” or other separator you need.
2). The original formatted value such as date format cell won’t be kept after combining with this formula.

2. Keep selecting the first result cell, then drag the Fill Handle to get all combined values as below screenshot shown.

drag and fill the formula to other cells

Merge columns but not merging rows with Kutools for Excel

If you want to merge all cells in each row of a selected range at once, you can try the Combine utility of Kutools for Excel. Please do as follows.

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1. Select the range of cells containing the values you need to merge, and expand the selection to the right blank column to output the final merged values. Then click Kutools > Merge & Split > Combine Rows, Columns or Cells withut Losing Data.

click Combine Rows, Columns or Cells withut Losing Data feature of kutools

2. In the Combine Columns or Rows dialog box, you need to:

2.1 Select Combine columns option in the To combine selected cells according to following options section;
2.2 Select a separator for separating the combined values in the Specify a separator section;
2.3 Select Right cell option in the Place the results to drop-down list;
2.4 Select Keep contents of combined cells option in the Options section;
2.5 Click the OK button. See screenshot:

specify options in the dialog box

Note: If you need to keep the original formatted values after combination such as date format value, please check the Use formatting values box.

Then only columns are merged in selected range as below screenshot shown.

only columns are merged in selected range

  If you want to have a free trial (30-day) of this utility, please click to download it, and then go to apply the operation according above steps.

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