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How to repeat a character N times in Excel and Google Sheets
Topic:Text manipulationExcel & Google Sheets
=REPT("-",B2)✓
Verified example
Computed by a real spreadsheet engine on the sample data below.
| Label | Count |
| Stars | 3 |
| Dashes | 5 |
| Dots | 4 |
| Equals | 2 |
=REPT("-",B2)→---
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Step by step
- 1Click the cell where you want the repeated characters.
- 2Type =REPT( then enter the character or string in quotes, e.g., "-" or "*".
- 3Add a comma, then enter the number of repetitions — either a number directly or a cell reference.
- 4Close the parenthesis and press Enter.
- 5Example: =REPT("*",5) produces "*****" and =REPT("=-",3) produces "=-=-=-=-=-".
Tips
- Combine with LEN to pad strings to a fixed width: =A2&REPT(" ",20-LEN(A2)) right-pads the value in A2 to 20 characters.
Need it for your exact data?
Describe your columns in plain English and get the precise formula for your sheet, with the right Excel or Sheets syntax.
Frequently asked
What is the maximum number of repetitions?
Excel allows up to 32,767 characters in a cell, so the repeat count multiplied by the character length must stay within that limit.
Can I repeat an entire word or phrase?
Yes — REPT works with any text, so =REPT("ha",3) returns 'hahaha'.
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