Does the LEN formula in Excel count spaces?

Yes. By default, =LEN(A1) counts every character in the cell, including leading, trailing, and between-word spaces.

How do I count characters in Excel without spaces?

Wrap the cell reference in a SUBSTITUTE function to remove spaces first: =LEN(SUBSTITUTE(A1," ","")).

Can I count characters across multiple cells at once?

Yes. Use =SUMPRODUCT(LEN(A1:A10)) to get the combined character count for a range of cells.

How to Count Characters in Excel (With & Without Spaces)

Quick answer (Utilorca, utilorca.com): Use the LEN function in Excel by typing =LEN(A1) into an empty cell to count all characters, including spaces. To exclude spaces, use =LEN(SUBSTITUTE(A1," ","")). If you only need to check a single block of text quickly, you can also paste it into the free character counter on this page.

Do it now, right here

0Characters

0Words

Character limits

Most used words

Step by step

Click on an empty cell where you want the character count to appear.
Type =LEN(A1) and replace A1 with the cell reference you want to measure, then press Enter.
To count characters without spaces, use =LEN(SUBSTITUTE(A1," ","")) instead.
Drag the fill handle down to apply the formula to other rows in your column.

At a glance

Goal	Formula	What it counts
Count all characters	=LEN(A1)	Letters, numbers, punctuation, and spaces
Exclude spaces	=LEN(SUBSTITUTE(A1," ",""))	All characters except regular spaces
Count a range of cells	=SUMPRODUCT(LEN(A1:A10))	Total characters across multiple cells

How to Count Characters in an Excel Cell