Introduction

A unique list contains cell values that only exist once.

A unique distinct list contains all cell values but duplicates are merged into one distinct cell value.

If your are looking for a unique distinct list array formula, see this blog article: Create a unique distinct alphabetically sorted list, extracted from a column in excel

How to filter a column and create a new unique list sorted from A to Z using array formula in excel

Array Formula in B2:

copied down as far as necessary.

Excel 2007 users can remove any #num errors using iferror function:

copied down as far as necessary.

Named ranges

List (A2:A20)
What is named ranges?

How to customize the formula to your excel spreadsheet

Change the named range. If your list starts at F3, change B1:$B$1 in the above array formula to $F$2:F2.

Download excel example file.
Extract-a-unique-list sorted A to Z from a column-in-excel.xls
(Excel 97-2003 Workbook *.xls)

Functions in this article:

COUNTIF(range,criteria)
Counts the number of cells within a range that meet the given condition

IF(logical_test;[value_if:true];[value_if_false])
Checks whether a condition is met, and returns one value if TRUE, and another value if FALSE

MATCH(lookup_value;lookup_array; [match_type]
Returns the relative position of an item in an array that matches a specified value

INDEX(array,row_num,[column_num])
Returns a value or reference of the cell at the intersection of a particular row and column, in a given range

ROW(reference) returns the rownumber of a reference

SMALL(array,k) returns the k-th smallest row number in this data set.

ROWS(array) returns the number of rows in a reference or an array