Google Sheets function
LEN function in Google Sheets
LEN in Google Sheets returns the number of characters in a text string, including spaces and punctuation. Numbers are counted by the characters in their displayed value. Use LEN to validate code lengths, measure text, or locate segments within consistently formatted strings.
Source: Google Docs Editors HelpLast verified Nov 5, 2026
Syntax
=LEN(text)Arguments
| Argument | Required | What it means |
|---|---|---|
text | Yes | The text or value whose characters should be counted. |
Examples
Count characters in an order code
| A | |
|---|---|
| 1 | Order code |
| 2 | A-104 |
=LEN(A2)Result: 5
The order code contains five characters, including the hyphen.
Common mistakes
Forgetting that spaces count as characters.
Clean unwanted spaces before using LEN when they should not count.
Expecting LEN to count cells in a range.
Use a counting function when you need the number of filled or numeric cells.