How to Match Two Columns Microsoft Excel
- George Apostolov
How to Match Two Columns Microsoft Excel: step-by-step guide
Select the column you want to compare.
Go to "Home" > "Conditional Formatting" > "New Rule."
Choose "Use a formula to determine which cells to format."
Enter the formula
=COUNTIF($A:$A, C2)>0, adjusting for your columns.Set the format (e.g., change the fill color to blue), then click "OK".
Matching cells will be highlighted in blue.
Quick answer: To match two columns in Microsoft Excel, select the column to compare, go to Home, Conditional Formatting, and New Rule, and choose to use a formula. Enter the formula, set the format such as a blue fill color, and click OK to highlight matching cells.
About this Microsoft tutorial
Highlight matching cells in Microsoft Excel by applying a conditional formatting formula to compare two columns and automatically format the results. This guide shows how to match Two Columns Microsoft Excel in 6 steps, starting with "Select the column you want to compare" and finishing with "Matching cells will be highlighted in blue". The interactive demo above is a click-through copy of the real Microsoft interface, so you can rehearse each step before doing it in your own account.
Frequently asked questions
How many steps does it take to match Two Columns Microsoft Excel?
6 steps. Each one is listed in order above, and the demo highlights exactly where to click.
Can I try it without changing my own account?
Yes. Clicking through the demo doesn't touch your Microsoft data or settings. Once you know the flow, repeat it in your own workspace.
This tutorial is filed under Microsoft and Excel. Related guides: How to Merge Cells in Microsoft Excel, How to Migrate From Trello to Microsoft Planner and How to Move Columns in Microsoft Excel. Last reviewed 05 Oct 2026.
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