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How to identify missing numbers sequence in Excel?

Let's say you have a long list of sequence numbers to mark items, such as check numbers in bank statements, normally we scrolling through and locate the missing sequence numbers manually. Sometimes this is quite arduous and time-consuming. You may think of tricky ways to deal with it. Yes, there are several easy ways to identify and locate missing numbers sequence in Excel 2007, Excel 2010, and Excel 2013 quickly and conveniently.

Identify missing numbers sequence with IF formula

Identify missing numbers sequence with an array formula

Identify missing numbers sequence with Kutools for Excel quickly


arrow blue right bubble Identify missing numbers sequence with IF formula

As we all known, most of sequence numbers are with fixed increment of 1, such as 1, 2, 3, …, N. Therefore, if you can identify the number is not less 1 than its following number, there is a missing number.

We will show you the tutorials with an example as following screenshot shows:

doc identify missing numbers 1

1. In a blank cell, enter the formula of =IF(A3-A2=1,"","Missing"), and press the Enter key. In this case, we enter the formula in Cell B2.

doc-identify-missing-numbers2

If there is no missing numbers, this formula will return nothing; if missing numbers exist, it will return the text of "Missing" in active cell.

2. Select the cell B2 and drag the fill handle over the range of cells that you want to contain this formula. Now it identifies the missing numbers with the text of "Missing" in corresponding cells of Column B. See the following screenshot:

doc-identify-missing-numbers3


arrow blue right bubble Identify missing numbers sequence with an array formula

Sometimes it requires not only identifying missing numbers sequence, but also listing missing numbers too. You can deal it with following steps:

1. in the adjacent cell, please enter the formula = SMALL(IF(ISNA(MATCH(ROW(A$1:A$30),A$1:A$30,0)),ROW(A$1:A$30)),ROW(A1))

A1:A30 = range of numbers, the sequence to check against is from 1 to 30

2. Press the Ctrl + Shift + Enter Keys together to finish the formula. Copy down the formula until you get #NUM! errors meaning all missing numbers have been listed. See screenshot:

doc-identify-missing-numbers4


arrow blue right bubble Identify missing numbers sequence with Kutools for Excel quickly

The above methods only can identify the missing pure number sequence, if you have the sequence such as AA-1001-BB, AA-1002-BB, they may not work successfully. But, don't worry, Kutools for Excel’s powerful feature – Find Missing Sequence Number can help you quickly identify the missing sequence.

Note:To apply this Find Missing Sequence Number, firstly, you should download the Kutools for Excel, and then apply the feature quickly and easily.

After installing Kutools for Excel, please do as this:

1. Select the data sequence that you want to find the missing sequence.

2. Click Kutools > Insert > Find Missing Sequence Number, see screenshot:

3. In the Find Missing Sequence Number dialog box:

(1.) If you choose Inserting new column with following missing marker option, all the missing sequence numbers have been marked with the text Missing in a new column next to your data. See screenshot:

doc-identify-missing-numbers 6

(2.) If you choose Inserting missing sequence number option, all the missing numbers have been inserted into the sequence list. See screenshot:

doc-identify-missing-numbers 7

(3.) If you choose Inserting blank rows when encounting missing sequence numbers option, all blank rows are inserted when there are missing numbers . See screenshot:

doc-identify-missing-numbers 8

(4.) If you choose Fill background color option, the location of the missing numbers will be highlighted at once. See screenshot:

doc-identify-missing-numbers 9


arrow blue right bubble Identify missing numbers sequence with Kutools for Excel quickly

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Comments (43)
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This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
I am not able to find missing numbers from excel..
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I want to find a missing receipts using a range in columns, i.e. B2:C2 (receipt book # 679201/B2:679400/C2) meaning 200 receipt pages in one receipt book. Then accounted receipts of 679305/D2:679386/E2. Then what is the best formula for this?
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Thank you. This is awesome
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Doesn't work
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i wanted to identify the missing range in sequence rather than a missing number. example if there is range missing from 1,2,3,8,9,10,11,18. the missing range is 4-7 & 12-17.
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Thankyou... It helped a lot... God bless you
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
I have a list and this has been extremely helpful. I am trying to list the existing numbers in a sequence and then skip the missing (ext. 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 to show as 1 - 3, 5, 7). Is this possible to formulate?
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Hello Community and excel Gurus; I wan to search missing numbers in a row of excel ,I tried to use the Kutool for excel ,After selecting the option to find missing numbers ,i am getting error the range can only contain number or text ?Though the range or row i had selected contains only number. Any expert advice ? Best, Sanchit Bhrdwaj
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May be your numbers are in text format so first you have to convert it numeber by multiply all with Number 1 , the format will change in number then your range will be in number and it will change
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Thank u Mannnnnn . Cheers
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its good working but this formula very big how can remember this = SMALL(IF(ISNA(MATCH(ROW(A$1:A$30),A$1:A$30,0)),ROW(A$1:A$30)),ROW(A1))
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