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RIGHT.

Returns the last 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.

RIGHT extracts a substring from the right 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 end (right edge) of a text cell.

Everyday Analogy

"Think of this like reading the last few letters of a filename to see if it is a photo (.png) or a document (.txt)."

Formula syntax.

Standard Excel Notation
=RIGHT(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 RIGHT 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 RIGHT to extract.

Default: 1

Simple example.

Step-by-Step Scenario

Extract File Extensions

Extract the last 3 characters of filenames in column A to identify file type extensions.

File NameSize (KB)Extension
report.pdf1240———
budget.xlsx450———
logo.png85———
Applied Formula
=RIGHT(A2, 3)
Expected Result:Calculated output

Evaluates RIGHT 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 RIGHT formula ready to paste directly into your worksheet.

Generated FormulaReady to copy
=RIGHT()

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

  • Use RIGHT to extract zip codes, phone suffixes, or file extensions from lists.
  • Just like LEFT, if num_chars exceeds text length, all text is returned.

Common Mistakes

  • RIGHT will count trailing spaces as characters. Use TRIM first if your data has trailing whitespace.
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 RIGHT 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: =RIGHT(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 RIGHT?↓

RIGHT will count trailing spaces as characters. Use TRIM first if your data has trailing whitespace.

Does RIGHT work identically in Google Sheets?↓

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