Merge data from duplicate rows in Google Sheets based on a unique column

Merging duplicate rows in your spreadsheets may turn to one of the most intricate tasks. Let's see what Google formulas can help and get to know one smart add-on that does all the job for you.

• Functions to combine cells with the same value in Google Sheets
  • CONCATENATE – Google Sheets function and operator to join records
  • Merge cells yet keep data with UNIQUE + JOIN
  • QUERY function to remove duplicate lines in Google Sheets
• The fastest way to combine duplicate rows

Functions to combine cells with the same value in Google Sheets

You didn't think Google Sheets would lack functions for this kind of task, did you? ;) Here are the formulas you will need to consolidate rows and remove duplicate cells in spreadsheets.

CONCATENATE – Google Sheets function and operator to join records

The first thing that comes to mind when I think of not simply removing duplicates but bringing duplicate rows together is Google Sheets CONCATENATE function and an ampersand (&) – a special concatenation operator.

Suppose you have a list of movies to watch and you'd like to group them by genre:

• You can merge cells in Google Sheets only with spaces between the values:

  =CONCATENATE(B2," ",C2," ",B8," ",C8)
=B2&" "&C2&" "&B8&" "&C8
  

• Or use spaces with any other marks to combine duplicate rows together:

  =CONCATENATE(A3,": ",B3," (",C3,"), ",B6," (",C6,") ")
=A3&": "&B3&" ("&C3&"), "&B6&" ("&C6&") "
  

Once the rows are merged, you can get rid of formulas and keep only the text by the example of this tutorial: Convert formulas to values in Google Sheets

As simple as this way may seem, it is obviously far from ideal. It requires for you to know the exact positions of duplicates, and it's you who should point them out to the formula. So, this can work for small datasets, but what to do when they get bigger?

Merge cells yet keep data with UNIQUE + JOIN

This tandem of formulas finds duplicates in Google Sheets (and merges cells with unique records) for you. However, you are still in charge and have to show the formulas where to look. Let's see how it works on the same to-watch list.

1. I use Google Sheets UNIQUE in E2 to check genres in column A:

   =UNIQUE(A2:A)
   
   The formula returns the list of all genres no matter if they repeat or don't repeat themselves in the original list. In other words, it removes duplicates from column A.

   Tip. Should you add more values to column A, the formula will expand the list automatically with unique records.
2. Then I build my next formula with the Google Sheets JOIN function:

   =JOIN(", ",FILTER(B:B,A:A=E2))
   
   How do the elements of this formula work?

   • FILTER scans column A for all instances of the value in E2. Once located, it pulls corresponding records from column B.
   • JOIN unites these values in one cell with a comma.

   Copy the formula down and you'll get all the titles sorted by genre.

   Note. In case you need years as well, you'll have to create the formula in the neighboring column since JOIN works with one column at a time:

   =JOIN(", ",FILTER(C:C,A:A=E2))
   

So, this option equips Google Sheets with a few functions to combine multiple rows into one based on duplicates. And it happens automatically. Well, almost. I intend to hold the perfect solution back to the very end of the article. But feel free to hop to it right away ;)

QUERY function to remove duplicate lines in Google Sheets

There is one more function that helps operate huge tables – QUERY. It may seem a bit tricky at first, but once you learn how to use it, it will become your true companion in spreadsheets.

Here's the QUERY function itself:

How does it work:

• data (required) – the range of your source table.
• query (required) – a set of commands to determine conditions in order to get specific data.
  Tip. You can get a full list of all commands here.
• headers (optional) – the number of header rows in your source table.

To put it simply, Google Sheets QUERY returns some sets of values based on conditions you specify.

Example 1

I want to get only comic book movies I am yet to watch:

=QUERY(A1:C,"select * where A='Comic Book'")

The formula processes my entire source table (A1:C) and returns all columns (select *) for comic book movies (where A='Comic Book').

As you can see, it works similar to a filter. But on practice, your data can be much bigger – with numbers you may need to calculate.

Example 2

Suppose I'm doing a little research and keep track of the weekend box office for the newest movies in theaters:

I use Google Sheets QUERY to remove duplicates and count the total sum of money earned per movie for all weekends. I also alphabetize them by genre:

=QUERY(B1:D, "select B,C, SUM(D) group by B,C")

To sort records by movie instead, I can simply change the order of columns for the group by:

=QUERY(B1:D, "select B,C, SUM(D) group by C,B")

Example 3

Let's assume you successfully run a bookstore and you keep track of all books that are in stock all over your branches. The list goes up to hundreds of books:

• Due to the hype over the Harry Potter series, you decide to check how many books you have left written by J.K. Rowling:

  =QUERY('Copy of In stock'!A1:D,"select A,B,C,D where A='Rowling'")
  

• You decide to go further and keep only the Harry Potter series omitting other tales:

  =QUERY('In stock'!A1:D,"select A,B,C,D where (A='Rowling' and C contains 'Harry Potter')")
  

• Using the Google Sheets QUERY function, you can also count all these books:

  =QUERY('In stock'!A1:D,"select A,B, sum(D) where (A='Rowling' and C contains 'Harry Potter') group by A,B")
  

I guess for now you've got an idea of how the QUERY function "removes duplicates" in Google Sheets. Though it's an available-to-all option, for me it's more like a roundabout way of combining duplicate rows.

What's more, until you learn the queries it uses and rules of applying them, the function won't be much of a help.

The fastest way to combine duplicate rows

When you give up all hope to find a simple solution to combine multiple rows based on duplicates, our add-on for Google Sheets makes a great entrance. :)

Combine Duplicate Rows scans a column with repeated records, merges corresponding cells from other columns, separates these records with delimiters, and consolidates numbers. All at the same time and in a matter of a few mouse clicks!

Remember my list of books in store with a few hundred rows? Let's see how the tool will manage it.

Tip. Since the utility is part of Power Tools, please install it first and go directly to Merge & Combine group:

Then click the add-on icon to open it:

1. Once the add-on is running, select the range where you want to combine duplicate rows:
   
2. Choose those columns that contain repeated values. In my case, they are Last Name and First Name:
   
3. The next step lets you decide on the following:
   • columns with values you will bring together
   • ways to combine those records: merge or calculate
   • delimiter to merge cells with the text
   • function to calculate numbers

   For me, I'd like to have all books belonging to one author brought to one cell and separated by break lines. If any titles repeat themselves, the add-on will show them only once.

   As for the quantity, I'm okay with totaling all books per author. The numbers for duplicate titles, if there are any, will be added together.
   

4. Upon adjusting all settings, click Finish. The add-on will do the work and show the message with everything processed in a few seconds:
   

The tool has combined duplicate rows in my list of books. Here's a part of how my data looks now:

Tip. Have a quick look at how I used the add-on:

Or watch a short video introducing the tool:

I truly encourage you to get to know the tool and its options better, for Google Sheets is "dark and full of terrors" if you know what I mean ;)

You may also be interested in

• Video: How to delete duplicates in Google Sheets
• Video: How to merge cells and preserve original values in Google Sheets
• Google Sheets QUERY function: a spreadsheet cure-all you have yet to discover
• CONCATENATE function: formulas to merge cells in Google Sheets
• Split text to columns and convert columns to rows in Google Sheets