Apply Multiple Filters to Columns in Excel & Google Sheets

This tutorial demonstrates how to apply multiple filters to columns in Excel and Google Sheets.

 

apply multiple filters final data

 

Apply Multiple Filters to Columns

If you have a table with multiple columns in Excel, you can filter the data by multiple columns at once. Say you have the data table shown below.

 

apply multiple filters initial data

 

To filter data first by month (display on Feb-21), and then by total sales (> $400), follow these steps:

  1. To display filter buttons in the column headings, select any cell in the data range (e.g., B2:G16), and in the Ribbon, go to Home > Sort & Filter > Filter.

 

excel filter data range

 

Now every column heading has a filter button and can be used to filter the table data.

  1. Click on the filter button for month (cell D2), select only February (uncheck January), and click OK. The filter functionality recognizes dates and groups them by year and month.

 

data filter by column 1

 

As a result of Step 2, all rows containing Jan-21 in Column D are filtered out, and only those with Feb-21 are displayed. Note that the appearance of the filter button for month (D2) is different, so it’s clear the range is filtered by month.

 

data filter by column 2

 

  1. Now you can filter data by another column. Click on the filter button for total sales (G2), select Number Filters, and click Greater Than.
    Note that you could also choose Equals, Does Not Equal, Less Than, etc.

 

data filter by column 3

 

  1. In the pop-up window, enter the lower limit (in this case, $400) and click OK. Here you could also add more conditions or change the operator.

 

data filter by column 4

 

The final result is the original data range filtered by month (Feb-21) and by total sales (> $400).

 

excel data filtered by multiple columns

 

Apply Multiple Filters to Columns in Google Sheets

  1. To create filter buttons, select any cell in the data range (B2:G16) and in the Menu, go to Data > Create a filter.

 

google sheets create a filter

 

  1. Click on the filter button for month (D2),choose only Feb-21 (uncheck Jan-21), and click OK.

 

google sheets filter by column 1

 

Now the data range is filtered by month, and only rows with Feb-21 are displayed while all other rows are hidden. Also, the filter button has a new appearance, so it’s clear there is an active filter on month.

 

google sheets filter by column 2

 

  1. Click on the filter button for total sales (G2), select Filter by condition and from the drop-down menu, choose Greater than.
    As in Excel, you could alternatively choose Less than, Equal, etc.

 

google sheets filter by column 3

 

  1. In the text box that appears under the Greater than condition, enter a lower limit (400), and click OK.

 

google sheets filter by column 4

 

Finally, rows containing Feb-21 in Column D with a sales value greater than $400 are displayed, and other rows are hidden.

 

google sheets data filtered by two columns