VSTACK Function in Apple Numbers: Syntax, Examples and Compatibility
Use VSTACK in Apple Numbers to append rows from two tables into one expanding result. Two original examples, expected results, cautions and official software documentation.
Verification status: Official documentation referenced; example outcomes independently reasoned or arithmetically checked where stated. Not executed in Apple Numbers. How formula examples are checked
Quick answer: append rows from two tables into one expanding result in Apple Numbers. The reproducible examples below use explicit values so the formula’s meaning is testable without a large workbook.
Evidence: The function name and syntax are documented in the linked vendor function reference. Expected outputs were independently reasoned or checked outside the application. These are not native Apple Numbers test results. A guide being published here does not certify every software release or file-import scenario.
Syntax and arguments
=VSTACK(array1, [array2], ...)
Supply ranges with compatible widths. The second argument is appended below the first.
Best use case: Append rows from two tables into one expanding result.
Set up the example sheet
Enter A2=Pen, B2=12, A3=Pad, B3=5, A5=Box, and B5=7. Leave a four-row output area empty.
Enter the formula in an unused cell. For a formula returning several values, leave an unobstructed area where those values can expand. These formulas use comma argument separators in a typical English-language locale; commas or semicolons inside quoted text are data, not argument separators. Adapt the separator if your regional settings require it.
Worked example 1: VSTACK with known input
=VSTACK(A2:B3,A5:B5)
Expected output: three rows: Pen,12 / Pad,5 / Box,7.
Two records from the first block are followed by the record from the second block.
Worked example 2: a second VSTACK case
=VSTACK(A5:B5,A2:B3)
Expected output: three rows: Box,7 / Pen,12 / Pad,5.
The order of arguments sets the row order of the result.
Compare both results before replacing literal values or short sample ranges with your own workbook data. For a spilling formula, compare every output cell, not only the top-left result.
Practical advice and troubleshooting
When this formula helps: To combine data from several monthly tables, standardize the column order before stacking them.
Important edge case: Unequal input widths may be padded rather than aligned by column names. Inspect headers and blank cells after stacking.
If the result differs, first verify the text-versus-number types of the input cells, the argument separators for your locale, and the range size. For dynamic arrays, inspect occupied cells in the output area. An error that looks like a missing function may reflect a software version rather than incorrect data.
Compatibility and version considerations
The current official Apple Numbers function index includes this function. Table-relative references and current Numbers versions must be checked when transferring formulas from Excel. Google Sheets and modern Excel support the same broad task, but older spreadsheet versions may require manual append or Power Query. The Excel/Google comparison is background only, not a claim of identical behavior in Apple Numbers.
VSTACK is included in Microsoft 365/Excel 2024 and current Google Sheets; it is not broadly backward-compatible.
Function availability and parameter behavior must be judged for the specific application and release; a function documented in one spreadsheet does not automatically work in another.
Application-specific source note: The current official Apple Numbers function index includes this function. Table-relative references and current Numbers versions must be checked when transferring formulas from Excel.
Formula separator: These examples use commas for the function-argument separators. Locale settings can change entry conventions.
Related guides and official documentation
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Apple Numbers documentation for VSTACK — function syntax and current vendor information.
Editorial verification: Function name checked in official vendor catalogue on 2026-10-12. The two example outputs are independently reasoned; no native application run, screenshot, or version-specific output is claimed. Review the editorial testing standards if you require stronger proof before importing a workbook.