TRIMRANGE function

Applies To
Excel for Microsoft 365

The TRIMRANGE function excludes all empty rows and/or columns from the outer edges of a range or array.

Syntax

The TRIMRANGE function scans in from the edges of a range or array until it finds a non-blank cell (or value), it then excludes those blank rows or columns. 

=TRIMRANGE(range,[trim_rows],[trim_cols])

Argument Description
range
Required
The range (or array) to be trimmed
trim_rows Determines which rows should be trimmed
0 - None
1 - Trims leading blank rows
2 - Trims trailing blank rows
3 - Trims both leading and trailing blank rows (default)
trim_columns Determines which columns should be trimmed
0 - None
1 - Trims leading blank columns
2 - Trims trailing blank columns
3 - Trims both leading and trailing blank columns (default)

Trim References (aka Trim Refs)

A Trim Ref can be used to achieve the same functionality as TRIMRANGE more succinctly by replacing the range's colon ":" with one of the three Trim Ref types described below:

Type Example Equivalent TRIMRANGE Description
Trim All (.:.) A1.:.E10 TRIMRANGE(A1:E10,3,3) Trim leading and trailing blanks
Trim Trailing (:.) A1:.E10 TRIMRANGE(A1:E10,2,2) Trim trailing blanks
Trim Leading (.:) A1.:Z10 TRIMRANGE(A1:E10,1,1) Trim leading blanks

This pattern can also be applied to full-column or -row references (eg. A:.A)