LEFT Formula Generator (2026) — Extract First Characters | Free Excel & Sheets

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

Generated Formula
=LEFT(text, 1)

Learning Resources

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Common Errors & Fixes

  • LEFT returns fewer characters than expected

    Causes:
    • The cell contains extra spaces at the beginning (leading spaces).
    • Non-printing characters exist before the visible text.
    Fixes:
    • Use TRIM(A1) to remove leading spaces.
    • Use CLEAN(A1) to remove non-printable characters before using LEFT.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does LEFT return if num_chars is omitted?

LEFT returns just the first character by default. So LEFT(A1) is the same as LEFT(A1, 1).

What happens if num_chars is more than the text length?

LEFT returns the entire text string. For example, LEFT("Hello", 10) returns "Hello" without any errors.

Does LEFT work in Google Sheets?

Yes, LEFT works identically in Google Sheets with the same syntax.

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CONCATENATETRIMUPPERLOWERPROPER

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