Merge two lists (Consolidate Lists)

Merging combines two lists of your current workspace into one. This is separate from the in-list Duplicates checks (see "Finding and merging duplicates") — this article covers Consolidate Lists, which brings two whole lists together.

How to start a merge#

On Home, drag one list card and drop it onto another list card (grid or list view). Both lists must be in the workspace you are working in, and only owners and admins of the workspace can drag list cards, so members ask one of them to merge. This opens the Consolidate Lists window: the list you dragged becomes the Source, and the list you dropped it on becomes the Master.

Choose a mode#

On the Overview step, choose a mode:

• Create New List (default) — merges both lists into a brand-new third list; the Source and Master stay unchanged.
• Update Master In-Place — appends the Source's rows directly onto the Master list; the Source stays unchanged.

Map Columns#

Next, choose which Source columns come across and where they go. ListPlus auto-suggests matches by column name and type; uncheck a column to leave it out, or point it at a different Master column using the dropdown. Choosing "Create new column" adds a new column — to the new list in Create New List mode, or to the Master in Update Master In-Place mode.

Handle duplicates#

On the Duplicates step, choose Keep all rows to append everything, or Skip duplicates to leave out Source rows that already exist in the Master. With Skip duplicates, pick the column to compare under Match on column, one dropdown for each list. If the Master has an email column, it is pre-selected. A Source row is skipped when its value in that column matches the value of any Master row, ignoring upper/lower case and leading or trailing spaces. Empty values never count as duplicates, and duplicates inside the Source list itself are not removed. The step shows how many Source rows would be skipped before you continue.

Review and execute#

The Review step summarizes the mode, mapped columns, duplicate count and resulting row total, then click Consolidate to run it.

Cost and record limit#

Merging lists is free — no credits are charged. The rows it adds count toward your plan's record limit the same as an import: with Create New List, the new list's full row count (Master + Source, minus any skipped duplicates) counts, since the two originals still exist too; with Update Master In-Place, only the Source rows actually added count. The Overview and Review steps warn Record limit would be exceeded based on the Create New List total. The final check runs when you click Consolidate and uses your actual mode. If you'd go over, a Record limit reached window shows your limit and current total — see "Record limit" for freeing up space or upgrading.

Related topics: duplicates · record-limit · create-list-and-import-file · projects-and-list-management.

FAQ#

What does merging two lists do?#

Consolidate Lists combines two lists of your current workspace — either into a brand-new third list (originals unchanged) or by appending one list's rows onto the other. You choose the mode, map columns, and optionally skip rows that already exist in the target.

How do I start merging two lists?#

On Home, drag one list card and drop it onto another list card; the dragged list becomes the Source and the one you dropped onto becomes the Master. Both lists must be in your current workspace, and dragging list cards is available to the workspace's owners and admins.

What's the difference between Create New List and Update Master In-Place?#

Create New List builds a third list containing both lists' rows and leaves the Source and Master untouched. Update Master In-Place appends the Source's rows directly onto the Master list, growing it in place.

Can I choose which columns come across when merging?#

Yes — the Map Columns step lets you uncheck any Source column to leave it out, redirect it to a different Master column, or create a new column for it. ListPlus pre-fills suggested matches by column name and type, which you can adjust before continuing.

How does "Skip duplicates" decide which rows to leave out?#

You pick a column in each list under Match on column — a Source row is skipped when its value matches any Master row's value there, ignoring case and leading/trailing spaces. Empty values are never treated as duplicates, and it doesn't remove duplicates that already exist inside the Source list itself.

Does merging lists cost credits?#

No, merging two lists with Consolidate Lists is free.

Do the rows added by a merge count toward my record limit?#

Yes. If the result would push your total records over your plan's limit, ListPlus blocks the merge and shows your current total and limit instead of running it — see "Record limit" for how to free up space or upgrade.

Who can merge lists, and can I merge lists from different workspaces?#

Both lists must be in the workspace you are currently working in, and only owners and admins of that workspace can drag list cards on Home to start a merge. Lists from another workspace can't be merged directly: export one of them, switch workspaces and import it there first.