Text

SUBSTITUTE function

Replace text. SUBSTITUTE works in Sheets with the usual arguments and results, on cells and on live data from the tools you connect.

Syntax

=SUBSTITUTE(text, old_text, new_text, [instance])
ArgumentUse
textrequired
old_textrequired
new_textrequired
instanceoptional

Example

Replace part of a text.

fx=SUBSTITUTE(A2, "#", "INV-")
ABCDEF
1OrderCustomerRegionStatusAmountDate
2#1001Acme LtdNorthPaid12002026-01-14
3#1002Blue FoxSouthOpen4502026-01-20
4#1003Acme LtdNorthPaid9802026-02-03
5#1004Cedar & CoEastOverdue23002026-02-11
6#1005Blue FoxSouthPaid6102026-03-02
7#1006Delta BVWestOpen17502026-03-09
8INV-1001

Result computed by the Sheets formula engine.

On live data

In Sheets, SUBSTITUTE sits next to live data from a connected tool: =data.orders.sum(total) totals a table, =list.orders(customer) spills a column's distinct values, and a linked table column such as table.orders[Total] is a range any function accepts.

See the integrations

More text functions

All 48 text functions →

Spreadsheet formulas on live business data

Sheets evaluates 491 spreadsheet functions, on cells and on data read live from your tools.