---
title: "UNIQUE function in Excel: syntax and examples | PracticeExcel"
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> Index of every page on this site: [llms.txt](https://practiceexcelonline.com/llms.txt)

# **The UNIQUE function**

Returns the distinct values of a range as a list that spills into the cells below.

=

UNIQUE(

## **Syntax**

```
UNIQUE(array, [by_col], [exactly_once])
```

<dl><dt>**array **</dt>
<dd>The range to take values from.</dd>
<dt>**by_col **(optional)</dt>
<dd>TRUE to compare columns instead of rows.</dd>
<dt>**exactly_once **(optional)</dt>
<dd>TRUE to return only values that appear once.</dd></dl>

## **Examples**

E1=UNIQUE(A2:A6)

|  | A | B | C | D | E |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Region | Product | Sales |  | **North** |
| 2 | North | Shoes | 500 |  | **South** |
| 3 | South | Shoes | 300 |  | |
| 4 | North | Bags | 250 |  | |
| 5 | North | Shoes | 420 |  | |
| 6 | South | Bags | 180 |  | |

E1=COUNTA(UNIQUE(B2:B6))

|  | A | B | C | D | E |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Region | Product | Sales |  | **2** |
| 2 | North | Shoes | 500 |  | |
| 3 | South | Shoes | 300 |  | |
| 4 | North | Bags | 250 |  | |
| 5 | North | Shoes | 420 |  | |
| 6 | South | Bags | 180 |  | |

## **Practice UNIQUE**

- [**1****List each customer once with UNIQUE**→](https://practiceexcelonline.com/practice/sort-and-unique/unique-function)
- [**2****A sorted list without duplicates**→](https://practiceexcelonline.com/practice/sort-and-unique/sort-unique-list)
- [**3****A drop-down source without repeats**→](https://practiceexcelonline.com/practice/data-validation/drop-down-source-without-repeats)

## **Read the guide**

- [**Pivot tables explained, and the formulas that do the same job**](https://practiceexcelonline.com/learn/pivot-tables)
- [**How to clean data in Excel with formulas**](https://practiceexcelonline.com/learn/clean-data-in-excel)
- [**Google Sheets vs Excel: what is the same, what is different, and how to switch**](https://practiceexcelonline.com/learn/google-sheets-vs-excel)
- [**How to create a drop-down list in Excel, and make it update itself**](https://practiceexcelonline.com/learn/drop-down-list-excel)

## **Related functions**

- [**FILTER**](https://practiceexcelonline.com/functions/filter)
- [**COUNTA**](https://practiceexcelonline.com/functions/counta)

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