In Excel: use =UNIQUE(array) — a dynamic-array function that returns a distinct list from a range and spills the result down or across automatically.
Syntax
Arguments
| Argument | Description | |
|---|---|---|
array | required | The range or array to extract distinct values from. |
by_col | optional | FALSE or omitted compares and returns rows; TRUE compares and returns columns. |
exactly_once | optional | TRUE returns only items that appear exactly once; FALSE or omitted returns one of each distinct item. |
Related functions
2 duplicates removed · 3 kept
What this does
UNIQUE is a dynamic-array function in Excel 365 and Excel 2021 that returns the distinct values from a range, spilling the live result into the cells below. Unlike the Remove Duplicates data tool — a one-off action that permanently edits your data — UNIQUE is a formula that recalculates whenever the source changes, so a dropdown or report stays current. The optional by_col switches it to compare columns instead of rows, and exactly_once returns only the items that occur a single time. Because it spills, it needs empty cells below; if something blocks the spill it returns a #SPILL! error. Most people learn this as a sequence of clicks and forget it by next week; learning it as a pattern instead is what lets you apply it to the next, slightly different version of the problem without starting from scratch. That is the difference this page is trying to make. The difference between a quick fix and a sheet you can trust is the extra minute you spend validating “filter unique values excel”. Start on a copy or a tiny sample, keep the affected filter visible, and compare the result with the tool above before you touch the real workbook. When a formula is involved, keep the inputs labelled beside it, reference cells instead of typing values, and apply number formatting only after the result checks out. The point is a data step that keeps your analysis trustworthy, but the practical win is that someone else can open the file and understand what happened without asking you.
A worked example
Region names with repeats sit in A2:A100. =UNIQUE(A2:A100) spills a clean list of each region once — say West, East, North, South — into the cells below the formula. To list only regions that appear exactly once, add the third argument: =UNIQUE(A2:A100, FALSE, TRUE). To sort the distinct list, wrap it: =SORT(UNIQUE(A2:A100)). UNIQUE is the modern way to build live distinct lists — for dashboards, dropdowns and summaries — because it updates automatically and, unlike Remove Duplicates, never alters the underlying data. One habit worth forming early: name the cells that hold your inputs, so the formula reads in plain language instead of a string of cell addresses. A reviewer — or you in three months — can then follow the logic without decoding what B7 and D2 were supposed to mean, which is most of what makes a sheet maintainable.
In Google Sheets
Google Sheets handles this almost identically to Excel. The formula syntax above is the same, and the menu lives under a slightly different label rather than a ribbon tab. Use the platform toggle at the top of the page to switch every keyboard shortcut between Windows and Mac, and expect at most cosmetic differences in naming. Keep this page bookmarked for the next time the same question comes up. Better still, rebuild the example once in your own sheet — doing it yourself, with the tool above to check against, is what turns a copied formula into a technique you own. If you take one thing from this page on “filter unique values excel”, make it the habit rather than the keystrokes: set the problem up with labelled inputs, reference those cells, and let Excel do the recomputing. Bookmark the page for the syntax, but do the example once in a blank sheet and check it against the tool above — five minutes of hands-on practice fixes the method in memory far better than re-reading, and it surfaces the small snags while they are still harmless. After that the technique is genuinely yours: faster than searching for it again, and reliable enough to drop into work that other people depend on.
Common mistakes
- Placing the formula where cells below are occupied, which blocks the spill and returns a
#SPILL!error — clear the range underneath. - Confusing
UNIQUEwith Remove Duplicates — Remove Duplicates is a one-off tool that deletes data, whileUNIQUEis a live formula that leaves the source intact. - Using
UNIQUEin Excel 2019 or earlier, where it does not exist and returns#NAME?; fall back to Remove Duplicates or an advanced filter there.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between UNIQUE and Remove Duplicates?
UNIQUE is a formula that spills a live distinct list and updates when the source changes, leaving your data untouched. Remove Duplicates is a one-off button on the Data tab that permanently deletes the duplicate rows from the data itself.
Why does UNIQUE return a #SPILL! error?
Something is occupying the cells where the result needs to spill. Clear or move the contents below the formula so the distinct list has room, and the spill resolves.
How do I get a sorted list of unique values?
Wrap UNIQUE in SORT: =SORT(UNIQUE(A2:A100)) returns the distinct values in ascending order, perfect for a tidy dropdown source.
Other ways people ask this
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Why do people search for this in so many different ways?
Because the same task has many names. “ms excel filter unique values”, “ms excel formula to filter unique values”, “how to filter unique values in excel” all point at the one operation explained on this page, which is why they all lead here.