SPLIT in Google Sheets, Divide One Cell
By Szabó Gergő · Updated
SPLIT writes each piece into the next empty column. Protect those columns or wrap with INDEX if you only need one piece.
Syntax and arguments
=SPLIT(text, delimiter, [split_by_each], [remove_empty_text])- text
- Source string.
- delimiter
- Character or string that marks the cut.
- split_by_each
- TRUE treats each character in delimiter as a cut.
- remove_empty_text
- TRUE drops empty pieces. FALSE keeps them.
SPLIT examples
Full name in A2.
=SPLIT(A2," ")Writes two columns. Wrap with INDEX(...,1) for the first name only.
A comma list in A2.
=SPLIT(A2,",")Turns a comma list into adjacent cells.
Pipes with blanks.
=SPLIT(A2,"|",TRUE,FALSE)Keeps blank pieces when two pipes sit next to each other.
Common mistakes
Overwriting the next columns
SPLIT spills right. Clear neighbors or take INDEX(SPLIT(...),1,2).
Splitting a whole column without ARRAYFORMULA
ARRAYFORMULA(SPLIT(A2:A,"-")) works when every row has the same number of pieces.
Using Excel TEXTSPLIT syntax
Sheets uses SPLIT. TEXTSPLIT is Excel 365.
SPLIT FAQ
How do I keep only the second piece?
Use INDEX(SPLIT(A2,","),1,2) or REGEXEXTRACT if the pattern is clearer.
Does SPLIT spill like Excel TEXTSPLIT?
Yes. It writes across columns. Empty neighbors get overwritten.
Can I split a whole column?
ARRAYFORMULA(SPLIT(A2:A,"-")) works when every row has the same number of pieces.