Data | 2 min

How to remove duplicate rows from a spreadsheet

Duplicates creep into mailing lists, customer records and exports. This tool removes them and keeps the first row of each match. It works on CSV and Excel files in your browser.

Steps

1. 1

   Open Remove duplicate rows

   Go to the tool and add your .csv, .xlsx, .xls or .xlsm file.

2. 2

   Say what counts as a duplicate

   In Columns that identify a duplicate type column names separated by commas, for example Email. Rows that match on those columns are duplicates and the first one is kept.

3. 3

   Choose how strict to be

   Leave Ignore capital letters and extra spaces on so Ann@x.com and ann@x.com count as the same.

4. 4

   Pick the format and download

   Under Save as choose Excel (.xlsx) or CSV, run the tool and check the count of rows removed.

Tips

• Use the exact column heading from your file when you type the column name.
• Keep your original file. The cleaned list is saved as a new file.
• For a plain list of lines rather than a spreadsheet, use Remove duplicate lines.

Questions

Which duplicate is kept?

The first row of each match is kept and later copies are removed.

Can I match on more than one column?

Yes. Type several column names separated by commas.