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Extract Domain From URL Formula

Use this for campaign reports, link exports, or content calendars that need URLs grouped by domain.

Best for

Extract domain names from URLs in spreadsheets.

What it returns

If A2 is https://www.example.com/pricing, the result is example.com.

Copy formulas

Excel formula

=LET(u,TRIM(A2),p,IFERROR(TEXTAFTER(u,"//"),u),h,TEXTBEFORE(SUBSTITUTE(SUBSTITUTE(p,"?","/"),"#","/")&"/","/"),IF(LEFT(h,4)="www.",RIGHT(h,LEN(h)-4),h))

Google Sheets formula

=REGEXEXTRACT(A2, "^(?:https?:\/\/)?(?:www\.)?([^\/\?#]+)")

Excel / Google Sheets difference

Both formulas accept a URL with or without a protocol and stop before a path, query, or fragment. Excel uses modern text functions; Google Sheets uses REGEXEXTRACT.

Example data

Raw Text	Example Result
Maya Chen	Maya
SKU-1001-East	SKU
https://www.example.com/pricing	example.com
Acme North	Acme North

What it returns

If A2 is https://www.example.com/pricing, the result is example.com.

How the formula works

The formula removes www when present.
It extracts the host before the next slash, question mark, or hash.
Use IFERROR if some cells are not URLs.

Syntax piece	Role in the formula
u	The trimmed URL source in the Excel LET formula.
p	The URL after removing the protocol when present.
h	The host portion before slash, query, or fragment boundaries.
www.	The optional prefix removed from the final Excel host output and matched by the Sheets regex.

Verified examples

HTTPS www host

=LET(u,TRIM(A2),p,IFERROR(TEXTAFTER(u,"//"),u),h,TEXTBEFORE(SUBSTITUTE(SUBSTITUTE(p,"?","/"),"#","/")&"/","/"),IF(LEFT(h,4)="www.",RIGHT(h,LEN(h)-4),h))

Excel: Enter https://www.example.com/pricing in A2. Returns: example.com

Query string host

=REGEXEXTRACT(A2, "^(?:https?:\/\/)?(?:www\.)?([^\/\?#]+)")

Google Sheets: Enter example.com?utm=1 in A2. Returns: example.com

Subdomain fragment host

=LET(u,TRIM(A2),p,IFERROR(TEXTAFTER(u,"//"),u),h,TEXTBEFORE(SUBSTITUTE(SUBSTITUTE(p,"?","/"),"#","/")&"/","/"),IF(LEFT(h,4)="www.",RIGHT(h,LEN(h)-4),h))

Excel: Enter https://sub.example.com#pricing in A2. Returns: sub.example.com

Common errors and fixes

Issue	Likely cause	Fix
Plain text produces an unexpected domain	The formula assumes the cell contains a host or URL-like value.	Validate the input format and add an explicit URL check before extracting hosts.
A complex URL is not parsed as expected	Userinfo, ports, internationalized hosts, or unusual URL syntax needs more parsing rules than this pattern provides.	Use a URL-aware parser outside the spreadsheet or constrain the accepted input format.
Excel reports an unknown function	The workbook does not support modern LET, TEXTAFTER, or TEXTBEFORE.	Use a supported Excel version or the Google Sheets regex version.

When not to use this formula

Do not use this formula as a complete URL validator or for security-sensitive URL parsing.

Alternatives

Alternative	When to use it
Extract Domain in Google Sheets	Use for a worked Google Sheets example with URL rows.
REGEXEXTRACT Formula Builder	Use when the host pattern needs to be adjusted interactively.

Related formulas

Official references

TEXTBEFORE function from Microsoft
TEXTAFTER function from Microsoft
REGEXEXTRACT function from Google

FAQ

Is the protocol required?

No. Both formulas accept values with http or https and host-like values without a protocol.

Are query strings and fragments included?

No. The formulas stop before ? and #, so tracking parameters and fragment labels are excluded.