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How to highlight duplicate values in Excel and Google Sheets
Topic:Conditional formattingExcel & Google Sheets
=COUNTIF($A$2:$A$6,A2)>1✓
Verified example
Computed by a real spreadsheet engine on the sample data below.
| Name |
| Alice |
| Bob |
| Alice |
| Carol |
| Bob |
=COUNTIF($A$2:$A$6,A2)>1→TRUE
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Step by step
- 1Select the range you want to check (e.g., A2:A6).
- 2Open Conditional Formatting: Home → Conditional Formatting → New Rule (Excel) or Format → Conditional Formatting (Sheets).
- 3Choose 'Use a formula' and enter =COUNTIF($A$2:$A$6,A2)>1 — lock the range but leave the cell reference relative so each row checks itself.
Tips
- Excel also has a built-in shortcut: Home → Conditional Formatting → Highlight Cell Rules → Duplicate Values — it applies the same logic without typing a formula.
Need it for your exact data?
Describe your columns in plain English and get the precise formula for your sheet, with the right Excel or Sheets syntax.
Frequently asked
How do I highlight only the second occurrence, not the first?
Use =COUNTIF($A$2:A2,A2)>1 with a mixed reference — the range expands row by row, so the first occurrence sees a count of 1 and is not highlighted.
Can I highlight duplicates across two columns?
Yes — expand the COUNTIF range to cover both columns: =COUNTIF($A$2:$B$6,A2)>1.
More on Conditional formatting
See all →How-to
How to highlight cells greater than a value
Use Conditional Formatting with a simple greater-than rule to automatically color cells that exceed a threshold value.
How-toHow to highlight the highest value in a range
Color the maximum value in a range automatically using a Conditional Formatting rule based on the MAX function.
How-toHow to highlight the lowest value in a range
Color the minimum value in a range using a Conditional Formatting rule built on the MIN function.
How-toHow to highlight blank cells
Use conditional formatting with ISBLANK to automatically highlight empty cells in your spreadsheet for easy visual identification.
How-toHow to highlight cells that contain specific text
Use conditional formatting with SEARCH or ISNUMBER(SEARCH()) to highlight any cell containing a specific word or phrase automatically.
How-toHow to shade every other row
Use conditional formatting with MOD and ROW to automatically apply alternating row colors for a banded, readable table layout.