How to Compare Two Columns in Excel
Flag, row by row, where two columns match or differ — reconcile two price lists, or spot where an export drifted.
Last updated: August 2026
| List A | List B | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 120.00 | 120 | → | Match |
| Acme | Acme Inc | → | Differ |
| East | east | → | Match |
Method 1 — A simple IF formula
- In a new column:
=IF(A2=B2, "Match", "Differ")and copy it down. - For a case-sensitive check use
=IF(EXACT(A2,B2), "Match", "Differ"). - The
=operator compares120and"120"as different if one is text — trim and convert first if that trips you up.
Method 2 — Highlight differences with conditional formatting
- Select both columns.
- Home → Conditional Formatting → Highlight Cells Rules → Duplicate Values, then change the dropdown to Unique to shade the cells that don't match.
The 1-click way — Tellsheet's Compare Two Columns
Click Compare Two Columns, pick the two columns, and Tellsheet adds a Match / Differ column. Numbers compare by value (so 120.00 equals 120), text is trimmed, and case-insensitive by default — the differences you actually care about, not formatting noise. Previewed and revertable.
Frequently asked questions
How do I compare two columns row by row?
Add =IF(A2=B2,"Match","Differ") and copy down, or use Tellsheet's Compare Two Columns to add that flag in one click.
How do I compare case-sensitively?
The = operator ignores case; use EXACT, e.g. =IF(EXACT(A2,B2),"Match","Differ"). Tellsheet's Compare has a case-sensitive option too.
Why do identical-looking values show as different?
Usually trailing spaces or a number stored as text. Trim first, or use Tellsheet's Compare, which trims text and compares numbers by value.
Related Excel guides
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