A Google Sheets file can exceed a product limit or become difficult to use well before that limit. Check the current limit and workbook structure before deleting records that may be required for the task.
Confirm which limit applies
Google’s current Drive guidance describes up to twenty million cells or 100 MB for spreadsheets created in or converted to Sheets. Different limits apply to Connected Sheets pivots and extracts. Do not apply a limit quoted for another product or an older tutorial to every spreadsheet.
For an Excel conversion, also inspect unusually long cell contents. Google warns that cells with more than 50,000 characters are removed when converting from Excel. Keep the complete source file before attempting a smaller test.
Inspect the workbook, not only the visible data
Review all tabs and their row and column extents, including unused areas, repeated imports, and oversized formula ranges. A sheet with a few visible records can still have a much larger structure.
Distinguish a hard size error from slow calculations or a connection problem. Being below a stated maximum does not guarantee good performance, particularly with extensive imports, volatile functions, or large dependency chains.
Reduce or redesign with a complete original retained
Test a copy. Remove genuinely unnecessary structure only after confirming it has no references or operational purpose. If the data itself exceeds a suitable spreadsheet workflow, use an approved data-storage or analysis design rather than arbitrarily cutting off records.
Reconcile row counts and key totals after any split or conversion. Keep identifiers and relationships intact, and document where the complete dataset resides. A file opening successfully after trimming does not establish that the retained subset still answers the original question.
References
- Files you can store in Google Drive
- Use both Excel & Sheets: Best practices
- Learn how to improve Sheets performance
Reviewed against the linked official product guidance on November 3, 2026. Features, limits, screen labels, and access can vary by account, platform, region, and organization policy.