Finding duplicates in a dataset is crucial for keeping your records clean and accurate. Whether you're working with contact lists, survey responses, product inventories, or sales data, duplicate entries can lead to confusion and errors.
Google Sheets offers multiple methods to identify and manage duplicate data from built-in features to custom formulas and conditional formatting.
In this post, we’ll walk you through the easiest and most effective ways to spot duplicates in your sheet, helping you stay organized and error-free.
How to Find Duplicates in Google Sheets | Step-by-Step Tutorial
Method 1: Using Conditional Formatting
- Open your Google Sheet
Head to Google Sheets and open the file with data.
- Select the Range to Check
Click and drag to highlight the column or cell range you want to scan for duplicates.
- Go to Format > Conditional formatting
This opens a sidebar on the right.
- Set the Format Rules
- Under "Format cells if", select “Custom formula is”.
- Enter the formula:
(Change A:A and A1 to your specific range and starting cell if needed.)
- Choose a Highlight Color
Pick a background color to mark duplicates, like light red.
- Click “Done”
All duplicates will now be highlighted in your selected range.
Method 2: Using the UNIQUE Function
- Create a New Column
In a new column, type:
This will return a list of all unique values from the selected column, allowing you to manually compare for duplicates.
Method 3: Using a Helper Column with COUNTIF
- Insert a New Column Next to Your Data
- Drag the fill handle down to apply it to all rows.
- Any cell with a count greater than 1 is a duplicate.
Use this formula:
Conclusion
Google Sheets offers flexible options to find and highlight duplicate entries, making it easier to clean up and maintain your data.
Whether you prefer visual cues or formula-based solutions, these methods help you ensure accuracy and avoid costly mistakes in your spreadsheets.
FAQs can come handy!
Can I remove duplicates automatically in Google Sheets?
Yes! Use Data > Data cleanup > Remove duplicates to delete repeated entries.
Will conditional formatting update if new duplicates are added?
Yes, conditional formatting is dynamic and updates automatically as you modify the data.
Can I find duplicates across multiple columns?
Yes, but you need to combine the columns using a formula like
=A2&B2 before checking for duplicates.What if I want to find duplicate rows instead of cells?
Use a helper column to join all values in the row (e.g.,
=A2&B2&C2) and then apply a COUNTIF.