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How to highlight duplicates in two columns in Excel and Google Sheets
Topic:Conditional formattingExcel & Google Sheets
=COUNTIFS($A$2:$A$7,$A2,$B$2:$B$7,$B2)>1✓
Verified example
Computed by a real spreadsheet engine on the sample data below.
| Name | |
| Alice | alice@example.com |
| Bob | bob@example.com |
| Alice | alice@example.com |
| Charlie | charlie@example.com |
| David | david@example.com |
=COUNTIFS($A$2:$A$7,$A2,$B$2:$B$7,$B2)>1→TRUE
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Step by step
- 1Select the range of cells you want to check for duplicates (e.g., A2:B7).
- 2Go to the Home tab, click Conditional Formatting, and choose New Rule.
- 3In Excel, select 'Use a formula to determine which cells to format'. In Google Sheets, choose 'Custom formula is'.
- 4Enter the formula provided for your respective application.
- 5Set your desired formatting style and click OK.
Tips
- Ensure your formula references the correct cell ranges to avoid errors.
- If your data starts from a different row or column, adjust the formula accordingly.
- Remember to apply the rule to the entire range of data you wish to check.
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Frequently asked
What if my data is in different columns?
Adjust the column references in the formula to match your data's location.
Can I highlight duplicates in more than two columns?
Yes, extend the COUNTIFS formula to include additional criteria for each column.
How do I remove the highlighting once I've identified duplicates?
Select the formatted cells, go to Conditional Formatting, and delete the rule.
More on Conditional formatting
See all →How-to
How to highlight duplicate values
Highlight duplicate cells automatically with Conditional Formatting using a COUNTIF rule — no formulas to copy manually.
How-toHow 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.