SORT Function

Syntax

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

Inputs

• array (Required): The range or array to sort.
• [sort_index] (Optional): A number indicating the row or column to sort by (defaults to 1, the first column).
• [sort_order] (Optional): A number indicating the desired sort order:
  • 1: Ascending order (Default, A-to-Z / smallest to largest).
  • -1: Descending order (Z-to-A / largest to smallest).
• [by_col] (Optional): A logical value indicating the sort direction:
  • FALSE: Sort by row (Default).
  • TRUE: Sort by column.

Examples

1. Basic Single-Column Ascending Sort

Sort customer names alphabetically:

=SORT(Table_Customers[CustomerName])

2. Multi-Column Table Sort by Column Index

Sort call records by Speed of answer in seconds (Column 5) in ascending order:

=SORT(CallData, 5, 1)

3. Combining with FILTER and UNIQUE

Extract unique agents with answered calls and sort alphabetically:

=SORT(UNIQUE(FILTER(CallData[Agent], CallData[Answered (Y/N)] = "Y")))

Notes & Best Practices

• Dynamic Spill: SORT returns a dynamic array. Ensure sufficient unobstructed empty cells below and to the right of the formula cell to prevent #SPILL! errors.
• Pairing with SORTBY: When you need to sort by a column that is not part of the returned array itself, use SORTBY(array, by_array1, [order1]) instead.
• Reference Operator: To reference the entire spilled result from another formula, append the spill operator (#), e.g., =INDEX(D2#, 1, 1).