MID Function in Excel: Extract Text from Middle of Strings

Returns a specific number of characters from a text string, starting at the position you specify.

Generated Formula
=MID(A1, 3, 5)

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How to Use the MID Function in Excel

The MID function returns a specific number of characters from a text string, starting at the position you specify.

Syntax

=MID(text, start_num, num_chars)

Example

To extract the 4-digit year from ID code "PROJ-2026-US": =MID(A2, 6, 4) returns "2026".

Common Errors & Fixes

  • #VALUE! error or wrong result

    Causes:
    • start_num is less than 1.
    • num_chars is negative.
    • The text is shorter than the start position.
    Fixes:
    • Ensure start_num is at least 1.
    • Use a positive number for num_chars.
    • Check the actual length of the text string first with LEN.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if start_num is negative or zero?

MID returns a #VALUE! error if start_num is less than 1. Always start from position 1 or higher.

What if start_num is beyond the text length?

MID returns an empty string ("") if start_num exceeds the total length of the text.

How do I extract text between two characters?

Combine MID with FIND: =MID(A1, FIND("(", A1)+1, FIND(")", A1)-FIND("(", A1)-1) extracts text between parentheses.

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