Count matches between two columns

Count matches between two columns

Generic formula 

=SUMPRODUCT(--(range1=range2))

Related formulas 

Count if two criteria match

Count sold and remaining

Count total matches in two ranges

Explanation

If you want to compare two columns and count matches in corresponding rows, you can use the SUMPRODUCT function with a simple comparison of the two ranges. For example, if you have values in B5:B11 and C5:C11 and you want to count any differences, you can use this formula:

=SUMPRODUCT(--(B5:B11=C5:C11))

How this formula works

The SUMPRODUCT function is a versatile function that handles arrays natively without any special array syntax. Its behavior is simple: it multiplies, then sums the product of arrays. In the example shown, the expression B5:B11 = C5:C11 will generate an array that contains TRUE and FALSE values like this:

{TRUE;TRUE;FALSE;TRUE;FALSE;FALSE;FALSE}

Note that we have 3 TRUE values because there are 3 matches.

In this state, SUMPRODUCT will actually return zero because TRUE and FALSE values are not counted as numbers in Excel by default. To get SUMPRODUCT to treat TRUE as 1 and FALSE as zero, we need to "coerce" them into numbers. The double negative is a simple way to do that:

--(B5:B11=C5:C11)

After coercion, we have:

{1;1;0;1;0;0;0}

With no other arrays to multiply, SUMPRODUCT simply sums the values and returns 3.

Count non-matching rows

To count non-matching values, you can reverse the logic like so:

=SUMPRODUCT(--(B5:B11<>C5:C11))

Count matches between two columns

Generic formula 

=SUMPRODUCT(--(range1=range2))

Related formulas 

Count if two criteria match

Count sold and remaining

Count total matches in two ranges

Explanation

If you want to compare two columns and count matches in corresponding rows, you can use the SUMPRODUCT function with a simple comparison of the two ranges. For example, if you have values in B5:B11 and C5:C11 and you want to count any differences, you can use this formula:

=SUMPRODUCT(--(B5:B11=C5:C11))

How this formula works

The SUMPRODUCT function is a versatile function that handles arrays natively without any special array syntax. Its behavior is simple: it multiplies, then sums the product of arrays. In the example shown, the expression B5:B11 = C5:C11 will generate an array that contains TRUE and FALSE values like this:

{TRUE;TRUE;FALSE;TRUE;FALSE;FALSE;FALSE}

Note that we have 3 TRUE values because there are 3 matches.

In this state, SUMPRODUCT will actually return zero because TRUE and FALSE values are not counted as numbers in Excel by default. To get SUMPRODUCT to treat TRUE as 1 and FALSE as zero, we need to "coerce" them into numbers. The double negative is a simple way to do that:

--(B5:B11=C5:C11)

After coercion, we have:

{1;1;0;1;0;0;0}

With no other arrays to multiply, SUMPRODUCT simply sums the values and returns 3.

Count non-matching rows

To count non-matching values, you can reverse the logic like so:

=SUMPRODUCT(--(B5:B11<>C5:C11))