Sorting data in Google Sheets can make life so much easier, whether you’re organizing a list of contacts, a budget, or just tidying up some messy data. Here’s a simple, step-by-step guide to get you sorting like a pro.
How to Sort Data in Google Sheets
Step 1: Open Your Google Sheet
First, open up the Google Sheet that has the data you want to organize. Make sure all the data you want to sort is in the same column range or across rows together.
Step 2: Select the Data Range
Highlight the cells you want to sort. If it’s just one column, click on the top cell, drag down to the bottom cell, and make sure you’ve captured everything you need. If you’re sorting a table with multiple columns, select everything within that table to keep rows together.
Tip: If your data has a header row (like “Name,” “Date,” “Amount”), select it too.
Step 3: Open the Sort Options
With your data highlighted:
- Click on Data in the top menu.
- You’ll see options for sorting!
Step 4: Choose How You Want to Sort
There are two basic ways to sort in Google Sheets:
Option 1: Sort a Single Column Alphabetically or Numerically
- Alphabetical or Numerical Sort: To sort a single column without changing other columns, click:
- Sort A to Z for ascending order (A to Z or smallest to largest).
- Sort Z to A for descending order (Z to A or largest to smallest).
Option 2: Sort by a Column While Keeping All Rows Together
If you’re sorting an entire table and want each row to stay intact:
- Sort Range:
- Go to Data > Sort range.
- Choose Sort range by column [your column name] A to Z or Z to A.
- Custom Range Sort (For more control):
- Go to Data > Sort range > Advanced range sorting options.
- If you have headers, select Data has header row so the header row doesn’t get sorted.
- Choose the column to sort by from the dropdown.
- Select either A to Z or Z to A for sorting order.
Step 5: Check Your Results
After sorting, give your data a quick look to make sure everything sorted the way you wanted. If anything looks off, you can always hit Undo (or press Ctrl+Z).
Pro Tips for Sorting in Google Sheets
- Sorting by Multiple Columns: If you need to sort by more than one column (like sorting a contact list by “Last Name” and then by “First Name”), go to Data > Sort range > Advanced range sorting options and add additional columns.
- Freeze Header Row: If your header row keeps moving, try freezing it so it stays put at the top. Go to View > Freeze > 1 row.
And that’s it! Sorting in Google Sheets can help keep your data organized and easy to read. Play around with different sort options and see how much cleaner your data looks!