df = pd.DataFrame([ [-0.532681, 'foo', 0], [1.490752, 'bar', 1], [-1.387326, 'foo', 2], [0.814772, 'baz', ' '], [-0.222552, ' ', 4], [-1.176781, 'qux', ' '], ], columns='A B C'.split(), index=pd.date_range('2000-01-01','2000-01-06')) # replace field that's entirely space (or empty) with NaN print(df.replace(r'^\s*$', np.nan, regex=True))