$('.mySelect').change(function(index, elem){ var myFilter = $(this).val(); if(myFilter !="selectOne"){ var size = $('.qSelect').not(this).not(function(index){ return $(this).val() != myFilter; }).size(); if(size > 0){ alert("already selected."); } else { // do something } } }); $('.mySelect').bind('change', function(el) { var _this = $(this), newVal = _this.val(); $('select.mySelect:not([name=' + _this.attr('name') + ']) option[value=' + _this.data('oldVal') + ']').attr('disabled', false); $('select.mySelect:not([name=' + _this.attr('name') + ']) option[value=' + newVal + ']').attr('disabled', true); _this.data('oldVal', newVal); });