Text Manipulationbeginner
Count characters in a cell with LEN
=LEN(A2)
Function reference
LEN in Excel & Google Sheets
LEN is used in 1 formula pattern in this library. Browse worked examples below, or use the generator to build a custom variation for your specific data.
1 beginnerBuild a custom LEN formula →
When to use LEN
- Validate that product codes are exactly 8 characters, flag descriptions that exceed a length limit, or calculate how many characters to extract in a MID formula.
Worked examples (1)
Common errors with LEN
LEN counts spaces
If your cells have leading or trailing spaces, LEN will include them. Wrap with TRIM first — LEN(TRIM(A2)) — to count only meaningful characters.
Returns a number, not the text
LEN always returns a numeric count. If you need the text back for display, this is expected — use LEN only for logic and calculations.
Frequently asked questions
How do I count only letters, not spaces?
Use LEN(SUBSTITUTE(A2," ","")) to strip spaces before counting. For a true letter-only count, you would need a more complex approach with SUMPRODUCT.
Need a custom variation?
Describe your specific LEN problem and get a formula written for your exact data.
Open generator with LEN