How to use the Excel UNIQUE function

Summary

The Excel UNIQUE function returns a list of unique values in a list or range. Values can be text, numbers, dates, times, etc.

Purpose

Extract unique values from range

Return value

Array of unique values

Syntax

=UNIQUE (array, [by_col], [occurs_once])

Arguments

array - Range or array from which to extract unique values.
by_col - [optional] How to sort. By row = FALSE (default); by column = TRUE.
occurs_once - [optional] TRUE = values that occur once, FALSE= all unique values (default).

Usage notes

The Excel UNIQUE function extracts a list of unique values from a range. The result is a dynamic array of values. If this array is the final result (i.e. not handed off to another function) array values will "spill" onto the worksheet into a range that automatically updates when new uniques values are added or removed from the source range.

Examples

To return unique values from in the range A1:A10, you can use a formula like this:

=UNIQUE(A1:A10)

To return unique values from the horizontal range A1:E1, set the by_col argument to TRUE or 1:

=UNIQUE(A1:E1,1) // extract unique from horizontal array

The UNIQUE function has an optional argument called occurs_once that controls how the function deals with repeating values. By default, occurs_once is FALSE. This means UNIQUE will exact unique values regardless of how many times they appear in the source data. If set to TRUE or 1, UNIQUE will extract only unique values that appear just once in the source data:

=UNIQUE(A1:A10,0,1) // values that appear once only

Note: The UNIQUE function is a new "Dynamic Array Function" in Excel. It is a beta feature available only through the Office Insiders program. Dynamic Array functions are expected to be released in 2019 to Office 365 subscribers.

Related functions

Excel UNIQUE Function

The Excel UNIQUE function returns a list of unique values in a list or range. Values can be text, numbers, dates, times, etc.

Excel FILTER Function

The Excel FILTER function filters a range of data based on supplied criteria, and extracts matching records.

Excel RANDARRAY Function

The Excel RANDARRAY function returns an array of random numbers between 0 and 1. The size or the array is determined by rows and columns arguments.

Excel SEQUENCE Function

The Excel SEQUENCE function generates a list of sequential numbers in an array. The array can be one dimensional, or two-dimensional. Start and step values are arguments.

Excel SINGLE Function

The Excel SINGLE function returns a single value using implicit intersection. The SINGLE function is provided for backwards compatibility with implicit intersection formulas in earlier versions of Excel.

Excel SORT Function

The Excel SORT function sorts the contents of a range or array. Values can be sorted by one or more columns. SORT returns a dynamic array of results.

Excel SORTBY Function

The Excel SORTBY function sorts the contents of a range or array based on the values from another range or array. The range or array used to sort does not need to appear in results.

Good links

Microsoft UNIQUE function documentation

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