# How to split text into columns in Google Sheets

Use SPLIT with the separator: `=SPLIT(A2,", ",FALSE)` puts each part of A2 in its own column. FALSE makes ", " count as one separator.

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

**Excel:** In Excel 2024 or Microsoft 365, use TEXTSPLIT: `=TEXTSPLIT(A2,", ")`. In older versions, use Data > Text to Columns.

## Example

Sample data (row 1 is the header):

| A | B | C | D |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Address | City | State | ZIP |
| Austin, TX, 78701 |  |  |  |
| Denver, CO, 80202 |  |  |  |
| Boston, MA, 02108 |  |  |  |
| Seattle, WA, 98101 |  |  |  |
| Miami, FL, 33131 |  |  |  |

Formula in B2, filled to B6: `=SPLIT(A2,", ",FALSE)`

Result: Austin; Denver; Boston; Seattle; Miami

## How it works

SPLIT breaks the text at the separator and spills the pieces to the right, so B2 holds the city and C2 and D2 fill in by themselves. By default SPLIT treats every character of the separator as a separator of its own, which would also split at each space; FALSE as the third argument makes it split only at the full ", ".

## Other ways

- `=TEXTSPLIT(A2,", ")`: The Excel version. TEXTSPLIT treats the whole separator as one unit by default.

## Common mistakes

- SPLIT turns pieces that look like numbers into numbers, so Boston's ZIP 02108 becomes 2108. Pull such pieces out with REGEXEXTRACT, which keeps text: `=REGEXEXTRACT(A2,"\d{5}$")`.
- Without FALSE, `SPLIT(A2,", ")` also splits "San Jose" into two cells.
- The cells to the right must be empty, or SPLIT shows #REF!.

## Questions

**How do I split a whole column with one formula?**

Wrap it in ARRAYFORMULA: `=ARRAYFORMULA(SPLIT(A2:A6,", ",FALSE))`.

**How do I split without a formula?**

Select the column and use Data > Split text to columns. The result doesn't update.

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-text-into-columns