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How to Compare Two Columns or Lists in Excel (4 Suitable Ways)

While doing different tasks in Excel we often come across a situation where the matching and differences of two or multiple columns are required. It’s not a difficult task to compare two columns or lists in excel but you may get confused as there are so many ways to do it. In this article, we will look for different techniques for matching and differentiating columns in Excel.

4 Methods to Compare Two Columns or Lists in Excel

We have a dataset of two columns. That columns contain names of items from two showrooms of a super shop. We will compare the data of these two showrooms.

How to Compare Two Columns or Lists in Excel (4 Suitable Ways)

1. Compare Two Columns Using Equal Operator

Here, we will compare two columns row-wise using the equal sign. When the items are the same indicate True otherwise False.

📌 Steps:

  • Add a new column on the right side to show the matching status.

How to Compare Two Columns or Lists in Excel (4 Suitable Ways)

  • Put the following formula on Cell D5.
=B5=C5

How to Compare Two Columns or Lists in Excel (4 Suitable Ways)

  • Now, press Enter and drag the Fill Handle icon.

How to Compare Two Columns or Lists in Excel (4 Suitable Ways)

We can see True appears for match cases otherwise, False.

2. Use Row Differences Command of Go To Special Tool to Compare Two Lists in Excel

In this method, we will use the Row differences technique. It compares those columns row-wise and selects the cells of the second column automatically.

📌 Steps:

  • Select the whole dataset of Range B5:C9.
  • Then, press the F5 button.

How to Compare Two Columns or Lists in Excel (4 Suitable Ways)

  • The Go To dialog box appears. Click on the Special option.

How to Compare Two Columns or Lists in Excel (4 Suitable Ways)

  • Now, select the Row differences option from the Go To Special window.
  • Finally, press OK.

How to Compare Two Columns or Lists in Excel (4 Suitable Ways)

  • We can see two cells of the second column are selected.
  • We change the color of the cells from the Fill Color option.

How to Compare Two Columns or Lists in Excel (4 Suitable Ways)

  • Look at the dataset now.

How to Compare Two Columns or Lists in Excel (4 Suitable Ways)

Cells of the second column with mismatched data are visible now.

3. Use Excel Functions to Compare Two Columns or Lists in Excel

3.1 Using IF Function

Here, we will use the IF function. It will compare the cells of the columns row-wise and checks whether they are the same or not.

The IF function checks whether a condition is met, and returns one value if TRUE, and another value if FALSE.

📌 Steps:

  • We put a formula based on the IF function on Cell D5.
=IF(B5=C5,"Match","Mismatch")

How to Compare Two Columns or Lists in Excel (4 Suitable Ways)

This formula will check whether the cells are the same or not. If same then, show Match otherwise, Mismatch.

  • Now, drag the Fill Handle icon downwards.

How to Compare Two Columns or Lists in Excel (4 Suitable Ways)

You could use the following formula to compare for not matching values.

=IF(B5<>C5,"Mismatch","Match")

How to Compare Two Columns or Lists in Excel (4 Suitable Ways)

In this case, when the condition is True shows Mismatch, otherwise Match.

How to Compare Two Columns or Lists in Excel (4 Suitable Ways)

3.2 Applying EXACT Function

When we have the same data in two columns with case differences, we will use the EXACT function.

The EXACT function checks whether two text strings are exactly the same, and returns TRUE or FALSE. EXACT is case-sensitive.

In Row 6, we have the same data from different cases. Now, apply the EXACT function to see whether it can detect the case difference or not.

How to Compare Two Columns or Lists in Excel (4 Suitable Ways)

📌 Steps:

  • Insert the formula below on Cell D5.
=IF(EXACT(B5,C5),"Match","Mismatch")

How to Compare Two Columns or Lists in Excel (4 Suitable Ways)

Here, the IF function is used to show the comment based on the decision taken by the EXACT function.

  • Pull the Fill Handle icon.

How to Compare Two Columns or Lists in Excel (4 Suitable Ways)

We get the result. Due to case difference Mismatch is showing at Cell D6.

3.3 Using MATCH Function

In this method, we will compare the 1st column with the 2nd column. When the matching of the 1st column is found on the 2nd column result will be TRUE.

Here, we will use the MATCH function with ISERROR and IF functions.

The MATCH function returns the relative position of an item in an array that matches a specified value with a specified order.

📌 Steps:

  • Put the following formula on Cell D5.
=IF(ISERROR(MATCH($B5,$C$5:$C$10,0)),"No match","Match found")

How to Compare Two Columns or Lists in Excel (4 Suitable Ways)

When the statement is true result will be Match found otherwise No match.

  • Press Enter to execute the formula.

How to Compare Two Columns or Lists in Excel (4 Suitable Ways)

We got the result based on the 1st column. We are looking for a match in the 2nd column.

4. Compare Two Columns and Highlight Using Conditional Formatting

In this section, we will use conditional formatting to compare two columns and highlight them according to conditions.

4.1 Highlight Equal Values in Two Columns

📌 Steps:

  • Select the dataset first.
  • Go to the Conditional Formatting option from the Home tab.
  • Choose New Rule from the appeared dropdown.

How to Compare Two Columns or Lists in Excel (4 Suitable Ways)

  • The New Formatting Rule window appears.
  • Select Use a formula to determine which cells to format as the rule type.
  • Put the following formula on the marked box.
=$B5=$C5 

How to Compare Two Columns or Lists in Excel (4 Suitable Ways)

  • Choose the Fill tab from the Format Cells window.
  • Choose the desired color.
  • Press the OK button.

How to Compare Two Columns or Lists in Excel (4 Suitable Ways)

  • We see the Preview here.
  • Finally, press OK.

How to Compare Two Columns or Lists in Excel (4 Suitable Ways)

  • Look at the dataset.

How to Compare Two Columns or Lists in Excel (4 Suitable Ways)

Cells with the same data are the highlight.

4.2 Highlight Unique and Duplicate Cells

In this section, we will highlight the unique and duplicate data cells with different colors.

📌 Steps:

  • Enter the New Rule option as shown previously.

How to Compare Two Columns or Lists in Excel (4 Suitable Ways)

  • Select Format only unique or duplicate values rule type.
  • Choose the duplicate option.

How to Compare Two Columns or Lists in Excel (4 Suitable Ways)

  • Then, set the format color and press OK.

How to Compare Two Columns or Lists in Excel (4 Suitable Ways)

Duplicate cells are highlighted.

  • Again, follow the previous process and choose the unique option.

How to Compare Two Columns or Lists in Excel (4 Suitable Ways)

  • Have a final look at the dataset.

How to Compare Two Columns or Lists in Excel (4 Suitable Ways)

Duplicate and unique data care are highlighted differently.

Compare Two Columns in Excel and Count Matches

In this function, we will use the combination of the  SUMPRODUCT, and COUNTIF functions to count the matches. After that, we will calculate the number of total rows using the ROWS function and subtract the matches to get the number of mismatches.

The SUMPRODUCT function returns the sum of products of corresponding ranges or arrays.

📌 Steps:

  • First, we add two rows. One for the match and another for the mismatch.

How to Compare Two Columns or Lists in Excel (4 Suitable Ways)

  • Now, insert the following formula based on the SUMPRODUCT and COUNTIF function on Cell C11.
=SUMPRODUCT(COUNTIF(B5:B9,C5:C9))

How to Compare Two Columns or Lists in Excel (4 Suitable Ways)

  • Press the Enter button to get the result.

How to Compare Two Columns or Lists in Excel (4 Suitable Ways)

We get the number of matched rows.

  • Now, go to Cell C12 and put the below formula.
=ROWS(B5:C9)-C11

How to Compare Two Columns or Lists in Excel (4 Suitable Ways)

  • Again, press the Enter button to get the number of mismatches.

How to Compare Two Columns or Lists in Excel (4 Suitable Ways)

Compare Two Columns in Excel and Remove Duplicates

In this method, we will show how to remove the duplicates after comparing two columns.

📌 Steps:

  • Select the dataset first.
  • Go to the Conditional Formatting section.
  • Choose Duplicate Values from the Highlight Cells Rules.

How to Compare Two Columns or Lists in Excel (4 Suitable Ways)

  • Choose a color to indicate the duplicates.

How to Compare Two Columns or Lists in Excel (4 Suitable Ways)

  • We can see the color of cells containing duplicate data has been changed.
  • Now, press Ctrl + Shift+ L to enable filter option.

How to Compare Two Columns or Lists in Excel (4 Suitable Ways)

  • Click on the down arrow of the 2nd column.
  • Choose the color of the duplicate cells from the Filter by color section.

How to Compare Two Columns or Lists in Excel (4 Suitable Ways)

  • Only duplicate values are showing now. Select that range.
  • Press the right button of the mouse.
  • Choose the Clear Contents option from the Context Menu.

How to Compare Two Columns or Lists in Excel (4 Suitable Ways)

  • Duplicate values are removed from the dataset.

How to Compare Two Columns or Lists in Excel (4 Suitable Ways)

  • Again, go to the filter section and check the Select All option.

How to Compare Two Columns or Lists in Excel (4 Suitable Ways)

  • No duplicates are showing now.

How to Compare Two Columns or Lists in Excel (4 Suitable Ways)

Excel Match Two Columns and Extract Output from a Third with VLOOKUP

Here, we have two datasets. 1st one is of Showroom 1 and 2nd is of Showroom 2. We will compare item columns of each dataset and extract the price from Showroom 1 to Showroom 2 using the VLOOKUP function.

How to Compare Two Columns or Lists in Excel (4 Suitable Ways)

📌 Steps:

  • Apply the formula based on the VLOOKUP function on Cell F5.
  =VLOOKUP($E5,$B$5:$C$10,2,FALSE)

How to Compare Two Columns or Lists in Excel (4 Suitable Ways)

  • After comparing Item (S1) with Item (S2), we extract the price in the 2nd table.

How to Compare Two Columns or Lists in Excel (4 Suitable Ways)

How to Compare More Than Two Columns in Excel

In the previous sections, we have shown a comparison between two columns. When we have more than two columns, we can use the below methods.

1. Use Excel AND Function

The AND function checks whether all arguments are TRUE, and returns TRUE if all arguments are TRUE.

In this method, after checking all the conditions, the result will be shown based on the comment used in the IF function. Before applying the formula, we add another column named Showroom 3.

How to Compare Two Columns or Lists in Excel (4 Suitable Ways)

📌 Steps:

  • Now, put the formula on Cell E5.
=IF(AND(B5=C5,C5=D5),"Match","Mismatch")  

How to Compare Two Columns or Lists in Excel (4 Suitable Ways)

  • After that, pull the Fill Handle icon.

How to Compare Two Columns or Lists in Excel (4 Suitable Ways)

Finally, we get the status.

2. Compare with Excel COUNTIF Function

The COUNTIF function counts the number of cells within a range that meet the given condition, and the COUNTA function counts the number of cells in a range that are not empty.[/wpsm_box]

Here, we will use these functions to compare multiple columns.

📌 Steps:

  • Copy the following formula on Cell E5.
=IF(COUNTIF(B5:D5,B5)=COUNTA(B5:D5),"Match","Mismatch")

How to Compare Two Columns or Lists in Excel (4 Suitable Ways)

  • Drag the Fill Handle icon.

How to Compare Two Columns or Lists in Excel (4 Suitable Ways)

Finally, we get the comparison result.

Conclusion

In this article, we described how to compare two columns or lists in Excel. We compared the columns row-wise and column-wise in both ways. I hope this will satisfy your needs. Please have a look at our website Exceldemy.com and give your suggestions in the comment box.