• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer

Excelypedia

The Excel Encyclopedia of The Internet

  • Tutorials
  • Functions
  • Formulas
  • Templates

Sort in Excel

April 28, 2021 by Andrew Childress
Sort a list randomly in Excel

Sorting helps you quickly filter and arrange data. It’s easy to do with a spreadsheet. Let’s learn how to sort in Microsoft Excel.

Sorting helps you quickly filter and arrange data. It’s easy to do with a spreadsheet. Let’s learn how to sort in Microsoft Excel.

How to Sort a Column in Microsoft Excel

Excel offers a variety of sorting options to process data. With a few clicks, you can sort alphabetically, in numerical order, and more. You can also sort by multiple conditions, letting you take a deeper dive into your dataset.

Consider a list of names. You might want to quickly sort them alphabetically. Click into the column, then find the Sort & Filter dropdown on Excel’s Home tab. Open it up.

Sort Excel

You’ll see three options: Sort A to Z, Sort Z to A, and Custom Sort. To alphabetize, go ahead and click on Sort A to Z. Instantly, Excel will alphabetize your list.

Sort data Excel

If you’re working with a numerical dataset, those options default to Sort Smallest to Largest and Sort Largest to Smallest. 

How to Sort Multiple Columns in Microsoft Excel

Now, imagine a list of data like this. As you can see, it lists sales prices in multiple countries. You want to group the list by country, and then look at the sales in order of largest to smallest.

Sorting in Excel

With a cell in the range selected, click on Sort & Filter again, this time choosing Custom Sort. First, you’ll want to sort by Country.Sort On defaults to Values, and to alphabetize, you’ll want to choose A to Z under Order. 

Sort data in Excel

Next, click on the + icon in the lower left corner of the menu. This is the second sorting condition. Here, you’ll want Sales Price,Sort On: Values, and Order: Largest to Smallest.

Sort Microsoft Excel data

When you’re finished, click OK. Watch as Excel alphabetizes the countries, and then groups the sales prices from largest to smallest.

Sort multiple columns in Excel

As you can see, it’s easy to sort data in Excel, even with multiple conditions.

Category: Excel TutorialsTag: Excel, How To, Instructions, Tutorial

About Andrew Childress

Previous Post: « Find median Excel Median in Excel
Next Post: COUNTA Function in Excel Counta Function Excel »

Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • Format Cell Alignment in Excel
  • Default Width in Excel
  • Translate in Excel
  • Switch Windows in Excel
  • EXACT in Excel

Categories

  • Basics
  • Examples
  • Excel Formulas
  • Excel Functions
  • Excel Shortcuts
  • Excel Templates
  • Excel Tutorials
  • Uncategorized

Excelypedia

Master Excel to add a highly valuable asset to your employability portfolio. Learn how to analyze data in Excel.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube

Learn

  • Functions
  • Formulas
  • Shortcuts

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

Help

  • FAQ
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2022 · Excelypedia · All Rights Reserved

Back to top