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    Home»Office»Excel»How to Sort Multiple Columns in Excel

    How to Sort Multiple Columns in Excel

    Asmi DhakalBy Asmi DhakalApril 23, 2023 Excel 4 Mins Read

    Sorting your data is just as crucial as entering data in the first place. You can have all the data you require, however, if it is not sorted appropriately, the data may appear gibberish. Fortunately, Excel has a designated tool called Sort to help you with sorting your data in the spreadsheet. 

    While sorting a single column is almost effortless with the Sort tool, you will have to make additional configurations if you want to sort a table based on multiple-column criteria. In this article, we will be covering from a simple alphabetical sort to an advanced color sort, so keep reading!

    Sort Multiple Columns in Excel

    You can re-arrange all of the columns based on a single column in your data table. You do not have to select the entire range if you’re looking to perform a simple alphabetical sorting. However, you will have to open the Sort dialog box for advanced sorting.

    Sort Hierarchically

    You can opt to sort your columns in ascending or descending order. The sort options will look slightly different according to if your column has text or other data values. 

    If your value is a text, you will see Sort A to Z as opposed to Sort Smallest to Largest. Similarly, the option to descend your data will be Sort Z to A for text values, and Sort Largest to Smallest for other values.

    1. Select a cell from the reference column. In this table, I want to sort data according to the name which is in column A so, I selected cell A2.
      Cell Reference Excel
    2. Head to the Home tab.
    3. Select Sort & Filter in the Editing section.
    4. Pick any one of these options:
      • Sort A to Z/ Sort Smallest to Largest: Descending
      • Sort Z to A/ Sort Largest to Smallest: AscendingAscending and Descending Sort Excel

    Sort Columns Based on Other Values

    You are not limited to sorting your columns according to the values inside your cell. Conveniently, Excel has the option for you to sort your columns according to the Font color, Cell color, and Conditional Formatting Icon.

    1. Select your cell/ cell range then head to the Data tab.
    2. Click on Sort from the Data ribbon.
      Sort Tool Excel
    3. Click on the fly-out under Sort On and select an option.
      Sort on Option Excel
    4. Once you’ve picked an option, choose the criteria under Order > OK.

    Custom Sort 

    You can also sort your columns according to your own criteria. Let’s take, for instance, you created a table with a list of 10 people’s favorite colors. You want to sort the order according to Red, Green, and Blue. As this is not a standard hierarchy, you’ll have to manually establish it. For similar cases, use the following steps to create a custom sort list:

    1. Select your range.
    2. Head to the Data tab.
    3. Select Sort from the Sort & Filter section.
      Sort Tool Excel
    4. Click on the fly-out menu under Orders.
    5. Choose Custom List.
      Create Custom List for Sorting Excel
    6. Enter your custom list under List Entries. Hit Enter after each entry.
      Enter List to Sort
    7. Select Add > OK.
    8. Click OK again.

    Insert Multiple Criteria to Sort Column

    You can sort your data table according to multiple columns as well. Using Excel terms, we Add levels to the sorting process.

    In this data table, we have four columns.

    Excel data table

    Now, I want to sort this table according to the dues each individual owes to my company. Even after sorting the table that way, I now want it to look more presentable by sorting their names alphabetically. To recapitulate, I want to sort my table according to column D, “Dues”, followed by column A, “Name”.

    1. Select the data range.
    2. Head to Data tab and select Sort.
    3. From the Sort window, select the fly-out next to Sort by and choose Dues.
    4. Under Order, select Largest to Smallest.
      Sort Window in Excel
    5. Next, select Add Level.
      Insert Level in Sorting Excel
    6. Select the fly-out next to Then by and choose Name.
      Multi-level sorting in Excel
    7. I left the Sort On and Order section to Cell Values and A to Z, because that’s the result I want to obtain.
    8. Click OK.
      Sorted Table in Excel

    All of the sorting options we discussed prior in this article work exactly the same with multi-level sorting in Excel.

    Advanced Excel
    Asmi Dhakal

      Asmi is a content writer specializing in MS Office. She loves writing Excel-related content to assist other users to learn their way around the program. She started using Excel when she first entered the industry as a marketing intern. Soon, she realized that learning the often-overlooked spreadsheet program was no piece of cake. In her articles, she attempts to brief out complex topics to help beginner to intermediate-level Excel users. Asmi uses Excel for everything, including creating a grocery list to managing her personal finance. She’s a bit dramatic when it comes to the Flash Fill feature; so much so that could write a eulogy out of it. When she’s not working, you’ll find her learning a new recipe, or cleaning up her mess (out of the failed recipe).

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      Table of ContentsToggle Table of ContentToggle
      • Sort Multiple Columns in Excel
        • Sort Hierarchically
        • Sort Columns Based on Other Values
        • Custom Sort 
        • Insert Multiple Criteria to Sort Column
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