# How to split comma-separated values into rows in Excel

Use TEXTSPLIT with the delimiter as its third argument, the row delimiter: `=TEXTSPLIT(A2,,", ")`.

**Excel:** `=TEXTSPLIT(A2,,", ")` (Excel 2024 and Microsoft 365)

**Google Sheets:** `=TRANSPOSE(SPLIT(A2,", ",FALSE))`

## Example

Sample data (row 1 is the header):

| A | B | C |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Attendees |  | One per row |
| Ana Ruiz, Raj Patel, Lee Chen, Kim Ortiz, Mo Diaz |  |  |

Formula in C2: `=TEXTSPLIT(A2,,", ")`

Result (spills 5 × 1): Ana Ruiz; Raj Patel; Lee Chen; Kim Ortiz; Mo Diaz

## How it works

TEXTSPLIT's second argument splits into columns and its third into rows. Leaving the second empty and giving the third `", "` puts each name on its own row. Including the space in the delimiter means no name starts with a space.

Google Sheets has SPLIT, which splits across, so TRANSPOSE turns the row into a column. FALSE makes SPLIT treat ", " as one delimiter instead of splitting at every space too.

## Other ways

- `=TEXTSPLIT(A2,", ")`: With the delimiter as the second argument, the names go across one row instead. (One row of five names.)

## Common mistakes

- If some entries are separated by "," and others by ", ", split at the comma and TRIM the pieces: `=TRIM(TEXTSPLIT(A2,,","))`.
- TEXTSPLIT needs Excel 2024 or Microsoft 365. In older versions, use Data > Text to Columns and then Paste Special > Transpose.

## Questions

**How do I split a whole column of lists into one list?**

Join the column first, then split: `=TEXTSPLIT(TEXTJOIN(", ",TRUE,A2:A6),,", ")`.

**How do I split by more than one delimiter?**

Give TEXTSPLIT an array of delimiters: `=TEXTSPLIT(A2,,{",",";"})`.

Every formula and result on this page was checked by running it in the Spreadsheet Practice formula engine on 2026-10-30.

Source: https://spreadsheetpractice.com/formulas/split-comma-separated-values-into-rows