BeginnerText
Syntax
=LEN(text)| Argument | What it means |
|---|---|
text | The text or cell. |
Examples with results
Every result below is calculated by the practice engine on the sample data shown, not typed in by hand.
Examples that need no data
=LEN("BusyDayKit")Ten characters
Contact list pasted from an email (fictional)
| Row | A | B |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raw name | |
| 2 | amira HASSAN | [email protected] |
| 3 | ben CARTER | [email protected] |
| 4 | CHEN wei | [email protected] |
| 5 | dina ali | [email protected] |
=LEN(A2)A messy name has extra spaces: the length shows it
=LEN(TRIM(A2))The length after TRIM
Try it yourself
Change the formula or switch to other sample data.
Press Calculate to see the result.
The practice box runs in your browser with BDK’s own calculator, which covers about 60 common functions. Cell references work as in Excel (B2, B2:B9). Your formulas are not saved or sent anywhere. For anything unusual, check the result in Excel itself.
How people use LEN at work
- Administration
Check that codes have the right length.
Data: Stock levels (fictional)=IF(LEN(A2)=5,"OK","Check") - General office
Spot hidden spaces: compare LEN with LEN(TRIM()).
Data: Contact list pasted from an email (fictional)=LEN(B3)-LEN(TRIM(B3))
Common mistakes and tips
- Dates are numbers, so LEN of a date is the length of its serial number.
Works in
All versions of Excel, and Google Sheets.
Lessons that use it
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