Should I use FIND or SPLIT to cut text in Google Sheets?

Use SPLIT when you want the parts in separate cells. Use FIND when you need the position of a character inside a larger formula.

Google Sheets function

FIND in Google Sheets

Google Sheets has SPLIT, which cuts text at a delimiter into separate cells and often replaces a FIND and MID combination.

FIND(find_text, within_text, [start_num])

FIND is case-sensitive; SEARCH is not.

For a fuller explanation of the arguments and common errors, see the FIND Excel guide.

	A
1	Email
2	[email protected]

Formula: C2: =FIND("@",A2)

Result: 4

The @ is the fourth character.

	A
1	Text
2	banana

Formula: C2: =FIND("B",A2)

Result: #VALUE!

The text starts with a lowercase b, so the capital B is not found and FIND returns an error.

	A
1	Code
2	EU-2024-0087

Formula: C2: =FIND("-",A2,FIND("-",A2)+1)

Result: 8

The inner FIND gives 3; starting the outer search at 4 finds the dash at position 8.

A tiny spreadsheet with example data. Edit the formula or any number and see the result.

Formula in D2: =FIND("@",A3)

Result in D2: 6

Should I use FIND or SPLIT to cut text in Google Sheets?: Use SPLIT when you want the parts in separate cells. Use FIND when you need the position of a character inside a larger formula.

Google Sheets is used here only as a descriptive product name. FormulaCamp is not affiliated with Google.