How to Make Columns Sortable in Excel & Google Sheets

This article will demonstrate how to make columns sortable in Excel and Google Sheets.

 

 

Sortable Headings in Excel

Excel has some great built in database features which make ordering and sorting data easy as long as your data is formatted in a table type format. This means that the data should be organized into columns that contain column headings in the first row, with the data contained in the rows beneath it.

Let us consider the data in the spreadsheet below:

 

Each column of data has a heading with the information contained in the rows below.

1. With your mouse clicked within the table of data, in the Ribbon, select Data and then Sort & Filter > Filter.

 

 

2. You will notice that a small drop-down arrow will be placed on the right-hand side of each cell that contains the column headings. This indicates that a filter has been attached to each column.

 

 

3. Click the drop-down list of the column you wish to sort (in this case Order Date), and then select either A-Z Sort Oldest to Newest or Z-A Sort Newest to Oldest.

 

 

4. Your data will then get sorted as per your selection, and you will then notice that the drop-down arrow has a small little arrow next to it – this will either be pointing downward (if you select to sort newest of oldest) or upward (if you select to sort oldest to newest).

 

 

5. Click back on the Filter button in the Data tab on the Ribbon if you wish to remove the filter drop downs from the column headings.

Custom Sort

You can also use the Custom Sort feature to sort using your column headings.

1. With your mouse clicked within the table of data, in the Ribbon, select Data > Sort & Filter > Sort.

 

 

2. Then in the Column Sort by Drop down list, select the column header (field) you wish to sort on.

 

 

3. In the Order drop down, select if you wish to sort Oldest to Newest, Newest to Oldest or a Custom List.

 

 

4. Click OK to sort.

How to Make Columns Sortable in Google Sheets

You can also use the Filter option in Google Sheets to make your columns sortable. Your data, as with Excel, must contain column headings for each column.

Click within your data and then, in the Menu, select Data > Create a filter.

 

 

2. Then, click filter drop down box next to the column you wish to sort and select either Sort A-Z or Sort Z-A.