How to merge cells in Google Sheets
By the Analistable team · Updated · 2 min read
Select the cells and choose Format → Merge cells → Merge all (or Merge horizontally / Merge vertically), or click the merge icon in the toolbar. Google Sheets keeps only the top-left value. To keep everything, first combine the contents with =TEXTJOIN(" ", TRUE, A1:C1) or =A1&" "&B1, paste as values (Ctrl+Shift+V), then merge.
Part of our guide: How to merge cells, columns and text in Excel
Merge options
| Option | Result |
|---|---|
| Merge all | The whole selection becomes one cell |
| Merge horizontally | Each row of the selection becomes one cell |
| Merge vertically | Each column of the selection becomes one cell |
| Unmerge | Splits merged cells back into separate cells |
If more than one cell contains data, Sheets warns that only the top-left value will be kept.
Combine the contents first
- In an empty cell, enter
=TEXTJOIN(" ", TRUE, A1:C1). - Copy it and paste values only into A1 with Ctrl+Shift+V (Cmd+Shift+V on a Mac).
- Clear B1:C1, select A1:C1 and choose Format → Merge cells → Merge all.
For a whole column of rows at once: =ARRAYFORMULA(IF(A2:A="", , A2:A&" "&B2:B)). See CONCATENATE in Google Sheets for every joining function.
Problems with merged cells
- Sorting a range that contains vertically merged cells fails with an error until you unmerge them.
- Filters and formulas only see the value in the top-left cell.
- Copying data into a merged area can overwrite or split it unexpectedly.
For a header over several columns, a centred heading without merging is safer: put the text in the first cell and use horizontal alignment, or keep headers in a frozen row.
Example: merge a header without losing labels
| A1 | B1 | C1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Before | Q3 | Sales | Report |
| Formula in D1 | =TEXTJOIN(" ", TRUE, A1:C1) | ||
| After paste-values + Merge all | Q3 Sales Report (A1:C1 merged) |
Find and unmerge everything
Select the whole sheet (click the corner above row 1) and choose Format → Merge cells → Unmerge. Every merged range on the sheet is split, and the values stay in the top-left cells. To fill the empty cells below with the value above, use a helper column with =IF(A2="", B1, A2) and paste the result as values.
Merge in the Google Sheets app
On Android or iPhone, select the cells, tap the Format icon (the A with lines), open the Cell tab and switch on Merge cells. The same top-left rule applies.
Merge or wrap?
If the goal is just to fit long text, Format → Wrapping → Wrap and a wider column may be enough, without merging anything.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I merge cells in Google Sheets without losing data?
- Combine the values with TEXTJOIN or &, paste the result as values in the top-left cell, then merge.
- Is there a shortcut to merge cells in Google Sheets?
- There's no single default shortcut; use the merge icon in the toolbar or Format → Merge cells.
- Why can't I sort my Google Sheet?
- Vertically merged cells block sorting. Unmerge them first.