How to use the Excel SORT function

Summary

The Excel SORT function sorts the contents of a range or array. Values can be sorted by one or more columns. SORT returns a dynamic array of results.

Purpose

Sorts range or array

Return value

Sorted array

Syntax

=SORT (array, [sort_index], [sort_order], [by_col])

Arguments

array - Range or array to sort.
sort_index - [optional] Column index to use for sorting. Default is 1.
sort_order - [optional] 1 = Ascending, -1 = Descending. Default is ascending order.
by_col - [optional] TRUE = sort by column. FALSE = sort by row. Default is FALSE.

Usage notes

The Excel SORT function extracts and sorts a list of unique values from a range. The result is a dynamic array of values. If this array is the final result (i.e. not handed off to another function) array values will "spill" onto the worksheet into a range that automatically updates when new uniques values are added or removed from the source range, or when source values change.

By default, the SORT function will sort values in ascending order using the first column. Use the optional arguments sort_index and sort_order to control which column to sort by, by what order (ascending or descending).

Examples

In the example shown, data includes in column B and scores in column B. The SORT formula in E5 is:

=SORT(B5:C14,2) // sort by scores in ascending order

The SORT function extracts all values, sorted in ascending order by score, and results "spill" into the range E5:F14.

To sort by score in descending order, set sort_order to -1 in a formula like this:

=SORT(B5:C14,2,-1) // sort by scores in descending order

SORT is a new function available in Office 365 only.

Related functions

Excel UNIQUE Function

The Excel UNIQUE function returns a list of unique values in a list or range. Values can be text, numbers, dates, times, etc.

Excel FILTER Function

The Excel FILTER function filters a range of data based on supplied criteria, and extracts matching records.

Excel SORT Function

The Excel SORT function sorts the contents of a range or array. Values can be sorted by one or more columns. SORT returns a dynamic array of results.

Excel SORTBY Function

The Excel SORTBY function sorts the contents of a range or array based on the values from another range or array. The range or array used to sort does not need to appear in results.

Excel RANDARRAY Function

The Excel RANDARRAY function generates an array of random numbers between. The size or the array is is specified by rows and columns arguments. Generated values can be either decimals or whole numbers.

Excel SEQUENCE Function

The Excel SEQUENCE function generates a list of sequential numbers in an array. The array can be one dimensional, or two-dimensional. Start and step values are arguments.