Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here: Ensuring Unique Values in a Column.
When you are entering information in a worksheet, you may want to ensure that the data being entered is actually unique for a particular column. For instance, if you are entering a series of invoice numbers in column D of a worksheet, you may want to ensure that you don't enter the same invoice number twice.
There are a couple of ways that you can approach such a problem. If you are always entering your new information at the bottom of a column, you can use Excel's data validation feature to make sure that whatever you are entering in the current cell does not match anything higher up in the column. Simply follow these steps:
Figure 1. The Data Validation dialog box.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here: 
=MATCH(D1,$D:$D,0)=ROW(D1)
If you may be entering data anyplace within column D, and you want to know if you are entering a value that is elsewhere in the column (above or below the current cell), then you can follow the above steps, but use this formula in step 4:
=COUNTIF($D:$D,D1)<2
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (2650) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Excel (Excel 2007 and later) here: Ensuring Unique Values in a Column.
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Discover MoreWant to control what users put into a cell? It's easy to do using a feature called data validation, as described in this tip.
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2017-03-09 12:05:30
Yay!
2016-05-06 11:41:51
Jenni
This formula worked great when I tested it in a blank excel worksheet. But, when I tried it within my existing table it did not work :( Got any idea of how to get it to work in a table? Seems like there's a lot of things that don't work well within a table in excel. Thanks, Jenni
2016-01-23 13:07:31
Kadr Leyn
Thanks for tutorial.
Vba codes can be used in this topic:
"Excel Data Validation List With Unique Values"
Template's video :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiIpObVus7o
2016-01-13 12:33:01
mac
I must be missing something?
running MS Office 2016
not getting any messages
2015-11-23 08:08:53
billyg
Thanks!!
2015-08-12 19:19:22
manpreet
I want to avoid duplicate data in a comibnation of columns like
Valid Data
Date | Shift
08 Aug | Night
08 Aug | Day
Example of INVALID data
Date | Shift
08 Aug | Night
08 Aug | Night
So I have to avoid entry of duplicate data in a combination of columns. I am not able to figure it out please help.
2015-06-16 02:53:38
sachi
thank you for this tip
2014-08-18 02:30:57
Akshay
Thanks for the tip!
2013-11-14 07:47:21
Michael (Micky) Avidan
@Yesenia,
In order to avoid duplicate typing and/or copying - try th following Event-macro to be placed in the Worksheets module.
The "traditional" Data Validation is not needed in that case.
*** The macro refers to Column "A".
Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Excel.Range)
Dim C As Range, i As Long
If Not Intersect(Target, Me.[A:A]) Is Nothing Then
Application.EnableEvents = False
For Each C In Target
If C.Column = 1 And C.Value > "" Then
If WorksheetFunction.CountIf(Me.[A:A], C.Value) > 1 Then
i = C.Interior.ColorIndex
f = C.Font.ColorIndex
C.Interior.ColorIndex = 3 ' Red
C.Font.ColorIndex = 6 ' Yellow
C.Select
MsgBox "Watch Out !!! - Duplicate Entry !", vbCritical, "Error"
C.ClearContents
C.Interior.ColorIndex = i
C.Font.ColorIndex = f
End If
End If
Next
Application.EnableEvents = True
End If
End Sub
Michael (Micky) Avidan
“Microsoft® Answers" - Wiki author & Forums Moderator
“Microsoft®” MVP – Excel (2009-2014)
ISRAEL
2013-11-13 22:37:09
Ole
Hi Allen,
I thought to let you know that the current formula I am using is:
=COUNTIF($C$3:$C$1001,C3)<=1
Kind Regards,
Ole
2013-11-13 22:35:21
Ole
Hi Allen,
Thanks for your tips regarding unique values in a column - worked a treat.
I wanted to extend this info and allow unique values for the column cell range based on a list.
I have already created a form combo box with a list of four values that are in the column N1, N2, N3 and N4.
I would like the unique values only based on the selection in the drop down list.
Can you help me?
Kind Regards,
Ole
2013-06-10 14:50:48
Yesenia Bernal
Hello Allen,
I tried you how to enter values in a column and it worked great. I just have a question it there's a way for it to when you paste numbers not just entered numbers.
Thank you,
Yesenia Bernal
2012-06-02 15:40:39
Elaine Wilson
Thank you such a useful formula
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