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How to count consecutive duplicates in Excel?

Author: Sun Last Modified: 2024-11-04

To count the duplicates in an Excel column may be easy for you, but have you ever tried to count the consecutive duplicates yet? In other words, it will count continuous duplicates and recount it from 1 if there is a break between the duplicates as below screenshot shown.
A screenshot showing consecutive duplicates in Excel

Count consecutive duplicates with formula


arrow blue right bubble Count consecutive duplicates with formula

To count consecutive duplicates, just need to apply a simple formula.

1. Select an adjacent cell, B1 for instance, enter 1. See screenshot:
A screenshot of entering the number 1 as the starting value for counting duplicates

2. In the next cell below 1, B2 for instance, enter this formula =IF(A2=A1,B1+1,1), then drag autofill handle down to the cells to apply this formula. See screenshot:
A screenshot of formula applied to count consecutive duplicates in Excel

Note: in the formula, A1 and A2 are the first two values in the list you want to count consecutive duplicates, B1 is the cell you enter number 1 in the first step, you can change them as you need.

Tip. If you want to quickly select and count the duplicates or unique values in a list, please try to use the Kutools for Excel’s Select Duplicate & Unique Cells as shown in the following screenshot. Download and have a free trial now.
A screenshot of Kutools for Excel's Select Duplicate & Unique Cells tool

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