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How to find duplicate values in Excel and Google Sheets
Topic:Duplicates & uniquenessExcel & Google Sheets
=IF(COUNTIF($A$2:$A$6,A2)>1,"Duplicate","Unique")✓
Verified example
Computed by a real spreadsheet engine on the sample data below.
| Name | Status |
| Alice | |
| Bob | |
| Alice | |
| Carol | |
| Bob |
=IF(COUNTIF($A$2:$A$6,A2)>1,"Duplicate","Unique")→Duplicate
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Step by step
- 1In a helper column (e.g., B2) enter =IF(COUNTIF($A$2:$A$6,A2)>1,"Duplicate","Unique") — lock the full range with $ signs.
- 2Copy the formula down through all data rows.
- 3Filter column B for 'Duplicate' to see every repeated value at a glance, or count duplicates with =COUNTIF(B2:B6,"Duplicate").
Tips
- To find the count of each value rather than just a label, use =COUNTIF($A$2:$A$6,A2) on its own — it shows how many times each entry appears, so you can spot high-frequency duplicates quickly.
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Frequently asked
How is this different from the highlight-duplicates approach?
Conditional Formatting highlights cells visually; a formula column produces a value you can filter, sort, count, and reference in other formulas.
Can I find duplicates across two separate columns?
Yes — use COUNTIF across both columns: =IF(COUNTIF($A$2:$B$6,A2)>1,"Duplicate","Unique").
More on Duplicates & uniqueness
See all →How-to
How to remove duplicates
Remove duplicate values with one formula using UNIQUE, or strip them in place with the built-in tool. Works in Excel 365 and Google Sheets.
How-toHow to compare two columns
Check whether two columns match row by row, or find values in one column missing from another, using IF and COUNTIF.
How-toHow to get a sorted list of unique values
Extract a sorted, deduplicated list from a column using SORT+UNIQUE in modern Excel and Google Sheets, or array formulas in older versions.
How-toUNIQUE function vs Remove Duplicates in Excel and Sheets
Learn when to use the UNIQUE formula versus the Remove Duplicates tool in Excel and Google Sheets to eliminate or surface distinct values.
How-toHow to flag duplicate values
Use COUNTIF to flag duplicate values in a list with a simple formula that marks any entry appearing more than once.
How-toHow to compare two lists for differences
Find values that exist in one list but not the other using COUNTIF to label each item as Matched or Unmatched.