How To Sort in Google Sheets [2 Easy Methods]

It’s always easier to work with organized and sorted data. That’s where the Sort function in Google Sheets comes in handy. But did you know there are multiple ways to sort your data? In this guide, we will explore different methods to help you sort in Google Sheets effectively.

How to Sort in Google Sheets

1. Select a cell in the column you want to sort by.
2. Highlight the entire range by clicking and dragging from the initial cell.
3. Go to the “Data” menu and choose “Sort range”. Select the order you want to sort by.

What is the Purpose of the Sort Function in Google Sheets?

As the name suggests, the Sort function in Google Sheets helps you arrange data in a specific order. You can sort data in ascending or descending order. It also allows you to sort data based on one or multiple column criteria.

Understanding the Difference Between Sort Menu and SORT Function

Google Sheets provides two ways to sort data:

1. Sort menu: Can be accessed through the “Data” menu. It changes the original data range.
2. SORT function: Entered in the formula bar, it provides more control over the sorting process.

The main distinction is that the Sort menu modifies the original data range, while the SORT function displays the sorted data in a new range, preserving the original data.

The SORT function, on the other hand, creates a new data range, ensuring the original data remains unchanged.

You can sort data alphabetically or in any ascending or descending order, such as by date.

How to Sort an Entire Google Sheet

Now that you know how to sort a column, let’s explore how to sort an entire sheet using the Sort menu:

1. Select the column header of the column you want to sort the sheet by.
2. Go to the “Data” menu and choose “Sort sheet”.
3. Select your preferred sorting method.

Syntax of the Sort Function in Google Sheets

The syntax for the SORT formula in Google Sheets is: SORT(range, sort_column, is_ascending, [sort_column2, is_ascending2, ...])

• range: Refers to the group of cells you want to sort.
• sort_column: The main column by which you want to sort the data.
• is_ascending: Specifies if the range should be sorted in ascending or descending order (TRUE or FALSE).

These three parameters are mandatory. However, you can add additional parameters to sort the range by more criteria.

Note: The sort_column can be specified either as a column index (e.g., A2:A5) or as a reference (e.g., A2:A5). The number of cells in sort_column should match the number of rows in the range; otherwise, an error will occur.

How to Sort Cells in Google Sheets Using the SORT Function (Examples)

Once you understand the SORT formula’s syntax, applying it is easy. Let’s explore two ways you can use the SORT function in Google Sheets:

1. Sort by a Single Column: When you want to sort by a single column, you only need the first three parameters of the SORT function syntax.

For example, suppose we want to sort the rows by Company Name. Follow these steps:

• Copy the data column headers and paste them onto the first row.
• In cell F2, type the following formula: =SORT(A2:D8,A2:A8,TRUE)
• Press the “Return” key.

Now you will see the sorted data occupying the range from cell F2 to I8. Any changes made to the original data will reflect in the sorted output as well.

If you want to sort numbers from highest to lowest, use FALSE instead of TRUE in the formula.

2. Sort by Multiple Columns: If you want to sort by multiple columns, you can use additional parameters in the SORT function.

For example, let’s sort our data by Company Name and then by Date:

=SORT(A2:D8,1,TRUE,C2:C8,FALSE)

The above formula sorts the data alphabetically by Company Name. Whenever there’s a repetition of a company name, it further sorts the rows based on the Delivery date.

You can refine the sorting by adding more [sort_columnX, is_ascendingX] pairs as needed.

How Many Columns Can You Sort?

You can add as many parameters and arguments as you’d like. In our example, we used two SORT arguments. However, you can use three or more with TRUE or FALSE parameters to further customize the sorting.

How to Sort a Range (Sort by Multiple Columns)

If you prefer using the Sort menu, you can easily sort your range by multiple columns. Here’s how:

1. Highlight the range of data you want to sort.
2. From the toolbar, go to “Data”.
3. Choose “Sort range” and select “Advanced range sorting options”.
4. Choose the first column you want to sort by in the “Sort by” drop-down list.
5. Click “Add another sort column” to add additional sorting levels.
6. Click the “Sort” button to apply the sorting.

How to Sort in Google Sheets Using Filter

Google Sheets offers a powerful feature called Filter. It allows you to sort and view data based on specific criteria, making it easier to identify patterns and trends.

Here’s how to use Filter to sort in Google Sheets:

1. Select the data range you want to filter.
2. Go to “Data” and choose “Create a filter”.
3. Click on the filter icon in the column you want to sort by.
4. Choose the desired sorting option, such as “Sort A — Z”.

The filtered data range will then be sorted based on the selected column.

If you want to sort from highest to lowest, choose the option “Sort Z — A” instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can You Customize Sort Order in Google Sheets?

A: While you can’t fully customize the sort order in Google Sheets, you can set parameters using the SORT function to sort selected data based on different columns.

Q: How Do I Sort in Google Sheets While Keeping Rows Together?

A: To sort columns without mixing data:

1. Select a cell in the column you want to sort by.
2. Highlight the entire range.
3. Navigate to “Data” > “Sort range” and select your preferred sorting order.

Q: How Do You Sort Data in Google Sheets?

A: The simplest way is to use the Sort menu:

1. Highlight the data you want to sort.
2. Go to “Data” > “Sort” (sheet or range) and choose your sorting method.

Q: How Do I Sort From Highest to Lowest in Google Sheets?

A: To sort a Google sheet from highest to lowest:

1. Select the range you want to sort.
2. In the Sort menu (“Data” > “Sort”), choose “Sort by column X Z-A”.

Q: How Do I Create a Custom Sort Order in Google Sheets?

A: You can use the SORT function or combine SORT with the FILTER function for custom sorting. Add more parameters and arguments to customize your sorting further.

Wrapping Up

In this tutorial, we’ve covered how to organize and sort data in Google Sheets using single or multiple-column criteria.

The SORT function is a powerful tool for quickly sorting and analyzing your data without modifying the original data.

We hope this guide has been helpful to you.

Related:

• How To Sort by Color in Google Sheets
• Sort Horizontally in Google Sheets (Sort Columns Left to Right)
• How To Sort By Multiple Columns In Google Sheets
• How To Alphabetize in Google Sheets