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How to remove numbers from text strings in Excel?

Author Kelly Last modified

In many cases, Excel users encounter text strings that are cluttered with unwanted numbers, which they need to remove to clean up the data. Whether you're preparing data for analysis or ensuring that your text conforms to a specific format, removing numbers can be essential. This article outlines several methods, including a straightforward formula approach, the use of Kutools for Excel and a custom VBA solution to efficiently eliminate numbers from text strings.

Remove numbers from text strings with a formula

For those who prefer using native Excel functions, the following array formula offers a straightforward solution. However, for those unfamiliar with Excel functions, this formula is too long and difficult to handle.

  1. Choose where you want to display the cleaned text, such as "C2" in this case.
  2. Enter the following array formula and press "Ctrl" + "Shift" + "Enter". 
    =TEXTJOIN("", TRUE, IF(ISNUMBER(--MID(A2, ROW(INDIRECT("1:" & LEN(A2))), 1)), "", MID(A2, ROW(INDIRECT("1:" & LEN(A2))), 1)))
    a screenshot showing how to use the formula
    In the formula, "A2" is the cell containing the text string. Please replace it with your own cell.
  3. Select the result cell and drag its "Fill Handle" dowm to get the rest of the results.
    a screenshot showing showing the results after applying the formula

Batch remove numbers from text strings with Kutools for Excel

If you need to remove numbers from a large number of text string cells, The "Remove Characters" feature of "Kutools for Excel" can efficiently handle this task in bulk, making it easy to clean text strings in large datasets.

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  1. Highlight the cells that contain the text strings from which you wish to remove numbers. Go to select "Kutools" > "Text" > "Remove Characters".
  2. In the "Remove Characters" dialog box, select the "Numeric" option, and click "OK".
    a screenshot of configuring the Remove Characters dialog box

Result: All numbers are removed from selected text string cells at once.

a screenshot showing the original text string and the result string after deleting numbers

Tip: If you need to remove numbers and other special characters from text string cells while keeping only letters, simply check the "Non-alpha" option in the "Remove Characters" dialog box and click "OK". See the screenshot below

a screenshot of removing numbers and other special marks from the text string by checking the Non-alpha box

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Remove numbers from text strings with User Defined Function

For those who have a knack for coding, a "User Defined Function" (UDF) in VBA offers a customizable and reusable solution

  1. Press "Alt + F11" keys simultaneously to open the VBA editor.
  2. Go to "Insert" > "Module" and paste the following VBA code
    VBA: Remove Numbers from Text Strings in Excel
    Function RemoveNumbers(Txt As String) As String
With CreateObject("VBScript.RegExp")
.Global = True
.Pattern = "[0-9]"
RemoveNumbers = .Replace(Txt, "")
End With
End Function
  3. Type the following formula in a blank cell where you want to display the cleaned text. Don't forget to substitute "A2" with the reference to your text string cell. 
    =RemoveNumbers(A2)
    a screenshot showing how to use the user-defined functiona screenshot of the results after removing numbers

Removing numbers from text strings in Excel can be accomplished through various methods, depending on your preference for simplicity or the tools at your disposal. Each method provided in this post ensures that your text strings are cleaned efficiently, enhancing the clarity and usability of your data.

Demo: remove numbers from text strings in Excel

 

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