How to Find Duplicates in Two Columns in Excel (7 Methods)

There are great tools and commands to find duplicates in two or more columns in Excel that will ease your work and save a lot of time to treat lengthy datasheets. In this article, I will show you 7 easy methods to find duplicates in two columns in Excel.

Quickest Way to Find Duplicates in Two Columns in Excel

To find duplicates in two columns in Excel,

Overview

Method 1: The same texts will result in TRUE, and the unique texts will result in FALSE.

Method 2: If the texts match the result will be DUPLICATE, if the texts don’t match the result will be DIFFERENT.

Method 3: If the texts (belonging to the same row) are duplicates, they will be highlighted.

Method 4: Applicable where we need to compare two columns and return a result in the third column.

Method 5: This technique will find out the duplicate values from the whole data set.

Method 6: This technique will compare two columns in Excel and show the unique values as the difference between the columns.

Method 7: Counts how many duplicates are in a datasheet.

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Alternative Way #1: Use the True/False Logical Formula to Find Duplicates in Two Columns in Excel

To find the duplicate names in columns, I have a list of brands around the world here below.

Now to check the duplicates follow the following steps:

❶ Create a new column beside the following columns.

I have named the new column ‘Result’.

❷ Then write this formula in the first cell of that column:

A2: is the first input of column A.

B2: is the first input of column B.

The ‘=’ sign before the functions demonstrates a comparison between these two columns.

❸ Then press Enter.

If there is a match between the columns, the result will be TRUE. If there is a mismatch, the result will be FALSE.

❹ Now press on the Fill Handle and drag it to the end of the column (C2-C12).

The results will come up as TRUE or FALSE indicating a match or mismatch respectively.

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Alternative Way #2: Use the IF Function to Find Duplicates in Two Columns in Excel

Using the IF function is another easy way to find the similarities and dissimilarities between two distinct columns. It gives a more expressive result than the first one I personally feel.

To apply the IF function,

❶ Create a new column beside the existing columns.

I have named the new column header ‘Result’.

❷ Then write this formula in the first cell of that column:

In this formula,

• A2=B2 depicts a logical test.
• If the value is true, the result will be duplicated.
• And if the value is false, the result will be Different.

❸ Then press ENTER.

❹  Now hold the Fill Handle and drag it to the end of the column (C2-C12).

Instead of the words Duplicate and Different, you can use other words also. Such as ‘Match and Mismatch’, ‘Positive and Negative’, ‘Same and Unique’ etc.

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Alternative Way #3: Use New Rule to Find Duplicates in Two Columns in Excel

Highlighting can make your work of sorting duplicate characters very easily. It works great especially when you are in a hurry because you can look at the colored cells quickly.

To use highlight for finding duplicates follow these steps:

❶ Select the entire data table.

❷ Then go to the Home tab.

❸ Then click on the Conditional Formatting drop-down (under Styles group).

❹ Now hit ‘New Rules’ from the Conditional Formatting drop-down list.

A dialog box called New Formatting Rule will come along.

❺ From the dialog box, select Use a Formula to Determine Which Cells to Format as a rule type.

❻ Now type this formula inside the Format Values Where This Formula Is True bar:

❼ Then click on the Format button.

The Format Cells dialog box will show up.

❽ Now, change the Background Color under the Fill section as per your preference.

For example, I have used yellow to highlight.

❾ Hit Ok to save the changes.

This will highlight the cells which have the same characters located in the same row and they are easy to find out in this way if the list is overlong.

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Alternative Way #4: Match Two Columns and Output the Third in Excel

This method is only applicable where we need to compare two columns with some similar names or values and at the end, the comparison will return a result in the third column co-related with the 1st column names/values.

For instance, I have a list of Product Codes in the column named Product Code and their prices in the column Price. Product Code-2 has some of the same products as column A (Product Code) and the final result will return the values in column F (Price-2) corresponding with column B (Price).

❶ Type the following formula in the empty column (besides the third column):

I have put the formula in column F which I named Price-2.

E2: is the lookup value as the third column is E.

$A$2:$B$12: is the table array.

2: is the column index number.

FALSE: is the range lookup that will give a result of N/A if the value is not found.

❷ After that, press Enter.

❸ Now drag down the Fill Handle over the range of cells F2:F6.

And done! You will get your desired results this way.

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Alternative Way #5: Use the ‘Duplicate Values’ Command to Find Duplicates in Excel

This will find out the duplicate values from the whole data set that need not necessarily belong in the same row. The values can be situated anywhere in the data table.

❶  Select the entire data set.

❷ Then go to the Home tab from the ribbon.

❸ Then click on the Conditional Formatting drop-down (under Styles group).

❹ Now drift the cursor on the Highlight Cells Rules command and click on Duplicate Values from the new drop-down list.

The Duplicate Values dialog box will come along.

❺ Check that Duplicate is selected inside the bar.

❻ Then change the Values with the command according to your choice.

I choose the Light Red Fill highlight and here is the end result in the image below.

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Alternative Way #6: Compare Two Lists and Return Differences in Excel

This technique will compare two columns in Excel and show the unique values as the difference between the columns in a separate column.

❶ Create a new column.

I have created a new column in Column C and named it Matches.

To filter out the duplicate values from the two columns, we are going to use the IF function.

The basic syntax of this function is:

❷ Now write this formula in that column:

COUNTIF: gives the logical test.

RANGE: here in my datasheet, the range is $B$2:$B$12.

CRITERIA VALUE: A2 is my criteria value as the B2-B12 was compared to A2.

❸ Press Enter. It will show the duplicate value.

❹ After that, drag the Fill Handle down from C2 to C12.

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Alternative Way #7: Count Duplicates in Excel

Suppose you have a lengthy list of names and you want to count how many times one name is repeated. This method will do that for you.

Here is a long list of different brand names.

To count the duplicates from this list,

❶ First, create two new columns to find the duplicate values.

I have named them Brands-2 and Count.

❷ Insert the names that you want to count their repetitions.

Now, a COUNTIFS function will be placed beside that column.

The generic syntax of the COUNTIFS function is:

❸ Insert the following function in the D2 cell:

❹ Press Enter. It will show the result.

❺ Finally, drag the Fill Handle down from D2 to D5.

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Conclusion

I hope you got an overall idea about all possible techniques to find the duplicate values in columns in Excel. Use whichever method you feel comfortable with. Also if you have any questions or confusion regarding this topic, feel free to comment here. I will try to respond as soon as possible.