How to highlight duplicate values in different colors in Excel?

In Excel, highlighting duplicate values in a column with one color is straightforward using Conditional Formatting. However, there are times when you may need to highlight duplicates in different colors for easier identification, as shown in the screenshot. This guide explains how to accomplish this task using VBA code.

Highlight duplicate values in a column with different colors by using VBA code

Highlight duplicate values in a column with different colors by using VBA code

There is no direct way to achieve this in Excel, but the VBA code below can help. Follow these steps:

1. Select the column of values where you want to highlight duplicates with different colors, then 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: Highlight duplicate values in different colors:

Sub ColorCompanyDuplicates()
'Updateby Extendoffice
    Dim xRg As Range
    Dim xTxt As String
    Dim xCell As Range
    Dim xChar As String
    Dim xCellPre As Range
    Dim xCIndex As Long
    Dim xCol As Collection
    Dim I As Long
    On Error Resume Next
    If ActiveWindow.RangeSelection.Count > 1 Then
      xTxt = ActiveWindow.RangeSelection.AddressLocal
    Else
      xTxt = ActiveSheet.UsedRange.AddressLocal
    End If
    Set xRg = Application.InputBox("please select the data range:", "Kutools for Excel", xTxt, , , , , 8)
    If xRg Is Nothing Then Exit Sub
    xCIndex = 2
    Set xCol = New Collection
    For Each xCell In xRg
      On Error Resume Next
      xCol.Add xCell, xCell.Text
      If Err.Number = 457 Then
        xCIndex = xCIndex + 1
        Set xCellPre = xCol(xCell.Text)
        If xCellPre.Interior.ColorIndex = xlNone Then xCellPre.Interior.ColorIndex = xCIndex
        xCell.Interior.ColorIndex = xCellPre.Interior.ColorIndex
      ElseIf Err.Number = 9 Then
        MsgBox "Too many duplicate companies!", vbCritical, "Kutools for Excel"
        Exit Sub
      End If
      On Error GoTo 0
    Next
End Sub

3. Press the F5 key to run this code. A prompt box will appear asking you to select the data range to highlight duplicate values, see screenshot:

4. Click the OK button, and all duplicate values will be highlighted in different colors, see screenshot: