5 Simple Ways to Sort Google Sheets by Date

Managing date information in Google Sheets can often be a tricky business, especially when your data grows exponentially. However, sorting by date is an essential function that can help you organize, analyze, and present your data more effectively. In this blog post, we will explore five straightforward methods to sort your Google Sheets by date, enabling you to get a handle on your data with ease.

Method 1: Using the ‘Sort Range’ Option

The easiest way to sort by date in Google Sheets involves using the built-in sorting feature:

• Select the Range: Click and drag to highlight the cells that contain your date data. Ensure to include the headers if they exist.
• Go to Data > Sort range: From the top menu, click ‘Data’ then select ‘Sort range’.
• Choose Data has header row: If your selection includes a header row, check this box to ensure it doesn’t get sorted with the data.
• Sort by Column: Choose the column with your dates.
• Sort on: Here, you’ll select ‘A-Z’ for ascending order or ‘Z-A’ for descending order.

🕒 Note: When sorting in ascending order, dates are organized from oldest to newest, which might seem counterintuitive at first.

Method 2: Using Custom Sort

For more control over sorting, especially when dealing with multiple date columns or criteria:

• Highlight your Range: Select the cells you wish to sort.
• Go to Data > Sort range: Choose ‘Sort range’ from the ‘Data’ tab.
• Data has header row: Check this if applicable.
• Add another Sort: Click ‘Add another sort column’ to sort by multiple criteria. For example, sort by year, then by month, and finally by day.
• Adjust Sort Order: You can set each column to sort A-Z or Z-A as per your requirement.

🔎 Note: Custom sort allows for a more granular approach, which is particularly useful when dealing with date ranges or combined data sets.

Method 3: Sorting with Filter Views

Filter views provide a non-destructive way to sort your data:

• Create Filter View: Click on ‘Data’ then ‘Filter views’ > ‘Create new filter view’.
• Sort: In the filter view, select the date column and choose your sort order from the filter options.
• Named Filter: Optionally, name your filter for easy access in the future.

🔑 Note: Using filter views lets you keep your original data intact while viewing and sorting in different ways.

Method 4: Using Google Apps Script

If you need advanced sorting or if you wish to automate the sorting process:

• Open Google Apps Script: In your Google Sheets, go to ‘Extensions’ > ‘Apps Script’.
• Write the Script: Insert a script that sorts your range by date. Here’s a simple example:

function sortSheetByDate() {
  var sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet().getActiveSheet();
  var range = sheet.getRange(“A1:B100”); // Adjust this range to your sheet
  range.sort({column: 1, ascending: true});
}

• Run the Script: Click on the play button to execute the function or set a trigger to run it automatically.

💡 Note: Apps Script provides immense flexibility, allowing you to automate many tasks beyond simple sorting.

Method 5: Utilizing Functions

For more complex sorting or data manipulation, you might use built-in functions:

• Create a New Column: Let’s call it “DateHelper”.
• Use DATEVALUE Function: In this column, use =DATEVALUE(A1) to convert dates into numbers Google Sheets can understand easily.
• Sort the Column: Highlight and sort this column with A-Z or Z-A to sort dates in ascending or descending order.

📊 Note: This method is particularly useful when dealing with dates in different formats or when dates are entered as text.

The methods outlined above provide a spectrum of ways to sort by date in Google Sheets, from basic to advanced, ensuring you can organize your data efficiently. Whether you prefer a straightforward manual approach or need the power of scripting, these options can cater to all levels of technical expertise. Keep in mind that sorting by date can reveal patterns and trends in your data, making it easier to draw insights or present data in a more meaningful way.

Why is my sorting not working when dates look correct?

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Check if the dates are stored as text rather than as dates. Use the DATEVALUE or VALUE function to convert them.

How can I sort by multiple date columns?

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Use the custom sort option where you can add multiple sort criteria. Start with the primary date column, then add secondary and tertiary date columns as needed.

What if I need to sort date ranges?

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To sort by date ranges, consider creating a ‘From’ and ‘To’ column, then use helper columns for sorting. For example, subtract the ‘From’ date from the current date for a sortable numerical value.