Excel SORT Function | Excel One Minute Quick Reference

Posted on: 10/16/2021

The SORT function in Excel sorts the contents of a range or array. Example, =SORT(B2:B20). You can also sort in ascending or descending order with the SORT function. =SORT(B2:B20,,-1) would sort descending or highest to lowest. The number 1 would sort ascending, which is the default sort. The SORT function has four arguments, but only 1 is required.

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Syntax for SORT function

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

Arguments for SORT function

array - The array or range to sort - Required
[sort_index] A number indicating the row or column to sort by - Optional
[sort_order] - The order to use for sorting. 1 for ascending, -1 for descending. Default is ascending - Optional
[by_col] - A logical value indicating the desired sort direction; FALSE to sort by row (default), TRUE to sort by column - Optional

Versions of Excel the SORT function works in

Excel for Microsoft365
Excel for Microsoft 365 for Mac
Excel for the web
Excel 2021
Excel 2021 for Mac
Excel for iPad
Excel for iPhone
Excel for Android tablets
Excel for Android phones

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Chris Menard

Chris Menard is a Microsoft Trainer (MCT) and works as a full-time Trainer at BakerHostetler - one of the largest law firms in the US. Chris runs a YouTube channel with 900+ technology videos that cover various tools such as Excel, Word, Zoom, Teams, Gmail, Copilot, Google Calendar, and Outlook. To date, the channel has helped over 20 million viewers. Menard also does 2 to 3 public speaking events yearly, presenting at the Administrative Professional Conference (APC), the EA Ignite Conference, the University of Georgia, and CPA conferences. You can connect with him on LinkedIn at https://chrismenardtraining.com/linkedin or watch his videos on YouTube at https://chrismenardtraining.com/youtube.