What does it do?


Formula breakdown:

=RIGHT(text, [num_chars])

What it means:

=RIGHT(look in this cell, extract X characters)

There are times when you will need to extract the last few characters of text within a cell, e.g. From a serial number, part number, name, address etc.

The RIGHT formula in Excel can help you parse and extract the needed text easily.

In our example below, we have an address which has a zip code at the end (the zip code is fixed at 5 characters long) and we want to extract all of the zip codes in our address list.



STEP 1: We need to enter the Right function next to the cell that we want to extract the data from:



STEP 2: The Right arguments:


Which text do we want to extract the last X characters from?

Reference the cell that contains the text or value:


Right 01


How many characters from the right do we want to extract from cell C9?

Enter a positive number only:

=RIGHT(C9, 5)

Right 02


STEP 3: Do the same for the rest of the cells by dragging the RIGHT formula all the way down using the left mouse button.

Notice all of the last 5 characters in each text are now extracted:

Right 03








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