Excel MID Function
Summary
The Excel MID function extracts a given number of characters from the middle of a supplied text string. For example, =MID("apple",2,3) returns "ppl".
Purpose
Extract text from inside a string
Return value
The characters extracted.
Syntax
=MID (text, start_num, num_chars)
Arguments
- text - The text to extract from.
- start_num - The location of the first character to extract.
- num_chars - The number of characters to extract.
Usage notes
- MID returns a specific number of characters from a text string, starting at start_num and continuing through start_num + num_chars.
- Use the MID function when you want to extract text from inside a text string, based on location and length.
- Use FIND or SEARCH to locate start_sum when you don't know the location in advance.
MID formula examples
If you need to get the middle name from a full name, and you already have the first and last names in separate cells, you can use a formula that extracts the middle name using the MID and LEN functions, with help from...
To split text at an arbitrary delimiter (comma, space, pipe, etc.) you can use a formula based on the TRIM, MID, SUBSTITUTE, REPT, and LEN functions. In the example shown, the formula in C5 is:
=TRIM(MID(SUBSTITUTE($...
To convert text in an unrecognized date format to a proper Excel date, you can parse the text and assemble a proper date with a formula based on several functions: DATE, LEFT, MID, and RIGHT.
Note: Before you go the...
To extract the last two words from a cell, you can use a formula built with several Excel functions, including MID, FIND, SUBSTITUTE, and LEN. In the example shown, the formula in C5 is:
=MID(B5,FIND("@",...
If you want to get the sheet name only (i.e. the sheet name without the file name or path) you can do so with rather long formula that uses the MID function along with the FIND function. The final result will look...
To extract a word that contains specific text,you can use a formula based on several functions, including TRIM, LEFT, SUBSTITUTE, MID, MAX, and REPT. You can use this formula to extract things like email addresses, or...
To convert dates in text format dd/mm/yy to a true date in mm/dd/yy format, you can use uses a formula based on the DATE function. In the example shown, the formula in C5 is:
=DATE(RIGHT(B5,2)+2000,MID(B5,4,2),LEFT(B5...
To extract lines from a multi-line cell, you can use a clever (and intimidating) formula that combines 5 Excel functions: TRIM, MID, SUBSTITUTE, REPT, and LEN.
In the example shown, the formula in D5 is:
=TRIM(MID(...
To highlight numbers less than a certain value, including numbers entered as text like "
To count numbers where the third digit equals 3, you can use a formula based on the SUMPRODUCT and MID functions. In the example shown, the formula in E5 is:
=SUMPRODUCT(--(MID(B5:B12,3,1)="3"))
How this...
To remove the protocol (i.e. http://, ftp://, etc.) and trailing slash from a URL, you can use a formual based on the MID, FIND, and LEN functions. In the example shown, the formula in C5 is:
=MID(B5,FIND("//...
To split dimensions that like 100x50x25 into three separate parts, you can use some rather complicated formulas that use LEFT, MID, RIGHT, FIND, LEN, and SUBSTITUTE.
Note: you can also use Flash Fill in Excel 2013 and...
To strip html or other markup from values in cells, you can use the MID function.
In the example shown, the formula in C5 is:
=MID(B5,4,LEN(B5)-7)
How this formula works
The MID function returns characters using a...
To remove numeric characters from a text string, you can try this experimental formula based on the TEXTJOIN function, new in Excel 2016. In the example shown, the formula in C5 is:
=TEXTJOIN("",TRUE,IF(...
If you want to get the workbook name only (i.e. the file name without path or sheet name) you can do so with a rather long formula that uses the MID function along with the FIND function. The final result will look...
Related functions
