How to align duplicates or matching values in two columns in Excel?
If you have two list of names, and you want to compare these two columns and find the duplicates in both, and then align or display the matching names based on the first column in a new column as following screenshot shown. To list the duplicate values which exist in both columns, this article may introduce some tricks for solving it.
Compare methods for matching values in two columns
Align duplicates or matching values in two columns with formula
Align duplicates or matching values in two columns with VBA code
Find and highlight the duplicates or matching values in two columns with Kutools for Excel
Compare methods for matching values in two columns
The methods below solve slightly different matching tasks. The formula and VBA methods return matching values in an aligned output column, while Kutools for Excel is designed to quickly identify and highlight matching cells directly in the compared ranges. Choose the method according to the result you need.
| Method | Best for | Output | Key consideration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formula | Creating an aligned list of matches that can update with the source data | Returns matching values in a separate column | Requires a relatively long MATCH / INDEX formula and filling it down |
| VBA code | Automating the creation of an aligned matching column | Inserts a new column containing matching values | Requires VBA and the code shown here assumes the compared columns are adjacent |
| Kutools for Excel | Quickly identifying and highlighting matching values without formulas or code | Selects and optionally highlights matching cells in the original data | Ready-to-use comparison controls with optional background or font highlighting |
Align duplicates or matching values in two columns with formula
Here is a simple formula which can help you to display the duplicate values from two columns. Please do as this:
Enter this formula: =IF(ISNA(MATCH(A2,$C$2:$C$12,0)),"",INDEX($C$2:$C$12,MATCH(A2,$C$2:$C$12,0))) into a blank cell which beside your first column, B2, for example, then drag the fill handle down to the cells that you want to apply this formula, and all the values both in column A and column C have been aligned with the matching values in column A, see screenshot:
Note: In the above formula, A2 is the first cell value of the column which you want to compare, and C2:C12 is another column of data that you want to compare with. You can change the cell references to your need.
Quickly find matching values in two columns: Kutools for Excel's Select Same & Different Cells feature can help you quickly select and highlight the same or different cells from two columns without using formulas.
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Align duplicates or matching values in two columns with VBA code
Supposing you have two adjacent columns - column E and column F - which have some duplicate names. With the following code, a new column will be inserted between these two columns and the duplicate values are listed as below screenshot shown:
1. Hold down the ALT + F11 keys to open the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window.
2. Click Insert > Module, and paste the following code in the Module Window.
VBA code: Align duplicates or matching values in two columns
Sub Listduplicates()
'Updateby Extendoffice 20160613
Dim rngA As Range
Set rngA = Range([E1], Cells(Rows.Count, "E").End(xlUp))
rngA.Offset(0, 1).Columns.Insert
With rngA.Offset(0, 1)
.FormulaR1C1 = _
"=IF(ISNA(MATCH(RC[-1],C[1],0)),"""",INDEX(C[1],MATCH(RC[-1],C[1],0)))"
.Value = .Value
End With
End Sub
Note: In the above code, E1 is the first cell in your first compared column, and E indicates the first column letter of your data. Your two columns must be adjacent.
3. Then press the F5 key to run this code. After executing the code, a new column will be inserted between these two columns, and the duplicate values in the two columns are aligned based on the first column.
Find and highlight the duplicates or matching values in two columns with Kutools for Excel
If you want to quickly identify matching values rather than create a separate aligned list, Kutools for Excel's Select Same & Different Cells feature provides a straightforward solution. It can compare two selected ranges, select matching cells, and optionally apply a background or font color to make the matches easy to see.
After installing Kutools for Excel, please do as follows:
1. Hold the Ctrl key to select the two data columns separately, and then click Kutools > Select > Select Same & Different Cells, see screenshot:
2. In the Select Same & Different Cells dialog box, check My data has headers if you don’t want the headers to be compared. Then select Each row under the Based on section and Same Values from the Find section. Under Processing of results, you can also choose a background or font color for the matching values. See screenshot:
3. Click OK, and the matching values are selected and highlighted according to your settings. See screenshot:
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