Google Sheets function
LEFT function in Google Sheets
LEFT in Google Sheets returns a specified number of characters from the beginning of a text string. When the character count is omitted, it returns one character. Use LEFT to extract fixed prefixes such as department codes, invoice markers, or area abbreviations.
Source: Google Docs Editors HelpLast verified Nov 5, 2026
Syntax
=LEFT(string, [number_of_characters])Arguments
| Argument | Required | What it means |
|---|---|---|
string | Yes | The text whose first characters should be returned. |
number_of_characters | No | The number of characters to return. The default is 1. |
Examples
Extract an invoice prefix
| A | |
|---|---|
| 1 | Invoice |
| 2 | INV-2048 |
=LEFT(A2,3)Result: INV
LEFT returns the first three characters from the invoice identifier.
Common mistakes
Using a negative character count.
Use zero or a positive number for number_of_characters.
Expecting LEFT to begin in the middle of a string.
Use MID when extraction must start after the first character.