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How to extract unique values from list in Excel?

Author Sun Last modified

For example, you have a list of multiple data in a Worksheet, and some of them are duplicate values, now you need to extract unique values only from the list, how could you do? This tutorial will tell you three easy and quick ways on extracting unique values in Excel.

Extract unique values (excluding or including first duplicates) by using array formula

Extract unique values (including first duplicates) by using Advanced Filter

Extract unique values (excluding or including first duplicates) with Kutools for Excel good idea3


arrow blue right bubble Extract unique values by using array formula

There are formulas for you to extract unique distinct values (including first duplicates) and unique values (excluding first duplicates).

Note: With formulas to solve the extracting is a little difficult and complex, if you want to extract unique values correctly and sympely, I suggest you to apply the second and third methods.

Extract unique distinct values (including first duplicates)

Select a blank cell, here I select C2, and enter this formula =IFERROR(INDEX($A$2:$A$8, MATCH(0, FREQUENCY(IF(EXACT($A$2:$A$8, TRANSPOSE($C$1:C1)), MATCH(ROW($A$2:$A$8), ROW($A$2:$A$8)), ""), MATCH(ROW($A$2:$A$8), ROW($A$2:$A$8))), 0)), "") ($A$2:$A$8 is the list range of the values you want to extract from, $C$1:C1 is the first cell of the column you want to put out the extracting result), press Shift + Ctrl + Enter buttons, then drag fill handle to fill the range you need. You can see the unique distinct values (including first duplicates) are extracted only:
A screenshot showing how to extract unique distinct values in Excel using an array formula

Extract unique values (excluding first duplicates)

Before you using the formula, you need to define a name for the values range.

1. Select the range, for instance, A2:A8, and click Formula > Define Name. See screenshot:
A screenshot showing how to define a name for the values range in Excel

2. In the New Name dialog, type a name for your range in the Name text box and then click OK to close the dialog. See screenshot:
A screenshot of the New Name dialog box

3.Select a blank cell, here I select C2, type this formula =INDEX(List, MATCH(0,INDEX(COUNTIF(C1:$C$1, List)+(COUNTIF(List, List)<>1),0,0), 0)) (C1:$C$1 is the first cell of the column you want to put out the extracting result, and the List is the range name you defined in the second step ), press Shift + Ctrl + Enter buttons, then drag fill handle to fill the range you need. You can see the unique values (excluding first duplicates) are extracted only:
A screenshot showing how to extract unique values (excluding first duplicates) using a formula in Excel

Note: If you drag the fill handle and fill the cells more than the number of unique values, the excess cells display as error #N/A. Just clear these errors.


arrow blue right bubble Extract unique values (including first duplicates) by using Advanced Filter

In Excel, you can use Advanced Filter function to extract unique distinct values (including first duplicates) only.

1. Select the list range you want to extract unique distinct values from (including the list label), and click Data > Advanced. See screenshot:
A screenshot of the Advanced button on the ribbon

2. In the Advanced Filter dialog, check Copy to another location, then select a single cell to put out your result values, and check the Unique records only. See screenshot:
A screenshot of the Advanced Filter dialog

3. Click OK, you can see the result:
A screenshot showing the result after applying the Advanced Filter to extract unique values in Excel


arrow blue right bubble Extract unique values (excluding or including first duplicates) with Kutools for Excel

The above methods may be not easy and quick enough for you, now you can apply Select Duplicate & Unique Cells feature of Kutools for Excel.

Kutools for Excel, equipped with AI 🤖, offers over 300 handy features to simplify your tasks.

After installing Kutools for Excel, please do as below:(Free Download Kutools for Excel Now!)

1. Select the data list (excluding the list label), and click Kutools > Select > Select Duplicate & Unique Cells. See screenshot:
A screenshot of the Kutools for Excel menu, showing the Select Duplicate & Unique Cells option

2. In the Select Duplicate & Unique Cells dialog, check Unique values only or All unique(Including 1st duplicates) box as your need, and click Ok, a dialog pops up to tell you how many rows are selected, click OK to close it. See screenshot:
A screenshot of the Select Duplicate & Unique Cells dialog

3. Then all the unique values (excluding or including first duplicates) are selected, copy them to another range you want. See screenshot:

Unique values only
All unique(Including 1st duplicates)
A screenshot showing the result of extracting unique values (excluding first duplicates) using Kutools
A screenshot showing the result of extracting unique values (including first duplicates) using Kutools

Tip: You also can highlight the unique values or duplicate values with Kutools for Excel's Select Duplicate & Unique Cells.A screenshot of the Select Duplicate & Unique Cells dialog with highlight options

With Kutools for Excel's Select Duplicate & Unique Cells, you can select only duplicates cells (excluding or including 1st one), and also can select the entire duplicate rows.

Click here for more information on Select Duplicate & Unique Cells.

arrow blue right bubble Select unique or duplicate values only

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