Function Problems

How to Remove Feet and Inches from Excel Product Descriptions

Natalie Taylor Sep 28, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs a method to remove physical size expressions (like feet and inches) from product descriptions while keeping the remaining text intact.

How to Remove Feet and Inches from Excel Product Descriptions

Product: Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Cleaning up a product inventory or catalog dataset where unwanted size dimensions are mixed within the product description text.
Observed behavior: The cell contains mixed strings of textual descriptions and dimensional data that need to be programmatically separated so only the descriptive text remains.

Before you start

Ensure your spreadsheet software supports dynamic array functions like TEXTJOIN and TEXTSPLIT, as these are required to execute this formula properly.

Solution 1Recommended

Use TEXTJOIN and TEXTSPLIT Formula

Extract and remove numerical size expressions (like feet and inches) using dynamic text functions.

This formula uses a clever combination of functions. It dynamically splits the text string using numerical digits as delimiters (via TEXTSPLIT and SEQUENCE), removes the common dimension separator (using SUBSTITUTE), and then recombines the remaining descriptive words back into a single string (using TEXTJOIN).

Select a Blank Cell

Click on cell B2 (or the empty cell adjacent to your first product description in column A).

Enter the Formula

Type the following formula exactly: =TEXTJOIN(" ",TRUE,TRIM(SUBSTITUTE(" "&TEXTSPLIT(A2,SEQUENCE(10),,TRUE)," X","")))

Apply and Fill Down

Press Enter to apply the formula. Click the small square at the bottom right corner of cell B2 and drag it down to fill the formula for the rest of your product descriptions.

Adjust the Separator if Needed

If your product sizes use a different format (like a lowercase " x" instead of an uppercase " X"), modify the " X" portion of the SUBSTITUTE function accordingly.

Formula Customization: You can further modify the SEQUENCE(10) parameter to account for different delimiter arrays or add additional SUBSTITUTE layers if your descriptions contain multiple formatting styles like dashes or asterisks.

Data Cleaning Made Easy

Clean and Format Product Data Seamlessly in WPS Spreadsheet

WPS Spreadsheet provides comprehensive support for advanced text formulas and dynamic arrays, making it effortless to clean up product descriptions, remove unwanted measurements, and manage large datasets securely.

1. Open Your Dataset: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and open the file containing your product descriptions.
2. Insert the Formula: Select the cell next to your first description and paste the recommended TEXTJOIN formula.
3. Apply to All Rows: Press Enter, then double-click the fill handle to automatically clean the descriptions for your entire catalog.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel formulas including TEXTJOIN and TEXTSPLIT.High-performance calculation for large inventory datasets.Free and lightweight for all your everyday data cleaning needs.Familiar tabbed interface for easy navigation and formatting.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the formula return a #NAME? error?

The #NAME? error occurs if your version of Excel or spreadsheet software does not support dynamic array functions like TEXTSPLIT. You will need to update to a newer software version or use alternative legacy string extraction methods.

Can I use Find and Replace to remove feet and inches instead?

Yes, if your sizes follow a strict consistent pattern. You can press Ctrl+H to open Find and Replace, enter a wildcard string (such as *'* x *") in the 'Find what' field, leave 'Replace with' blank, and click 'Replace All'. However, the formula method is much safer for varied text.

How do I adjust the formula if my sizes use lowercase 'x'?

The SUBSTITUTE function is case-sensitive. In the formula provided, simply change the uppercase " X" to a lowercase " x" inside the SUBSTITUTE parameters to ensure it catches and removes the lowercase separator.

Excel & Data Problems