The SORT function will sort your data without disturbing the original data set.

We’ll show you how to use the Excel SORT function with helpful examples.

The benefit of using the SORT function is that you cansort the datain a different spot.

SORT function for a single cell range

However, if you prefer to sort the items in place, you shoulduse the sort featureinstead.

Again, this does notsort your itemsin place but in the spot where you enter the formula.

Now we’ll sort our range by the second column rather than the first.

SORT function for a larger cell range

As intended, we have Tangerine first and Apple last.

As expected, we see Yellow first and Green last.

This makes it a handydata analysis tool.

SORT function using the second column

For more, check out how tosort by coloror how tosort by datein Excel.

SORT function for descending order

SORT function for descending order in the second column

SORT function formula using all arguments