How to compare two columns and find differences in Excel

To find the differences between two columns of data in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, select your version of Excel, and follow the instructions.

Microsoft Excel for Office 365

1. Open the Excel spreadsheet containing the data you want to compare.
2. Select all the cells in both columns containing the data to be compared.

• How to select one or more cells in a spreadsheet program.

3. In the Ribbon, on the Home tab, find the Editing section and click Find & Select.
4. In the drop-down menu, select Go To Special.

5. In the Go To Special pop-up window, click Row differences, then click OK. Excel selects the differences between the two columns.

6. To highlight these differences, leave them selected, and click the paint bucket icon in the font menu and select the color you want to use. Similarly, you can right-click and select the paint bucket to highlight the cells.

Microsoft Excel 2007 & 2010

1. Open the Excel spreadsheet containing the data you want to compare.
2. Select all the cells in both columns containing the data to be compared.

• How to select one or more cells in a spreadsheet program.

3. In the Ribbon, on the Home tab, go to Find & Select, then click Go To.
4. In the Go To pop-up window, click Row differences, then click OK. Excel selects the difference between the two columns.
5. To highlight these differences, leave them selected, and click the paint bucket icon in the font menu and select the color you want to use. Similarly, you can right-click and select the paint bucket to highlight the cells.

Microsoft Excel 2003

1. Open the Excel spreadsheet containing the data you want to compare.
2. Select all the cells in both columns containing the data to be compared.

• How to select one or more cells in a spreadsheet program.

3. In the file menu at the top of the program window, click Edit and select Go To.
4. In the Go To Special pop-up window, click Row differences, then click OK. Excel selects the difference between the two columns.
5. To highlight these differences, leave them selected, and click the paint bucket icon in the font menu and select the color you want to use. Similarly, you can right-click and select the paint bucket to highlight the cells.