MS Excel: RIGHT, from Basics to Advanced Use

The RIGHT function in Excel is the mirror of the LEFT function. It allows users to extract a specific number of characters from the end (right side) of a text string. This function is especially useful when dealing with fixed-format codes, dates, or trailing data.

Let’s walk through how to use it—from beginner to advanced level—complete with examples and practical tips.

Syntax:

RIGHT(text, [num_chars])

• text – The original text string.

• num_chars (optional) – The number of characters to extract from the right. If omitted, Excel returns just the last character.

Beginner Level: Basic Extraction

Example 1: Extracting Last Characters

A (Code)	B (Last 3 Characters)
PRD12345	=RIGHT(A2, 3) → "345"
INV2023	=RIGHT(A3, 4) → "2023"

Useful for pulling codes, years, or IDs from the end of a string.

Intermediate Level: Extracting Text After a Dash

When working with codes or names that include delimiters like dashes (-), the RIGHT function can be paired with FIND, LEN, and MID for smarter results.

Example 2: Get the Text After a Hyphen

A (Data)	B (Extracted Right Part)
US-NY	=RIGHT(A2, LEN(A2)-FIND("-", A2)) → "NY"
UK-LON	=RIGHT(A3, LEN(A3)-FIND("-", A3)) → "LON"

This extracts the part after the dash, regardless of length.

Advanced Level: Use with IFERROR and SEARCH

Use the RIGHT function with other formulas to extract data even when the structure isn’t always perfect.

Example 3: Get File Extension from File Name

A (File Name)	B (File Extension)
report2024.xlsx	=RIGHT(A2, LEN(A2) - FIND(".", A2)) → "xlsx"
resume.pdf	=RIGHT(A3, LEN(A3) - FIND(".", A3)) → "pdf"

Add IFERROR for cleaner results if some rows don’t have extensions.

Real-Life Use Cases

Task	Formula Example
Extract last 4 digits of a number	=RIGHT(A2, 4)
Get last name from email address	=RIGHT(A2, LEN(A2)-FIND(".", A2))
Get code suffix	=RIGHT(A2, 2) (e.g., "XYZ01" → "01")

Summary

Level	Key Feature	Example Formula
Beginner	Extract fixed characters from the right	=RIGHT(A2, 4)
Intermediate	Extract after symbol using FIND & LEN	=RIGHT(A2, LEN(A2)-FIND("-", A2))
Advanced	Combine with IFERROR or SEARCH	=IFERROR(RIGHT(...), "")

The RIGHT function in Excel is a must-know tool for extracting data from the end of text strings. When combined with functions like FIND, LEN, and IFERROR, it becomes a powerful part of your data-cleaning toolbox. Whether you’re working with filenames, codes, or IDs, mastering RIGHT helps streamline your workflow and improves your efficiency.