Google Sheets 101: Sorting Data

LESSONS

The ability to quickly and easily sort large amounts of data is one of the most useful things about spreadsheets.

There are a number of ways to do this. Here you’ll learn about the SORT function.

SORT

This function takes in data and sorts it by one or more of the columns present. You can also sort data by referencing an external column.

Syntax

=SORT(range, sort_column, is_ascending, [sort_column2, is_ascending2, ...])

range = the data you want to sort, it can be an array of data or a range reference
sort_column = the index of the column by which you want your data sorted (e.g. 2) or a range reference to a column outside the range that has the same number of rows as the range
is_ascending = TRUE or FALSE setting that determines if the data is sorted in ascending order (TRUE = 1➜9 or A➜Z) or descending order (FALSE = 9➜1 or Z➜A)
[sort_column2, is_ascending2, ...]= option to add multiple additional sort_column indexes or ranges and corresponding is_ascending choices, with preference given left to right

By default the SORT function assumes sort_column = 1 and is_ascending = TRUE. If that’s the case for your data you can leave these arguments out of the function.

Example

Here’s some data:

	A	B
1	Name	Age
2	Jane	32
3	James	56
4	John	24
5	Julia	33

Let’s sort the data by name:

=SORT(A2:B5,1,TRUE)

	C	D
1	Name	Age
2	James	56
3	Jane	32
4	John	24
5	Julia	33

By age:

=SORT(A2:B5,2,TRUE)

	C	D
1	Name	Age
2	John	24
3	Jane	32
4	Julia	33
5	James	56

Or just the names, but descending by age:

=SORT(A2:A5,B2:B5,FALSE)

	E
1	Name
2	James
3	Julia
4	Jane
5	John

It’s a powerful function with a lot of options.

Sorting Data Exercises

Enter a formula for each question in the formula bar for the spreadsheet below to access the next lesson.

1. Alphabetical

In cell A9, enter a formula that sorts both the first and last names alphabetically (A-Z) by only the first names.

2. Order

In cell C9, enter a formula that sorts the sales numbers by the first names alphabetically (A-Z).

Current question: See the correct formula or clear the formula bar.

	A	B	C
1	First	Last	Sales
2	Dwight	Schrute	10,000
3	Jim	Halpert	8,000
4	Stanley	Hudson	7,000
5	Phyllis	Vance	6,000
6	Andy	Bernard	4,000
7
8	First	Last	Sales
9
10
11
12
13
14

Next Lesson

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Google Sheets 101: Sorting Data

SORT

Syntax

Example

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