Google Sheets Function

RIGHT

Return a given number of characters from the end of a text string.

Generate a formula with AI Same function in Excel

This function works the same in Google Sheets as it does in Excel — same syntax and arguments.

Syntax

RIGHT(text, [num_chars])

RIGHT extracts characters from the right of a string — handy for suffixes, last digits, or file extensions. Pair with LEN and FIND for dynamic extraction.

Arguments

textrequiredThe text to extract from.
num_charsoptionalHow many characters to return (default 1).

Examples

=RIGHT("INV-2026-0042", 4)

Result: 0042

Returns the last 4 characters.

FAQ

How do I get the file extension?

Combine RIGHT with FIND, or use TEXTAFTER in newer Excel: =TEXTAFTER(A2, ".", -1).

Related functions

LEFT MID LEN FIND