MS Excel: REPT function to repeat text string number of times

The REPT function in Excel is used to repeat a text string a specified number of times. This can be particularly useful for data visualization, creating in-cell bar charts, or generating repeated patterns or placeholders in your spreadsheet.

Syntax

=REPT(text, number_times)

Parameters:

Argument	Description
text	Required. The text string you want to repeat.
number_times	Required. The number of times to repeat the text.

Returns: A single text string that repeats the original text as many times as specified.

Examples with Tables

Example 1: Simple Text Repetition

=REPT("x", 5)

Formula	Result
=REPT("x", 5)	xxxxx

Example 2: Repeat Cell Content

Assume cell A1 contains "Hi":

=REPT(A1, 3)

A1	Formula	Result
Hi	=REPT(A1, 3)	HiHiHi

Example 3: In-cell Bar Chart (Using Characters)

You can create a visual bar using the pipe (|) character:

=REPT("|", B2)

Item	Value (B)	Bar (C)
Product A	4	`
Product B	7	`
Product C	2	`
Formula in C	—	`=REPT("

Use Cases

Scenario	Description
Visualize numbers with bars	Simple data bars without charts
Generate padding or fill spaces	e.g., create dotted lines or placeholders
Repeat characters for formatting	e.g., "=" or "*" for visual separation
Simulate progress indicators	Useful in dashboards or forms

Notes

• If number_times is 0, the result is an empty string ("").

• The result of REPT cannot exceed 32,767 characters—this is the limit for Excel cells.

• If number_times is negative or non-numeric, Excel returns a #VALUE! error.

Comparison with Similar Tools

Task	Recommended Function
Repeat text by count	REPT
Repeat based on condition	Combine REPT with IF
Repeat dynamic content	Use with TEXT or &
Repeat text by delimiter	Use TEXTJOIN (Office 365/Excel 2019+)

Related Functions

Function	Description
TEXT	Format numbers as text
CONCAT	Join text strings (modern version of CONCATENATE)
TEXTJOIN	Combine multiple text strings with a delimiter
REPLACE	Replace part of a string
SUBSTITUTE	Replace matching text in a string

Summary

Feature	Description
Function Name	REPT
Purpose	Repeat a string multiple times
Use Cases	In-cell charts, formatting, placeholders
Result	Text string
Max Output	32,767 characters

Final Thoughts

The REPT function is deceptively simple but extremely powerful when combined with formulas for dashboards, progress bars, or even text-based layouts. It helps bring data to life directly within your spreadsheet without relying on external visuals or tools.