MS Excel: Working with the UNIQUE Formula Explained
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
The UNIQUE function is a modern Excel formula that extracts distinct values from a list. It allows you to remove duplicates automatically and create clean, dynamic lists without manual sorting or filtering.
If you work with large datasets, UNIQUE is a simple but powerful tool.
What Does the UNIQUE Formula Do?
UNIQUE returns a list of values that appear only once in a range — removing duplicates automatically.
For example:
Generate a list of unique departments
Extract distinct customer names
Identify unique product codes
The result updates automatically when the source data changes.
The Structure of UNIQUE
=UNIQUE(array, [by_col], [exactly_once])
array – The range of data to evaluate
by_col – Optional (TRUE to compare columns instead of rows)
exactly_once – Optional (TRUE to return values that appear only once)
Basic Example
If you have a list of departments in A2:A20:
=UNIQUE(A2:A20)
Excel returns each department only once.
Returning Values That Appear Only Once
If you want to return items that appear exactly once (no duplicates at all):
=UNIQUE(A2:A20, , TRUE)
This excludes values that appear multiple times.
Why UNIQUE Is Useful
UNIQUE is commonly used for:
✔ Creating dropdown list sources
✔ Cleaning imported data
✔ Generating summary lists
✔ Preparing reports
✔ Building dashboards
It eliminates the need for manual duplicate removal.
Combining UNIQUE with Other Functions
UNIQUE works very well with:
SORT → To sort the unique list
FILTER → To extract unique values that meet conditions
Data Validation → To create dynamic dropdown lists
Example:
=SORT(UNIQUE(A2:A20))
This returns a sorted list of distinct values.
Why It Matters
Before dynamic array formulas, users had to use advanced filters or pivot tables to extract unique values. UNIQUE simplifies this process into one clean formula.
It’s a modern Excel feature that improves efficiency and professionalism.
Final Thoughts
The UNIQUE function helps you clean, organise, and structure data quickly. If you regularly work with reports or large datasets, it’s an essential tool to master.
Simple, dynamic, and powerful — UNIQUE makes Excel smarter.
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