How to Use the REPT Function in Excel

Today, we’ll explore the REPT function, an exceptionally versatile tool available in both Excel and Google Sheets. The REPT function enables you to repeat text a specified number of times and is incredibly useful for displaying patterns or creating visual elements like borders and separators in your spreadsheets.

Basic Syntax

The REPT function has a straightforward syntax:

REPT(text, number_times)

• text: The text segment that you want to repeat.
• number_times: The number of times to repeat the text.

Example 1: Repeating Text

For instance, to repeat the word “Hello” 3 times, the appropriate formula is:

=REPT("Hello", 3)

This formula returns: “HelloHelloHello”.

Example 2: Creating Borders

The REPT function can also be used to create textual borders. For example, to frame the word “Data” with asterisks, you might use:

=REPT("*", 5) & "Data" & REPT("*", 5)

This results in: “*****Data*****”.

Example 3: Creating Visual Separators

To visually separate items in a list using dashes, you could employ the REPT function as follows:

=A1 & REPT("-", 20-LEN(A1))

This formula appends a series of dashes after the text in cell A1, ensuring the total length reaches 20 characters.

Comparison between Excel and Google Sheets

The functionality of the REPT function is consistent across both Excel and Google Sheets, with identical syntax and application methods in both environments.

Equipped with knowledge of the REPT function, you can enhance your spreadsheets by efficiently repeating text and crafting structured visual elements.

More information: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/rept-function-04c4d778-e712-43b4-9c15-d656582bb061