You tin quickly compare two lists in Excel for matches using the MATCH part, IF part, or highlighting row difference.

Manually searching for the difference between two lists can both be time-consuming and decumbent to errors. Yous volition cease upward wasting a lot of time!

There are various inbuilt functions and features in Excel that can do this task of Excel compare two lists easily. Let'south look for various options that you tin follow:

  • Highlight Row Difference
  • Compare Row using IF part
  • Compare Listing using Match Office

Permit's look at each method one-by-one!

Don't forget to download this Excel Workbook to follow along and compare two lists in Excel for matches:

Highlight Row Divergence

You lot can easily highlight differences in value in each row using the conditional formatting feature in Excel. It volition provide you lot with an idea of how many lines in the columns differ in values.

In the data below, you accept two lists in Cavalcade A and Column B respectively.

Follow the steps below to highlight row difference:

STEP ane: Select both the columns.

Match Two Lists With The MATCH Function | MyExcelOnline

STEP 2: Get to Home > Notice & Select > Become To Special or but printing keys Ctrl + M and Select Special to open up the Go To Special dialog box.

Match Two Lists With The MATCH Function | MyExcelOnline

STEP 3: Select Row Difference and Click OK.

Match Two Lists With The MATCH Function | MyExcelOnline

And, Voila!

Match Two Lists With The MATCH Function | MyExcelOnline

All the values in Stock List 2 that do not match with the respective value in Stock Listing 1 have been highlighted.

STEP 4: You tin mark these cells with colour besides. Go to Dwelling house > Font Color > Select Cerise.

Match Two Lists With The MATCH Function | MyExcelOnline

Match Two Lists With The MATCH Function | MyExcelOnline

This will permanently highlight the cells in red font colour for hereafter reference.

Compare Row using IF function

Yous tin utilise the IF Function to compare 2 lists in Excel for matches in the aforementioned row. If Part will return the value TRUE if the values match and Fake if they don't.

You lot can even add custom text to display the word "Match" when a benchmark is met and "Not a Match" when it's not met.

Let's see how we can compare ii lists in Excel for matches using IF Function:

Step one: We need to enter the IF role in a bare cell.

=IF(

Match Two Lists With The MATCH Function | MyExcelOnline

Step 2: Enter the first argument for the IF function – Logical_Test

What is your condition?

The value in jail cell D12 is equal to the value in cell C12.

=IF(D12=C12,

Match Two Lists With The MATCH Function | MyExcelOnline

Stride 3: Enter the 2d argument for the IF office – Value_if_true

What value should be displayed if the condition is truthful?

The text displayed should be Matchif D12 is equal to C12.

=IF( D12=C12,"Match",

Match Two Lists With The MATCH Function | MyExcelOnline

STEP 4: Enter the 3rd argument for the IF part – Value_if_false

What value should be displayed if the status is false?

The text displayed should be Not a Matchif D12 is not equal to C12.

=IF( D12=C12,"Match","Non a Match")

Match Two Lists With The MATCH Function | MyExcelOnline

STEP 5: Employ the aforementioned formula to the balance of the cells by dragging the lower right corner downwards.

Match Two Lists With The MATCH Function | MyExcelOnline

Compare List using Match Function

Earlier we sympathise how to compare 2 lists in Excel for matches, let's commencement go through the basics of what the MATCH function Excel does.

What does it do?

It returns the position of an item in a range.

Formula breakup:

=Lucifer(lookup_value,lookup_array,[match_type])

What it means:

=MATCH(lookup this value,from this list or range of cells,return me the Exact Match).


I am sure that you accept come up beyond many occasions where you accept ii lists of data and want to know if a specific detail in List1 exists in List2 .

Well, I take!

With the Match function, y'all can verify if a jail cell´s item in List1 exists in List2 .

The role will return the row position of that item in List2 hence confirming that it exists.  If you get a #N/A information technology ways that the cell´s item does non exist in List2.

You can then go alee and filter your List1 with either the values returned or the #Northward/Every bit.

Here are our two Lists:

MATCH Two Lists

MATCH Two Lists

Match Two Lists With The MATCH Function | MyExcelOnline

Watch How to Match 2 Lists in Excel for Matches on YouTube and give it a thumbs-up!

Match Two Lists With The MATCH Function | MyExcelOnline

Footstep 1: We need to enter the MATCH function in a blank cell:

=Friction match(

MATCH Two Lists

Stride 2: Enter the get-go argument for the MATCH function – Lookup_value

What is the value you want to bank check?

Select the cell containing the List1 value, equally this is what we want to cheque confronting List2.

=MATCH(C12,

MATCH Two Lists

Footstep 3: Enter the 2d statement for the MATCH function – Lookup_array

What is the list you desire to check against?

Select the entire List2.

MATCH Two Lists

And ensure to press F4 to make it an absolute reference.

=MATCH(C12, list2!$C$12:$C:21,

MATCH Two Lists

Footstep four: Enter the third argument for the MATCH function – Match_type

How specific is your matching? We desire an verbal match and then place in 0.

=MATCH(C12, list2!$C$12:$C:21, 0)

MATCH Two Lists

STEP five: Apply the same formula to the rest of the cells past dragging the lower right corner downwardly.

MATCH Two Lists

Yous now have all of the results!

You tin can meet which row numbers the items be in List2. For example, Mon45657 in List1 exists in List2 Row 9! If it does not exist in List2, then #N/A is displayed.

compare two lists in excel for matches

Using either of the three means mentioned in this article, you lot tin easily compare two lists in Excel for matches!

HELPFUL RESOURCE:

Make sure to download our Costless PDF on the 333 Excel keyboard Shortcuts here:

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