How to add quotes around text in Excel
Formula (Excel and Google Sheets)
=""""&A2&""""Use two double quotes for each quote mark you want: =""""&A2&"""". Or use CHAR(34), the quote character: =CHAR(34)&A2&CHAR(34).
- Result on the example
- one result per row in
B2, filled down toB6 - Works in
- Every current version
- Google Sheets
- Same formula
See it work
The formula is already in B2, filled down to B6. Change any input and the result updates, or edit the formula to experiment.
How it works
Inside a formula, text goes between quotes, and a quote mark inside text is written as two quotes. So """" is a piece of text that contains one quote mark: the outer two open and close it, the middle two are the quote. CHAR(34) returns the same character and is easier to read.
=""""&A2&""""Result""Desk lamp""
A2"Desk lamp"The value in A2.
""""&A2""Desk lamp"The & operator joins as text.
""""&A2&""""""Desk lamp""The & operator joins as text.
In Google Sheets
The same formula works in Google Sheets: =""""&A2&"""". We ran it in Google Sheets mode on the same data and it returns the same results.
Other ways to do it
Each one was run on the same example sheet.
| Formula | Result | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| =CHAR(34)&A2&CHAR(34) | "Desk lamp", "Office chair", "Monitor arm"… | CHAR(34) is the double quote character. Easier to read than four quotes. |
| ="'"&A2&"'" | 'Desk lamp', 'Office chair', 'Monitor arm'…Different result | Single quotes need no escaping. 'Desk lamp' instead of "Desk lamp". |
Common mistakes
- Three quotes in a row, like
"""&A2, is a syntax error. Count them: four for a quote on its own. - When you save as CSV, Excel doubles quote marks inside a value and wraps it in quotes again. Check the file in a text editor.
Try it yourself
Same data, empty answer cell. Your formula is graded instantly, then re-checked on changed data, so a typed-in number won't pass.
Add quotes around text
B2, wrap the product name in double quotes and fill down to B6.Questions
How do I put quotes in the middle of text?
Double each one: ="Size ""XL"" only" shows Size "XL" only.
How do I remove quotes from text?
Replace them with nothing: =SUBSTITUTE(A2,"""","").
Checked by running on 2026-10-30: every formula and result on this page was calculated by the Spreadsheet Practice formula engine, in both Excel and Google Sheets modes.