In Excel: use =TRIM(A2) to remove leading, trailing and repeated normal spaces, and combine it with SUBSTITUTE for non-breaking spaces from web data.
On this page7
Add a helper column beside the messy text.
Enter =TRIM(A2) for normal spaces.
Use =TRIM(SUBSTITUTE(A2,CHAR(160)," ")) for web-import spaces.
Copy the cleaned results and Paste Values over the original if needed.
What this does
TRIM cleans normal spaces around and between words. Data copied from websites can contain non-breaking spaces, which TRIM alone may not remove. In that case, SUBSTITUTE(A2,CHAR(160)," ") replaces non-breaking spaces before TRIM cleans the result. The same idea underpins a lot of everyday Excel work, so the few minutes spent getting it right here pay back across every sheet you build afterwards. Treat it as a pattern, not a one-off, and it stops being something you look up and starts being something you reach for. Treat “remove extra spaces” as a small repeatable workflow rather than a one-off click you hope to remember next time. Use a small test block before the live file, so any surprise in the affected spaces shows up while it is still harmless. When a formula is involved, keep the inputs labelled beside it, reference cells instead of typing values, and apply number formatting only after the result checks out. That turns a layout choice that keeps the sheet readable and sortable into a method you can reuse, explain, and defend when the workbook leaves your screen.
A worked example
A2 contains " ACME West ". =TRIM(A2) returns "ACME West". If imported text still refuses to match, use =TRIM(SUBSTITUTE(A2,CHAR(160)," ")). Space cleanup fixes failed lookups, duplicate detection and joins where values look identical but do not match. Check the referenced cells, argument order and result type in your workbook. Start with the worked example before changing an input, then compare the changed result with the calculation you expected. An error value or a result of a different type is a reason to inspect the inputs and arguments.
In Google Sheets
The standard worksheet functions used by this example are listed in Google Sheets. Check the cell references, argument separators and input types in the target spreadsheet, then compare the worked result. This formula-availability check does not establish identical menus, keyboard shortcuts or workbook features, and it is not a product execution test. The aim was to get you unstuck fast and leave you a little more capable than a copy-paste would. The answer is at the top and the detail above shows why it holds — so the next time a colleague asks, you can answer without reaching for search. For “remove extra spaces”, keep the input cells and the result visible while you check the formula in Excel. Follow the worked example and change one input at a time. The steps explain the workbook calculation; this page does not run a live calculator for that task.
Common mistakes
- Using Find/Replace space with nothing and removing intentional spaces inside names.
- Forgetting non-breaking spaces.
- Replacing formulas before checking results.
- Cleaning only one lookup column when both sides need
TRIM.
Frequently asked questions
What does TRIM remove?
Leading, trailing and repeated normal spaces.
Why are spaces still there?
They may be non-breaking spaces, character 160.
Can I remove all spaces?
Use SUBSTITUTE(A2," ",""), but only when internal spaces are truly unwanted.
Other ways people ask this
This is also commonly searched as “how to remove extra spaces in excel”, “how to remove the extra space in excel”, “remove extra spaces in excel cells words” and “remove extra space in excel”. They describe the identical operation, so you are in the right place no matter how you phrased it.
Why do people search for this in so many different ways?
Because the same task has many names. “how to remove extra spaces in excel”, “how to remove the extra space in excel”, “remove extra spaces in excel cells words” all point at the one operation explained on this page, which is why they all lead here.