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Dynamic ArraysVerified QA Tested

SORT.

Sorts the contents of a range or array dynamically.

SyntaxArgumentsExampleInteractive SandboxGeneratorCompatibilityFAQRelatedCheat Sheet
Category: Dynamic Arrays
ExcelExcel 365Excel 2021Google Sheets

How it works.

SORT orders a range or array by one or more columns in ascending or descending order. As a dynamic array formula, it automatically spills the sorted results into neighboring cells without altering your raw source data.

Formula syntax.

Standard Excel Notation
=SORT(array, [sort_index], [sort_order], [by_col])
Tip:Arguments wrapped in square brackets [like_this] are optional; all other arguments are required.

Formula arguments.

Every parameter accepted by the SORT function is detailed below.

arrayRequired

The range or array to sort.

Example value: A2:B5
sort_indexOptional

Column index number to sort by (1-based, default is 1).

Default: 1
sort_orderOptional

1 for Ascending (default), -1 for Descending.

Default: 1

Simple example.

Step-by-Step Scenario

Leaderboard - Top Performing Products

Sort product table by sales volume in descending order.

ProductSalesSorted ProductSorted Sales
Product A150——
Product B450——
Product C200——
Applied Formula
=SORT(A2:B5, 2, -1)
Expected Result:450

Evaluates SORT over the sample table cells, placing the verified output in cell D2.

Formula generator.

Full Generator Wizard

Customize the argument fields below to generate a tailored SORT formula ready to paste directly into your worksheet.

Generated FormulaReady to copy
=SORT()

Expected result behavior.

Returns number 450 based on sample evaluation criteria and active cell references.

Sample Output:450
Output Type:Numeric (Double/Integer)

Best Practices

  • Nest with UNIQUE: =SORT(UNIQUE(A2:A100)) generates a sorted alphabetical list of unique names.

Common Mistakes

  • If any cell in the output spill range contains existing data, Excel returns a #SPILL! error.
Compatibility Database

Platform & version compatibility.

Verified platform compatibility matrix based on actual spreadsheet calculation engine specifications.

Excel✓
Supported
Excel 365✓
Supported
Excel 2021✓
Supported
Excel 2019✕
No
Google Sheets✓
Supported
Recommended Alternative for Unsupported Platforms

In Excel 2019, sort tables via Data > Sort or use helper columns with the RANK function.

Microsoft Excel History & Version Availability

Introduced in Excel 365 and Excel 2021. Not available in Excel 2019.

Google Sheets Compatibility Notes

Fully supported in Google Sheets with identical arguments =SORT(range, sort_column, is_ascending).

Frequently asked questions.

Technical Q&A
Can I use SORT across different worksheets in Excel?↓

Yes. You can reference cells located on other sheets by including the sheet name followed by an exclamation mark, for example: =SORT(Sheet2!A2:A10). If the sheet name contains spaces, enclose it in single quotes: ='Q1 Report'!A2:A10.

What is the most common reason for errors in SORT?↓

If any cell in the output spill range contains existing data, Excel returns a #SPILL! error.

Does SORT work identically in Google Sheets?↓

Yes, SORT is supported in both Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets with standard evaluation behavior.