How to merge cells in Excel (and unmerge them)
How to merge and center cells in Excel, how to unmerge them, how to combine text from several cells without losing data, and the Center Across Selection option.
Quick answer
Select the cells and click Merge & Center on the Home tab. Note that merging keeps only the value in the upper-left cell. To combine text from several cells without losing it, use =CONCAT(A2," ",B2) or the & operator. To unmerge, choose Unmerge Cells from the same menu.
Key takeaways
- Home > Merge & Center joins several cells into one.
- Only the upper-left cell's value is kept.
- To join text without losing it, use CONCAT or &.
- Center Across Selection looks the same without breaking sorting or filtering.
Merging cells is useful for titles and headers that span several columns. But use it with care.
Merge & Center
- Select the cells (for example, A1 to D1).
- Go to Home > Alignment group > Merge & Center.
- If the cells had data, Excel warns that only the upper-left value will be kept.
The drop-down menu has more options:
| Option | What it does |
|---|---|
| Merge & Center | Joins cells and centers the content |
| Merge Across | Merges each row separately |
| Merge Cells | Joins without centering |
| Unmerge Cells | Undoes the merge |
Combine text from several cells without losing it
If A2 has “Ana” and B2 has “Lopez”:
=CONCAT(A2,” “,B2) → Ana Lopez
or with the & operator:
=A2&” “&B2
Then copy and paste as values if you only want to keep the text.
A better alternative: Center Across Selection
For titles across several columns, without the downsides of merging:
- Select the cells.
- Press Ctrl + 1 > Alignment tab.
- Under Horizontal, choose Center Across Selection.
It looks the same as merging, but you can sort, filter and copy without errors.
Next step: learn the basic Excel formulas.
Frequently asked questions
Why does merging cells delete my data?
Merging doesn't combine text; it keeps only the upper-left cell's content. Join the text with a formula first, then merge if you still need to.
How do I unmerge cells?
Select the merged cell and on Home > Merge & Center choose Unmerge Cells.
Why can't I sort my table?
Merged cells inside a table prevent sorting and filtering. Unmerge them or use Center Across Selection for headings.
Sources
- Merge and unmerge cells Microsoft Support
This article is general and educational; it is not personalized financial, legal or tax advice. Financial product terms change: always confirm current terms with the institution.