Python List remove() Method

Q: How do I remove an item from a list in Python?

Use `my_list.remove(value)` to delete by value, `my_list.pop(index)` to delete by position, or `del my_list[index]`. All three change the list in place.

Q: What does list.remove() return?

It returns `None`. If you want the removed item back, use `pop()` instead.

By Yogesh Sharma (LinkedIn) · Every code example is run and checked on Python 3.13 (how we test) · Last updated 21 Oct 2026

Short answer

list.remove(value) deletes the first item equal to value, changes the list in place and returns None; it raises ValueError if the value is not in the list.

remove() deletes by value, not by position. Use it when you know what you want to get rid of, such as taking "pen" out of a shopping cart, but you do not care or do not know where it sits. If you know the position instead, list.pop() or del my_list[i] is the better fit.

Only the first match is removed. If the same value appears several times, the later copies stay.

Quick facts
Syntax	`my_list.remove(value)`
Parameters	`value`: the item to remove, compared with `==`
Returns	`None` (the list is modified in place)
Raises	`ValueError` if `value` is not in the list
Time complexity	O(n)

How list.remove() finds and deletes an item

Python scans the list from the left, compares each element with value using ==, and deletes the first one that matches. Items after it shift one place left, so the list gets one element shorter.

Python

cart = ["pen", "book", "pen", "lamp"]
cart.remove("pen")
print(cart)

Removing a value that might not be there

Calling remove() with a missing value raises a ValueError. If the value may be absent, check first with in, or catch the error with try/except. Checking with in scans the list once more, which is fine for short lists.

Removing all occurrences, remove() vs pop() vs del

To remove every match, build a new list with a list comprehension such as [x for x in items if x != "pen"]. Never call remove() inside a for loop over the same list: deleting while iterating makes the loop skip items.

Tool	Removes by	Returns	If missing / out of range
`remove(v)`	Value (first match)	`None`	`ValueError`
`pop(i)`	Index (default last)	The removed item	`IndexError`
`del a[i]`	Index or slice	Nothing (statement)	`IndexError` for a single index
`clear()`	Everything	`None`	Never fails

Examples you can run

Press Run, then edit the code and run it again.

Remove one item by value

Only the first match is deleted.

Remove one item by value

marks = [40, 75, 40, 90]
marks.remove(40)
print(marks)

Expected output[75, 40, 90]

Safe removal with a check

Test with in so a missing value does not crash the program.

Safe removal with a check

tags = ["python", "web"]
for name in ["web", "sql"]:
    if name in tags:
        tags.remove(name)
        print("removed", name)
    else:
        print(name, "not found")
print(tags)

Expected outputremoved web
sql not found
['python']

Remove every occurrence

A comprehension keeps only the items you want.

Remove every occurrence

cart = ["pen", "book", "pen", "lamp", "pen"]
cart = [item for item in cart if item != "pen"]
print(cart)

Expected output['book', 'lamp']

Common mistakes

Removing a missing value

✗ Wrong

fruits = ["apple", "kiwi"]
fruits.remove("mango")

ValueError: list.remove(x): x not in list

✓ Right

fruits = ["apple", "kiwi"]
if "mango" in fruits:
    fruits.remove("mango")
print(fruits)

Check if "mango" in fruits: first, or wrap the call in try/except ValueError.

Removing while looping over the same list

✗ Wrong

nums = [1, 2, 2, 3]
for n in nums:
    if n == 2:
        nums.remove(n)
print(nums)

[1, 2, 3] (one 2 is left behind)

✓ Right

nums = [1, 2, 2, 3]
nums = [n for n in nums if n != 2]
print(nums)

Loop over a copy (nums[:]) or build a new list with a comprehension.

Using remove() with an index

✗ Wrong

items = ["a", "b", "c"]
items.remove(1)

ValueError: list.remove(x): x not in list

✓ Right

items = ["a", "b", "c"]
items.pop(1)
print(items)

remove() takes a value. To delete by position use pop(1) or del items[1].

Python List remove() Method: questions people ask

How do I remove an item from a list in Python?

Use my_list.remove(value) to delete by value, my_list.pop(index) to delete by position, or del my_list[index]. All three change the list in place.

Does remove() delete all occurrences?

No, it deletes only the first match. Use a list comprehension such as [x for x in a if x != v] to drop every occurrence.

What does list.remove() return?

It returns None. If you want the removed item back, use pop() instead.

Keep learning

Step-by-step lessons:
Python Lists Python List Methods

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