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How to add a prefix to every cell in a column in Excel and Google Sheets
Topic:Text manipulationExcel & Google Sheets
="ID-"&A2✓
Verified example
Computed by a real spreadsheet engine on the sample data below.
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="ID-"&A2→ID-1
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Step by step
- 1In the output column, type the prefix in quotes followed by & and the cell reference: ="ID-"&A2.
- 2Press Enter, then copy the formula down the column to apply it to all rows.
- 3If the prefix is stored in a fixed cell (e.g., D1), use an absolute reference: =$D$1&A2.
- 4To overwrite the original column in place, paste the formula results as values: copy the output, then Paste Special > Values Only over the original column.
- 5You can also use CONCAT: =CONCAT("ID-",A2) — both approaches produce identical results.
Tips
- To add a prefix only to non-empty cells, wrap with IF: =IF(A2<>"","ID-"&A2,"").
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Frequently asked
Can I add a prefix to a number without converting it to text?
The result will always be text. If you need the column to remain numeric, reconsider — prefixed numbers like 'ID-123' are inherently text strings.
What if different rows need different prefixes?
Store the per-row prefix in a helper column and reference it: =B2&A2 where B2 contains the prefix for that row.
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