How to Use REPLACE Function in Google Sheets

In this article, you will learn how to utilize the REPLACE formula in Google Sheets. The REPLACE function is beneficial when you want to substitute a part of the text with a different text.

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How to Use REPLACE formula in Google Sheets

1. Type “=REPLACE” or navigate to the “Insert” tab (or “Functions” icon) → “Function” → “TEXT” → “REPLACE”.
2. Select the text whose part you want to substitute with another text string.
3. Define where the modification starts (“position”), how many letters (or numbers) you need to replace (“length”), and what the substitute text is (“new_text”).
4. Press the “Enter” key.

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The general syntax is as follows:

=REPLACE(text, position, length, new_text)

Text: This a text or value whose part is to be replaced with the “new_text”.

Position: This must be a positive number. This number determines where the replacement starts in the “text”.

Length: This also must be a positive number. This defines how many letters will be substituted from the “position”.

New_text: This is a text that takes the place of the specific length of text determined by “text” and “position” inputs.

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As you can see from the examples in the picture below, you can substitute not only letters or marks but also numbers. If you want a number as an outcome of this formula, you can use the VALUE formula. You can combine the VALUE and REPLACE functions as follows: “=VALUE(REPLACE(B5,3,3,123))”. Furthermore, you can replace the entire text as shown in the fourth example (“LF”→“LiveFlow”).

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How do you find and replace a value?

If you need to find a value in the first place, you can use Google Sheets’ Find and Replace functions. Read this article to learn how to use them.

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Is there a way to replace all functions in Google Sheets?

The Find and Replace can also allow you to search cells for a function and replace them with a different formula. Check this article to learn how to use them.

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What are the other tips or formulas on text in Google Sheets?

Check the following articles if you are interested in formatting text in cells.
How to Make Text Bold, Italic, and Strikethrough in Google Sheets
How to Align Text in Google Sheets
How to Wrap Text in Cell in Google Sheets
How to Rotate Text in Google Sheets
How to Change Default Font in Google Sheets
How to Indent Texts in Google Sheets: Explained
‍‍How to Capitalize the First Letter in Google Sheets
‍How to Capitalize All Letters in Google Sheets
How to Make All Letters Lowercase in Google Sheets
TEXT Function in Google Sheets: Explained

Do you want to learn how to combine or split text in Google Sheets?
How to Combine Texts in Google Sheets
CONCAT Function in Google Sheets: Explained
How to Use the CONCATENATE function in Google Sheets
How to Split Texts into Columns in Google Sheets
How to Use SPLIT Function in Google Sheets
CHAR Function in Google Sheets: Explained

Do you want to know where a specify character or word is in a text string?
LEFT Function in Google Sheets: Explained
How to Use RIGHT Function in Google Sheets
SEARCH Function in Google Sheets: Explained
FIND Function in Google Sheets: Explained

Do you need to replace a part of text with another characters or words?
SUBSTITUTE Function in Google Sheets: Explained

Do you like to show a formulae in a cell?
How to Use FORMULATEXT Function in Google Sheets

This function is useful when you need to count the number of characters in a text string.
LEN Function in Google Sheets: Explained

Why don’t you double-check the spelling of your texts or cleaning up extra spaces before printing or closing Google Sheets?
How to Spell-check in Google Sheets
How to Trim Whitespaces in Google Sheets

You can repeat the same text string with this formula.
REPT Function in Google Sheets: Explained

You can learn about other Google Sheets formulas and tips that are not mentioned here on this page: LiveFlow‘s How to Guides

Analyze your live financial data in a snap

Are you learning this formula to visualize financial data, build a financial model, or conduct financial analysis? In that case, LiveFlow may help you automate manual workflows and update numbers in real-time. You can access various financial templates on our website, from the simple Income Statement to Multi-Currency Consolidated Financial Statement. You can also customize these templates as you want without breaking the automated data inflow.

To learn more about LiveFlow, book a demo.