how to split a string with multiple delimeters in vba excel?

calendar_today Asked Oct 6, 2011
thumb_up 20 upvotes
history Updated April 14, 2026

Direct Answer

You could first do a REPLACE on the string first and then do the split: newString = Replace(origString, "-", " ") newArray = SPlit(newString, " "). This is a 3-line VBA Core snippet, ranked #27th of 95 by community upvote score, from 2011.


The Problem (Q-score 7, ranked #27th of 95 in the VBA Core archive)

The scenario as originally posted in 2011

I want to split a string with multiple delimeters using Excel VBA. One of the strings is: 

d1-d2 d3 d4

We have a dash and a space as two delimeters. I tried the split function but it only does it with one delimeter.

Why community consensus is tight on this one

Across 95 VBA Core entries in the archive, the accepted answer here holds strong answer (top 25 %%) status — meaning voters are unusually aligned on the right fix.


The Verified Solution — strong answer (top 25 %%) (+20)

3-line VBA Core pattern (copy-ready)

You could first do a REPLACE on the string first and then do the split:

newString = Replace(origString, "-", " ")
newArray = SPlit(newString, " ")


When to Use It — vintage (14+ years old, pre-2013)

Ranked #27th in its category — specialized fit

This pattern sits in the 84% tail relative to the top answer. Reach for it when your scenario closely matches the question title; otherwise browse the VBA Core archive for a higher-consensus alternative.

What changed between 2011 and 2026

The answer is 15 years old. The VBA Core object model has been stable across Office 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, 365, and 2024/2026 LTSC, so the pattern still compiles. Changes that might affect you: 64-bit API declarations (use PtrSafe), blocked macros in downloaded files (Mark-of-the-Web), and the shift toward Office Scripts for web-first workflows.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does this sit in the top quartile of VBA Core answers?
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Answer score +20 vs the VBA Core archive median ~6; this entry is strong. The score plus 7 supporting upvotes on the question itself (+7) means the asker and 19 subsequent voters all validated the approach.

Does the 3-line snippet run as-is in Office 2026?
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Yes. The 3-line pattern compiles on Office 365, Office 2024, and Office LTSC 2026. Verify two things: (a) references under Tools → References match those in the code, and (b) any Declare statements use PtrSafe on 64-bit Office.

This answer is 15 years old. Is it still relevant in 2026?
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Published 2011, which is 15 year(s) before today’s Office 2026 build. The VBA Core object model has had no breaking changes in that window. Three things to re-test: (1) blocked macros on downloaded files (Mark-of-the-Web), (2) 64-bit API declarations (PtrSafe, LongPtr), (3) any shift toward Office Scripts for web scenarios.

Which VBA Core pattern ranks just above this one at #26?
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The pattern one rank above is “Subtracting from a date in VBA?”. If your use case overlaps, compare both before committing.

Data source: Community-verified Q&A snapshot. Q-score 7, Answer-score 20, original post 2011, ranked #27th of 95 in the VBA Core archive. Last regenerated April 14, 2026.

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