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LEFT.

Returns the first character or characters in a text string, based on the number of characters you specify.

SyntaxArgumentsExampleInteractive SandboxGeneratorCompatibilityFAQRelatedCheat Sheet
Category: Text & Manipulation
ExcelExcel 365Excel 2021Excel 2019Google Sheets

How it works.

LEFT extracts a substring from the left side of a text string based on a specified number of characters. If num_chars is omitted, it defaults to 1.

💡 In simple terms.

Extracts a specific number of characters starting from the very beginning (left edge) of a text cell.

Everyday Analogy

"Think of this like cutting off the first few letters of a word starting from the left side."

Formula syntax.

Standard Excel Notation
=LEFT(text, [num_chars])
Tip:Arguments wrapped in square brackets [like_this] are optional; all other arguments are required.

Formula arguments.

Every parameter accepted by the LEFT function is detailed below.

textRequired

The text string that contains the characters you want to extract.

Example value: A2
num_charsOptional

Specifies the number of characters you want LEFT to extract. Must be greater than or equal to zero.

Default: 1

Simple example.

Step-by-Step Scenario

Extract Country Codes

Extract the first 3 characters representing the country/area code from the phone numbers in column A.

Phone NumberFull NameCountry Code
+1-206-555John———
+44-20-794Sarah———
+91-982-12Raj———
Applied Formula
=LEFT(A2, 3)
Expected Result:Calculated output

Evaluates LEFT over the sample table cells, placing the verified output in cell C2:C6.

Formula generator.

Full Generator Wizard

Customize the argument fields below to generate a tailored LEFT formula ready to paste directly into your worksheet.

Generated FormulaReady to copy
=LEFT()

Expected result behavior.

Returns "Calculated output" based on sample evaluation criteria and active cell references.

Sample Output:Calculated output
Output Type:Text String

Best Practices

  • Combine LEFT with FIND to extract all characters before a specific character (like a space or hyphen).
  • If num_chars is greater than the length of text, LEFT returns all of text.

Common Mistakes

  • If num_chars is negative, LEFT returns a #VALUE! error.
Compatibility Database

Platform & version compatibility.

Verified platform compatibility matrix based on actual spreadsheet calculation engine specifications.

Excel✓
Supported
Excel 365✓
Supported
Excel 2021✓
Supported
Excel 2019✓
Supported
Google Sheets✓
Supported
Microsoft Excel History & Version Availability

Core standard function supported across all modern and legacy Microsoft Excel versions (365, 2021, 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010), as well as Excel for the Web and Mac.

Google Sheets Compatibility Notes

100% compatible with Google Sheets. Uses identical argument order, data types, and standard calculation logic.

Frequently asked questions.

Technical Q&A
Can I use LEFT across different worksheets in Excel?↓

Yes. You can reference cells located on other sheets by including the sheet name followed by an exclamation mark, for example: =LEFT(Sheet2!A2:A10). If the sheet name contains spaces, enclose it in single quotes: ='Q1 Report'!A2:A10.

What is the most common reason for errors in LEFT?↓

If num_chars is negative, LEFT returns a #VALUE! error.

Does LEFT work identically in Google Sheets?↓

Yes, LEFT is supported in both Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets with standard evaluation behavior.