Skip to main content

How to find common values in 3 columns in Excel?

Author: Xiaoyang Last Modified: 2024-09-14

In general case, you may need to find and select the same values between two columns in Excel, but, have you ever tried to find the common values among three columns which means the values exist in 3 columns at the same time as following screenshot shown. This article, I will introduce some methods to finish this task in Excel.

find common values in 3 columns

Find common values in 3 columns with array formulas

arrow blue right bubble Find common values in 3 columns with array formulas

To find and extract the common values from 3 columns, the following array formula may help you, please do as this:

Enter this array formula into a blank cell where you want to extract the same values from 3 columns:

=LOOKUP("zzz",CHOOSE({1,2},"",INDEX(A$2:A$10,MATCH(0,COUNTIF(E$1:E1,A$2:A$10)+IF(IF(COUNTIF(B$2:B$8,A$2:A$10)>0,1,0)+IF(COUNTIF(C$2:C$9,A$2:A$10)>0,1,0)=2,0,1),0)))), and then press Shift + Ctrl + Enter keys together to get the first common value, then drag this formula down until blanks are displayed, all of the same values in 3 columns are extracted as below screenshot shown:

Find common values in 3 columns with array formula

Notes:

1. Here is another array formula also can finish this job:

=INDEX($A$2:$A$10, MATCH(0, COUNTIF($E$1:E1, $A$2:$A$10)+IF(IF(COUNTIF($B$2:$B$8, $A$2:$A$10)>0, 1, 0)+IF(COUNTIF($C$2:$C$9, $A$2:$A$10)>0, 1, 0)=2, 0, 1), 0)), please remember to press Shift + Ctrl + Enter keys simultaneously.

2. In the above formulas: A2:A10, B2:B8, C2:C9 are the cells in three columns that you want to compare; E1 is the above cell that your formula is located, you can change them to your need.

a screenshot of kutools for excel ai

Unlock Excel Magic with Kutools AI

  • Smart Execution: Perform cell operations, analyze data, and create charts—all driven by simple commands.
  • Custom Formulas: Generate tailored formulas to streamline your workflows.
  • VBA Coding: Write and implement VBA code effortlessly.
  • Formula Interpretation: Understand complex formulas with ease.
  • Text Translation: Break language barriers within your spreadsheets.
Enhance your Excel capabilities with AI-powered tools. Download Now and experience efficiency like never before!

Best Office Productivity Tools

🤖 Kutools AI Aide: Revolutionize data analysis based on: Intelligent Execution   |  Generate Code  |  Create Custom Formulas  |  Analyze Data and Generate Charts  |  Invoke Kutools Functions…
Popular Features: Find, Highlight or Identify Duplicates   |  Delete Blank Rows   |  Combine Columns or Cells without Losing Data   |   Round without Formula ...
Super Lookup: Multiple Criteria VLookup  |   Multiple Value VLookup  |   VLookup Across Multiple Sheets   |   Fuzzy Lookup ....
Advanced Drop-down List: Quickly Create Drop Down List   |  Dependent Drop Down List   |  Multi-select Drop Down List ....
Column Manager: Add a Specific Number of Columns  |  Move Columns  |  Toggle Visibility Status of Hidden Columns  |  Compare Ranges & Columns ...
Featured Features: Grid Focus   |  Design View   |   Big Formula Bar   |  Workbook & Sheet Manager   |  Resource Library (Auto Text)   |  Date Picker   |  Combine Worksheets   |  Encrypt/Decrypt Cells   |  Send Emails by List   |  Super Filter   |   Special Filter (filter bold/italic/strikethrough...) ...
Top 15 Toolsets:  12 Text Tools (Add Text, Remove Characters, ...)   |   50+ Chart Types (Gantt Chart, ...)   |   40+ Practical Formulas (Calculate age based on birthday, ...)   |   19 Insertion Tools (Insert QR Code, Insert Picture from Path, ...)   |   12 Conversion Tools (Numbers to Words, Currency Conversion, ...)   |   7 Merge & Split Tools (Advanced Combine Rows, Split Cells, ...)   |   ... and more
Use Kutools in your preferred language – supports English, Spanish, German, French, Chinese, and 40+ others!

Supercharge Your Excel Skills with Kutools for Excel, and Experience Efficiency Like Never Before. Kutools for Excel Offers Over 300 Advanced Features to Boost Productivity and Save Time.  Click Here to Get The Feature You Need The Most...

Office Tab Brings Tabbed interface to Office, and Make Your Work Much Easier

  • Enable tabbed editing and reading in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Access, Visio and Project.
  • Open and create multiple documents in new tabs of the same window, rather than in new windows.
  • Increases your productivity by 50%, and reduces hundreds of mouse clicks for you every day!