How To Use Vlookup In Excel 2016 To Compare Two Columns

Look at the picture below we have column 1 and column 2 to be compared.

How to use vlookup in excel 2016 to compare two columns. To use a visual basic macro to compare the data in two columns use the steps in the following example. So we cant use vlookup. If you have ever tried to use a vlookup function with two or more criteria columns youve quickly discovered that it just wasnt built for that purpose. This video shows how to compare two columns in excel using the vlookup formulaby using this technique you can easily find the items in column a which are not present in column b.

If you have kutools for excel with its select same different cells feature you can quickly compare two lists in separated worksheets and select or highlight the names which are both in these two sheets without any formulas. This can be done in many different ways and the method to use will depend on the data structure and what the user wants from it. For exact row match. In one of my previous articles i discussed how to compare two columns or lists in excel where i discussed other methods of comparison.

Fortunately there is another function that may work as an alternative to vlookup depending on what you want to return. We will compare these columns by typing a simple formula a2b2 in a cell just beside the first row of both the compared columns and drag it down till the entries in columns doesnt. This example shows a small list where the value we want to search on chicago isnt in the leftmost column. Instead well use the match function to find chicago in the range b1b11.

To compare two columns in excel row by row write a usual if formula that compares the first two cells. Enter the formula in some other column in the same row and then copy it down to other cells by dragging the fill handle a small square in the bottom right corner of the selected cell. There are a lot of ways to compare two lists or columns in excel. Steps to compare two columns in excel 2016.

Now if your spreadsheet isnt built this way then do not use vlookup. Vlookup to compare two lists in separate worksheets with kutools for excel. Watch video compare two columns in excel for matches and differences the one query that i get a lot is how to compare two columns in excel. After installing kutools for excel please do as follows.

Before starting the comparison i will discuss the syntax arguments and other necessary things about the vlookup.