How to use the REPT function
The REPT function repeats a specific text a chosen number of times.
Formula in cell D3:
Table of Contents
1. REPT Function Syntax
REPT(text, number_times)
2. REPT Function Arguments
| text | Required. The value you want to repeat. |
| number_times | Required. The number of times you want to repeat the value. |
3. REPT function error
- 0 (zero) makes the REPT function return nothing.
- A negative number or a text string returns a #VALUE error.
4. REPT function bar chart
The image above demonstrates how to create a basic bar chart using the REPT function. It repeats any character or symbol you like letting you quickly compare numbers.
Formula in cell D3:
=REPT(CHAR(149),C3)
4.1 Explaining formula
Step 1 - Create a large dot
The CHAR function returns a character or symbol based on a number between 1 and 255.
CHAR(text)
CHAR(149)
returns •
Step 2 - Repeat large dot based on given number
REPT(CHAR(149),C3)
becomes
REPT("•",C3)
becomes
REPT("•",3)
and returns "•••".
5. REPT function alternative
The ampersand character concatenates values, this can be used to repeat values.
Formula in cell D3:
=B3&B3&B3
The formula in cell D3 concatenates the specified value in cell B3 three times, in other words, repeating the value three times.
Formula in cell D4:
=TEXTJOIN("",TRUE,INDEX(B4,{1,1,1}))
5.1 Explaining formula
Step 1 - Create array
The curly brackets let you create an array of values in an Excel formula. The comma and semicolon are delimiting characters you can use, the comma separates values horizontally or column-wise. The semicolon delimits values vertically or row-wise.
The comma and semicolon are determined by your computer's regional settings.
{1,1,1}
Step 2 - Repeat value in cell B4
The INDEX function gets a value from a cell range or array based on a row and column number (optional).
INDEX(B4,{1,1,1})
becomes
INDEX("B",{1,1,1})
and returns {"B", "B", "B"}.
Step 3 - Join values in the array
The TEXTJOIN function concatenates values.
TEXTJOIN(delimiter, ignore_empty, text1, [text2], ...)
TEXTJOIN("",TRUE,INDEX(B4,{1,1,1}))
becomes
TEXTJOIN("",TRUE,{"B", "B", "B"})
and returns "BBB".
6. REPT function array
Formula in cell E3:
=TEXTJOIN("", TRUE, REPT(B3:B5, C3:C5))
6.1 Explaining formula
Step 1 - Repeat values in an array based on corresponding numbers on the same row
REPT(B3:B5,C3:C5)
becomes
REPT({"A"; "B"; "C"}, {"3"; "2"; "1"})
and returns
{"AAA"; "BB"; "C"}
Step 2 - Join values without a delimiter
The TEXTJOIN function concatenates values.
TEXTJOIN(delimiter, ignore_empty, text1, [text2], ...)
TEXTJOIN("",TRUE,REPT(B3:B5,C3:C5))
becomes
TEXTJOIN("",TRUE,{"AAA"; "BB"; "C"})
and returns
"AAABBC".
7. REPT function based on list
The image above shows a formula in cell D3 that repeats the value in cell B3 if it exists in the list in F3:F7.
=IF(COUNTIF($F$3:$F$7,B3),REPT(B3,C3),"-")
7.1 Explaining formula
Step 1 - Repeat value
REPT(B3,C3)
becomes
REPT("A", 3)
and returns "AAA".
Step 2 - Check if value is in the list
The COUNTIF function counts the number of cells that is equal to a condition.
COUNTIF(range, criteria)
COUNTIF($F$3:$F$7,B3)
becomes
COUNTIF({"A"; "C"; "D"; "F"; "H"},"A")
and returns 1. Cell value "A" is found once in the list.
Step 3 - Evaluate IF function
The IF function returns one value if the logical test is TRUE and another value if the logical test is FALSE.
IF(logical_test, [value_if_true], [value_if_false])
IF(COUNTIF($F$3:$F$7,B3),REPT(B3,C3),"-")
becomes
IF(1, REPT(B3, C3), "-")
becomes
IF(1, REPT("A", 3), "-")
becomes
IF(1, "AAA", "-")
and returns "AAA".
8 REPT function based on list and concatenated
Formula in cell G3:
=TEXTJOIN(,TRUE,IF(COUNTIF($E$3:$E$7,B3:B10),REPT(B3:B10,C3:C10),""))
8.1 Explaining formula
Step 1 - Repeat value
REPT(B3:B10, C3:C10)
becomes
REPT({"A"; "B"; "C"; "D"; "E"; "F"; "G"; "H"},{3; 8; 1; 2; 1; 2; 4; 2})
and returns
{"AAA"; "BBBBBBBB"; "C"; "DD"; "E"; "FF"; "GGGG"; "HH"}.
Step 2 - Check if value is in the list
The COUNTIF function counts the number of cells that is equal to a condition.
COUNTIF(range, criteria)
COUNTIF($F$3:$F$7,B3:B10)
becomes
COUNTIF({"A"; "C"; "D"; "F"; "H"}, {"A"; "B"; "C"; "D"; "E"; "F"; "G"; "H"})
and returns
{1; 0; 1; 1; 0; 1; 0; 1}
Step 3 - Evaluate IF function
The IF function returns one value if the logical test is TRUE and another value if the logical test is FALSE.
IF(logical_test, [value_if_true], [value_if_false])
IF(COUNTIF($F$3:$F$7,B3),REPT(B3,C3),"")
becomes
IF({1; 0; 1; 1; 0; 1; 0; 1}, {"AAA"; "BBBBBBBB"; "C"; "DD"; "E"; "FF"; "GGGG"; "HH"},"")
and returns
{"AAA"; ""; "C"; "DD"; ""; "FF"; ""; "HH"}
Step 4 - Concatenate values in array
The TEXTJOIN function allows you to combine text strings from multiple cell ranges and also use delimiting characters if you like.
TEXTJOIN(delimiter, ignore_empty, text1, [text2], ...)
TEXTJOIN(,TRUE,IF(COUNTIF($E$3:$E$7,B3:B10),REPT(B3:B10,C3:C10),""))
becomes
TEXTJOIN(,TRUE,{"AAA"; ""; "C"; "DD"; ""; "FF"; ""; "HH"})
and returns "AAACDDFFHH".
Useful links
REPT function - Microsoft support
Excel REPT Function Examples
'REPT' function examples
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Functions in 'Text' category
The REPT function function is one of 29 functions in the 'Text' category.
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