Home › Functions › Text › =REPLACE()
Text All versions ◉ 13 views

=REPLACE()

REPLACE replaces part of a text string, based on the number of characters you specify, with a different text string.

Applies To: Excel for Microsoft 365Excel for Microsoft 365 for MacExcel 2024Excel 2024 for MacExcel 2021Excel 2021 for MacExcel 2019Excel 2016
=REPLACE(old_text, start_num, num_chars, new_text)
Hover argument names in the table for details.
Output typeText
Popularity50 / 100
VolatileNo
Dynamic ArrayNo
📥 Download sample .xlsx — Coming soon ▦ Try in Playground Dedicated file for this function — safe & lightweight · sample data + live formulas
Share:

⬇ Download Sample Workbook

A dedicated .xlsx for =REPLACE() with Persian sample data & live formulas — open in Excel and practice.

  • Sheet “Sample” — data table + formula in place
  • Sheet “Guide” — syntax, arguments & tips from this page
  • Instant & secure (token + rate limit)
📥 Download REPLACE.xlsx — Coming soon ~ 8–12 KB · No macros

⇪ Share

Send this function to friends

🧠 🧠 Quiz this function

%d questions — syntax, example & errors — test yourself!

◧ Arguments

ArgumentTypeRequiredDescription
old_text Text Required Text in which you want to replace some characters.
start_num Number Required The position of the character in old_text that you want to replace with new_text.
num_chars Number Required The number of characters in old_text that you want REPLACE to replace with new_text.
new_text Text Required The text that will replace characters in old_text.

▣ Examples

▦ Data
CellValue
A2 abcdefghijk
A3 2009
A4 123456
A5 abcdefghijk
A6 2009
A7 123456
Replaces five characters in abcdefghijk with a single * character, starting with the sixth character (f). =REPLACE(A2,6,5,"*")
Result: abcde*k
Replaces the last two digits (09) of 2009 with 10. =REPLACE(A3,3,2,"10")
Result: 2010
Replaces the first three characters of 123456 with a single @ character. =REPLACE(A4,1,3,"@")
Result: @456

✦ Tips

  • The REPLACEB function is deprecated. In workbooks set to Compatibility Version 2, REPLACE has improved behavior with Surrogate Pairs, counting them as one character instead of two. Variation Selectors (commonly used with emojis) will still be counted as separate characters. For more information, see The Unicode standard.

⇄ Related Functions

=SEARCH() The SEARCH function locate one text string within a second text string, and return the number of the starting position of the first text string from the first character of the second text string. For example, to find the position of the letter "n" in the word "printer", you can use the following function: =SEARCH("n","printer") This function returns 4 because "n" is the fourth character in the word "printer." You can also search for words within other words. For example, the function =SEARCH("base","database") returns 5, because the word "base" begins at the fifth character of the word "database". You can use the SEARCH to determine the location of a character or text string within another text string, and then use the MID to return the text, or use the REPLACE to change the text. These functions are demonstrated in Example 1 in this article. =VALUE() Converts a text string that represents a number to a number. =SUBSTITUTE() Substitutes new_text for old_text in a text string. Use SUBSTITUTE when you want to replace specific text in a text string; use REPLACE when you want to replace any text that occurs in a specific location in a text string.

💬 Comments & Q&A 0 approved

🔒 Your comment will be published after review.

Share your thoughts — visible after admin approval

No comments yet — be the first!

✍️ Add comment / question

captcha
🔒 Your comment will be published after review.