How to Find Duplicates in a Column Using Excel VBA (5 Ways)

Method 1 – Find Duplicates for Range of Cells in a Column

❶ Press ALT + F11 to open the VBA editor.

❷ Go to Insert >> Module.

Insert a new module to Find Duplicates in a Column Using Excel VBA

Copy the following VBA code.

Sub FindDuplicateValues()

Dim xWs As Worksheet

Set xWs = Worksheets("VBA1")

For m = 5 To 12
If Application.WorksheetFunction.CountIf(xWs.Range("B5:B12"), xWs.Range("B" & m)) > 1 Then
xWs.Range("C" & m).Value = True
Else
xWs.Range("C" & m).Value = False
End If
Next m

End Sub

Paste and Save the code in the VBA editor.

VBA code to Find Duplicates for Range of Cells in a Column

❺ Open the Excel worksheet and press ALT + F8 to open the Macro dialog box.

❻ Select the macro FindDuplicateValues and hit the Run button.

Results will show TRUE for the duplicate values and FALSE for the unique values in their adjacent cells.

Read More: How to Find Duplicate Rows in Excel


Method 2 – Select a Range and Highlight Duplicates in a Column Using Excel VBA

❶ Press ALT + F11 to open the VBA editor.

❷ Go to Insert >> Module.

Insert a new module to Find Duplicates in a Column Using Excel VBA

Copy the following VBA code.

Sub SelectAndDetectDups()

Dim xRng1 As Range
Dim xCell1 As Range

Set xRng1 = Selection

For Each xCell1 In xRng1
If WorksheetFunction.CountIf(xRng1, xCell1.Value) > 1 Then
xCell1.Interior.ColorIndex = 3
End If
Next

End Sub

Paste and Save the code in the VBA editor.

Select a Range and Highlight Duplicates in a Column Using Excel VBA

❺ Open the Excel worksheet and select a range.

❻  Press ALT + F8 to open the Macro dialog box.

❼  Select the macro SelectAndDetectDups and hit the Run button.

Results will show all the duplicate values are highlighted in the selected area.

Result: Select a Range and Highlight Duplicates in a Column Using Excel VBA

Read More: How to Find Repeated Cells in Excel


Method 3 – Detect and Highlight New Entry Duplicates in a Column

❶ Press ALT + F11 to open the VBA editor.

❷ Go to Insert >> Module.

Insert a new module to Find Duplicates in a Column Using Excel VBA

❸ Double-click on a worksheet to insert the VBA code from the Microsoft Excel Objects list.

A Sheet editor will appear.

  • Select Worksheet from the General.

  • Expand the Declarations drop-down to select Change.

Copy the following VBA code.

Option Explicit

Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range)

If Target.Row = 2 Then Exit Sub

On Error GoTo ErrHandler
Application.ScreenUpdating = False

Dim xRng1 As Range
Dim xRng2 As Range

Set xRng1 = Range("B5:B" & Cells(Rows.Count, "B").End(xlUp).Row)

For Each xRng2 In xRng1
xRng2.Offset(0, 0).Font.Color = vbBlack

If Application.Evaluate("COUNTIF(" & xRng1.Address & "," & xRng2.Address & ")") > 1 Then
xRng2.Offset(0, 0).Font.Color = vbRed
End If
Next xRng2

Set xRng1 = Nothing

ErrHandler:
Application.EnableEvents = True
Application.ScreenUpdating = True

End Sub

Paste and Save the code in the VBA editor.

VBA Code: Detect and Highlight New Entry Duplicates in a Column

❻ Open the worksheet and insert a new value.

❼ Hit the ENTER button.

Results will show the latest entity is highlighted if it is a duplicate value.

Read More: How to Find Repeated Numbers in Excel


Method 4 – Find and Highlight Duplicates in a Column Using Excel VBA

❶ Press ALT + F11 to open the VBA editor.

❷ Go to Insert >> Module.

Insert a new module to Find Duplicates in a Column Using Excel VBA

Copy the following VBA code.

Option Explicit

Sub HighlightDupsInARange()

Application.ScreenUpdating = False
Range("F5:F" & Cells(Rows.Count, 5).End(xlUp).Row) = "=COUNTIF($C$5:$C5,C5)>1"
Range("F:F").AutoFilter 1, "True"
Range("C4:C" & Cells(Rows.Count, 6).End(xlUp).Row).Interior.Color = vbCyan
Range("F:F").AutoFilter
Range("F:F").ClearContents
Application.ScreenUpdating = True

End Sub

Paste and Save the code in the VBA editor.

VBA Code: Find and Highlight Duplicates in a Column Using Excel VBA

❺ Open the  Excel worksheet and press ALT + F8 to open the Macro dialog box.

❻ Select the macro HighlightDupsInARange and hit the Run button.

Results will show all the duplicate values highlighted in the insertion range as in the picture below:

Read More: How to Filter Duplicates in Excel

Method 5 – Use VBA to Find and Delete Duplicates in a Column

❶ Press ALT + F11 to open the VBA editor.

❷ Go to Insert >> Module.

Insert a new module to Find Duplicates in a Column Using Excel VBA

Copy the following VBA code.

Sub DeleteDupsInARange()

Application.ScreenUpdating = False
Range("F5:F" & Cells(Rows.Count, 5).End(xlUp).Row) = "=COUNTIF($E$5:$E5,E5)>1"
Range("F:F").AutoFilter 1, "True"
Range("E5:E" & Cells(Rows.Count, 6).End(xlUp).Row).EntireRow.Delete
Range("F:F").AutoFilter
Range("F:F").ClearContents
Application.ScreenUpdating = True

End Sub

Paste and Save the code in the VBA editor.

Using VBA to Find and Delete Duplicates in a Column

Open the Excel worksheet and use the code to delete all the duplicates from the dataset of the following sample image.

❺ Press ALT + F8 to open the Macro dialog box.

❻ Select the macro DeleteDupsInARange and hit the Run button.

The results will show all the duplicate values have been deleted leaving the unique values only.

Read More: How to Compare Rows for Duplicates in Excel

 


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Mrinmoy Roy
Mrinmoy Roy

Mrinmoy Roy, a dedicated professional with a BSc in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Khulna University of Engineering & Technology, Bangladesh, brings over two years of expertise to the ExcelDemy project. As a prolific contributor, he has authored around 180 articles, showcasing his deep knowledge and passion for Microsoft Excel, Data Analysis, and VBA. His unwavering commitment to continuous learning, combined with versatile skills, renders him well-suited for roles in data management and spreadsheet solutions. He has interest... Read Full Bio

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