How to Highlight Duplicate Rows in Excel – 3 Quick Methods

Method 1. Highlighting Duplicate Rows in One Column with the Built-in Rule in Excel

1.1. Including First Occurrence

This is the sample dataset.

Highlight Duplicate Rows in One Column with Built-in Rule

  • Select the range B5:B14.
  • Go to the Home tab and click Conditional Formatting in the Style section.
  • Click Highlight Cell Rules.

  • Select Duplicate Values.

  • In the Duplicate Values dialog box, choose Duplicate.
  • Select a format. Red Text, here.

Highlight Duplicate Rows in One Column with Built-in Rule

  • Click OK to highlight duplicate rows .

Highlight Duplicate Rows in Excel


1.2. Excluding First Occurrence

  • Select the range B5:B14.
  • Choose Home > Conditional Formatting > New Rule.

Highlight Duplicate Rows in One Column with Built-in Rule

  • In New Formatting Rule, select Use a Formula to Determine Which Cells to Format.
  • Enter this formula Format Values Where This Formula is True.
=COUNTIF($B$5:$B5,$B5)>1

Highlight Duplicate Rows in One Column with Built-in Rule

The COUNTIF function counts cells in the $B$5:$B5 range based on the criteria in $B5.
  • Click Format to select a format style for the highlighted rows.

  • Here, Bold as the Font style and Red as the Color.

  • Click OK twice.

The highlighted duplicate rows are showcased without the first occurrence.

Read More: How to Highlight Duplicates but Keep One in Excel


Method 2. Inserting the COUNTIFS Function to Highlight Duplicate Rows in Excel

This is the dataset.

Insert COUNTIFS Function to Highlight Duplicate Rows in Excel

  • Select the dataset and click Home > Conditional Formatting > New Rule.

  • In New Formatting Rule, select Use a Formula to Determine Which Cells to Format.
  • Enter this formula in Format Values Where This Formula is True.
=COUNTIFS($B$5:$B$14,$B5,$C$5:$C$14,$C5,$D$5:$D$14,$D5)>1
  • Select the Format.

Insert COUNTIFS Function to Highlight Duplicate Rows in Excel

The COUNTIFS function applies the criteria ($B5, $C5, $D5) across the $B$5:$B$14, $C$5:$C$14 and  $D$5:$D$14 ranges and counts cells that meet the criteria.
  • Click OK.

This is the output.

  • Use this formula to highlight duplicate rows without the first occurrence.
=COUNTIFS($B$5:$B5,$B5,$C$5:$C5,$C5,$D$5:$D5,$D5)>1
  • Select your  Format and click OK.

Insert COUNTIFS Function to Highlight Duplicate Rows in Excel

The duplicate rows are highlighted without the first occurrence.


Method 3 – Highlighting Duplicate Rows in a Range Using the Excel Conditional Formatting

  • Select the dataset and click Home > Conditional Formatting > New Rule.
  • Enter this formula in Format Values Where This Formula is True.
=COUNTIFS($B$5:$D$14,B5)>1
  • Select Format and click OK.

Highlight Duplicate Rows in Range Using Conditional Formatting

Here the range is $B$5:$D$14 and the criteria is B5.

Duplicate rows are highlighted in a range.

  • To highlight the duplicate rows in a range without the first occurrence, enter this formula in Format Values Where This Formula is True.
=COUNTIFS($B$5:$B5,$B5)>1
  • Select Format and click OK twice.

Here, the range and criteria are $B$5:$B5 and $B5.

This is the output.


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Asikul Himel
Asikul Himel

Asikul Islam Himel, holding a BSc in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, has contributed over two years to the ExcelDemy project. Starting as an Excel & VBA Content Developer, now he manages projects at You Have Got This Math Project. He wrote 60+ articles for ExcelDemy, reviewed 500+, and focused on quality maintenance. Currently, his responsibilities include project management and team leadership. Himel's interests encompass data analysis, leadership, WordPress applications, and... Read Full Bio

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