Excel HSTACK Function: Combine Arrays Side‑by‑Side with Dynamic Spill
The HSTACK function appends ranges and arrays horizontally in one step, returning a single dynamic spill range that expands or contracts as sources change. If VSTACK is the vertical stacker, HSTACK is its horizontal twin, designed to line up multiple lists or tables next to each other without helper columns, copy‑paste, or manual resizing. The syntax is simple: =HSTACK(array1, [array2], …). Each subsequent array is placed to the right of the previous one, and the result spills into as many columns as needed. Microsoft’s function reference notes that HSTACK’s row count equals the maximum number of rows among the inputs, while the column count equals the sum of all input columns, with shorter arrays padded to match the tallest input. This behavior makes it ideal for consolidating period columns, stitching lookup results beside IDs, or building side‑by‑side comparison panels that stay in sync with source changes.