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How to remove extra spaces in Excel and Google Sheets
Topic:Text manipulationExcel & Google Sheets
=TRIM(A2)Try it with your data
Edit the grid or formula, then run it through a real spreadsheet engine — no signup.
Sample data — click any cell to edit
Runs server-side · free · no signup
Step by step
- 1In a new column, enter =TRIM(A2).
- 2Copy it down, then paste the result back as values if you want to replace the originals.
- 3Your text now has single spaces and no stray padding.
Tips
- Pair with CLEAN — =TRIM(CLEAN(A2)) — to also strip invisible characters from pasted text.
- TRIM is why a lookup suddenly works: hidden spaces were stopping the match.
Need it for your exact data?
Describe your columns in plain English and get the precise formula for your sheet, with the right Excel or Sheets syntax.
Frequently asked
Does TRIM remove all spaces?
No — it keeps single spaces between words and removes only leading, trailing, and repeated spaces. To remove every space, use SUBSTITUTE(A2, " ", "").
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