How Do You Sort by Date in Google Sheets? Easy Step By Step Guide

Sorting by date in Google Sheets is a crucial task for anyone working with data that has a timestamp or date field. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or an enthusiast, being able to sort your data by date is essential for analyzing and making sense of your information. In this blog post, we’ll delve into the world of date sorting in Google Sheets and explore the various methods you can use to achieve this.

Google Sheets is a powerful spreadsheet tool that allows you to store, manipulate, and analyze data. With its user-friendly interface and robust features, it’s no wonder why millions of people use Google Sheets for their daily tasks. One of the most common tasks you’ll encounter in Google Sheets is sorting data by date. Whether you’re sorting a list of events, tracking sales data, or analyzing customer interactions, being able to sort by date is a fundamental skill that will save you time and effort.

Sorting by date in Google Sheets can be achieved through various methods, including using the built-in sorting feature, creating custom formulas, and using add-ons. In this post, we’ll explore each of these methods in detail, providing you with a comprehensive guide to sorting by date in Google Sheets.

Method 1: Using the Built-in Sorting Feature

The built-in sorting feature in Google Sheets is one of the easiest ways to sort your data by date. To access this feature, follow these steps:

1. Open your Google Sheet and select the range of cells you want to sort.
2. Go to the “Data” menu and select “Sort range.”
3. In the “Sort range” dialog box, select the column that contains the date field you want to sort by.
4. Choose the sort order you want to apply (e.g., ascending or descending).
5. Click “Sort” to apply the sort.

That’s it! Your data should now be sorted by date. Note that this method only works if your date field is in a format that Google Sheets can recognize as a date (e.g., MM/DD/YYYY or YYYY-MM-DD).

Sorting by Date with Multiple Columns

What if you want to sort by date with multiple columns? For example, you might want to sort by event date, but also by event time. To achieve this, follow these steps:

1. Open your Google Sheet and select the range of cells you want to sort.
2. Go to the “Data” menu and select “Sort range.”
3. In the “Sort range” dialog box, select the column that contains the date field you want to sort by first.
4. Choose the sort order you want to apply (e.g., ascending or descending).
5. Click “Add another sort column” and select the column that contains the second date field you want to sort by.
6. Choose the sort order for the second column.
7. Click “Sort” to apply the sort.

By following these steps, you can sort by date with multiple columns. Note that this method only works if your date fields are in a format that Google Sheets can recognize as a date.

Sorting by Date with Custom Date Formats

What if you want to sort by date with a custom date format? For example, you might want to sort by date in the format “YYYY-MM-DD” but display the date in the format “MM/DD/YYYY”. To achieve this, follow these steps:

1. Open your Google Sheet and select the range of cells you want to sort.
2. Go to the “Data” menu and select “Sort range.”
3. In the “Sort range” dialog box, select the column that contains the date field you want to sort by.
4. Choose the sort order you want to apply (e.g., ascending or descending).
5. Click “Custom sort” and select the custom date format you want to use.
6. Click “Sort” to apply the sort.

By following these steps, you can sort by date with a custom date format. Note that this method only works if your date field is in a format that Google Sheets can recognize as a date. (See Also: How to Cross Check Two Lists in Google Sheets? Efficiently Mastered)

Method 2: Creating Custom Formulas

Another way to sort by date in Google Sheets is by creating custom formulas. This method is useful when you want to sort by date with multiple columns or with custom date formats. To create a custom formula, follow these steps:

1. Open your Google Sheet and select the range of cells you want to sort.
2. Enter the following formula in a new cell: `=DATE(YEAR(A2), MONTH(A2), DAY(A2))`
3. Replace `A2` with the cell that contains the date field you want to sort by.
4. Drag the formula down to apply it to the entire range of cells.
5. Sort the range of cells by the new column.

That’s it! Your data should now be sorted by date. Note that this method only works if your date field is in a format that Google Sheets can recognize as a date.

Using the `DATE` Function with Multiple Columns

What if you want to sort by date with multiple columns? For example, you might want to sort by event date, but also by event time. To achieve this, follow these steps:

1. Open your Google Sheet and select the range of cells you want to sort.
2. Enter the following formula in a new cell: `=DATE(YEAR(A2), MONTH(A2), DAY(A2))`
3. Replace `A2` with the cell that contains the date field you want to sort by first.
4. Drag the formula down to apply it to the entire range of cells.
5. Enter the following formula in a new cell: `=DATE(YEAR(B2), MONTH(B2), DAY(B2))`
6. Replace `B2` with the cell that contains the second date field you want to sort by.
7. Drag the formula down to apply it to the entire range of cells.
8. Sort the range of cells by the new column.

By following these steps, you can sort by date with multiple columns. Note that this method only works if your date fields are in a format that Google Sheets can recognize as a date.

Using the `DATE` Function with Custom Date Formats

What if you want to sort by date with a custom date format? For example, you might want to sort by date in the format “YYYY-MM-DD” but display the date in the format “MM/DD/YYYY”. To achieve this, follow these steps:

1. Open your Google Sheet and select the range of cells you want to sort.
2. Enter the following formula in a new cell: `=DATE(YEAR(A2), MONTH(A2), DAY(A2))`
3. Replace `A2` with the cell that contains the date field you want to sort by.
4. Drag the formula down to apply it to the entire range of cells.
5. Format the new column to display the date in the custom format you want.
6. Sort the range of cells by the new column.

By following these steps, you can sort by date with a custom date format. Note that this method only works if your date field is in a format that Google Sheets can recognize as a date.

Method 3: Using Add-ons

Another way to sort by date in Google Sheets is by using add-ons. This method is useful when you want to sort by date with multiple columns or with custom date formats. To use an add-on, follow these steps:

1. Open your Google Sheet and go to the “Add-ons” menu.
2. Search for the add-on you want to use (e.g., “Date Sorter”).
3. Click “Install” to install the add-on.
4. Follow the instructions to configure the add-on.
5. Sort your data by date using the add-on.

That’s it! Your data should now be sorted by date. Note that this method only works if your date field is in a format that Google Sheets can recognize as a date. (See Also: How to Find Duplicate Entry in Google Sheets? Easy Solution)

Using the “Date Sorter” Add-on

The “Date Sorter” add-on is a popular add-on that allows you to sort by date with multiple columns or with custom date formats. To use the “Date Sorter” add-on, follow these steps:

1. Open your Google Sheet and go to the “Add-ons” menu.
2. Search for the “Date Sorter” add-on.
3. Click “Install” to install the add-on.
4. Follow the instructions to configure the add-on.
5. Sort your data by date using the add-on.

By following these steps, you can sort by date with multiple columns or with custom date formats using the “Date Sorter” add-on.

Using the “Date Sorter” Add-on with Custom Date Formats

What if you want to sort by date with a custom date format? For example, you might want to sort by date in the format “YYYY-MM-DD” but display the date in the format “MM/DD/YYYY”. To achieve this, follow these steps:

1. Open your Google Sheet and go to the “Add-ons” menu.
2. Search for the “Date Sorter” add-on.
3. Click “Install” to install the add-on.
4. Follow the instructions to configure the add-on.
5. Sort your data by date using the add-on and select the custom date format you want to use.

By following these steps, you can sort by date with a custom date format using the “Date Sorter” add-on.

Conclusion

Sorting by date in Google Sheets is a crucial task that can be achieved through various methods, including using the built-in sorting feature, creating custom formulas, and using add-ons. In this post, we’ve explored each of these methods in detail, providing you with a comprehensive guide to sorting by date in Google Sheets.

Whether you’re a student, a professional, or an enthusiast, being able to sort by date is essential for analyzing and making sense of your information. By following the steps outlined in this post, you can sort by date with multiple columns or with custom date formats, making it easier to work with your data in Google Sheets.

So, the next time you need to sort by date in Google Sheets, remember that you have multiple options available to you. Choose the method that works best for you and your data, and you’ll be on your way to analyzing and making sense of your information in no time.

Recap

Here’s a recap of the key points discussed in this post:

• Sorting by date in Google Sheets can be achieved through various methods, including using the built-in sorting feature, creating custom formulas, and using add-ons.
• The built-in sorting feature in Google Sheets is one of the easiest ways to sort your data by date.
• Creating custom formulas is another way to sort by date in Google Sheets.
• Using add-ons is a third way to sort by date in Google Sheets.
• The “Date Sorter” add-on is a popular add-on that allows you to sort by date with multiple columns or with custom date formats.
• Sorting by date with multiple columns or with custom date formats can be achieved through various methods, including using the built-in sorting feature, creating custom formulas, and using add-ons.

FAQs

Q: How do I sort by date in Google Sheets?

A: You can sort by date in Google Sheets by using the built-in sorting feature, creating custom formulas, or using add-ons. To use the built-in sorting feature, select the range of cells you want to sort, go to the “Data” menu, and select “Sort range.” To create custom formulas, enter the `=DATE(YEAR(A2), MONTH(A2), DAY(A2))` formula in a new cell and drag it down to apply it to the entire range of cells. To use add-ons, go to the “Add-ons” menu, search for the add-on you want to use, and follow the instructions to configure the add-on.

Q: How do I sort by date with multiple columns?

A: You can sort by date with multiple columns by using the built-in sorting feature, creating custom formulas, or using add-ons. To use the built-in sorting feature, select the range of cells you want to sort, go to the “Data” menu, and select “Sort range.” To create custom formulas, enter the `=DATE(YEAR(A2), MONTH(A2), DAY(A2))` formula in a new cell and drag it down to apply it to the entire range of cells. To use add-ons, go to the “Add-ons” menu, search for the add-on you want to use, and follow the instructions to configure the add-on.

Q: How do I sort by date with custom date formats?

A: You can sort by date with custom date formats by using the built-in sorting feature, creating custom formulas, or using add-ons. To use the built-in sorting feature, select the range of cells you want to sort, go to the “Data” menu, and select “Sort range.” To create custom formulas, enter the `=DATE(YEAR(A2), MONTH(A2), DAY(A2))` formula in a new cell and drag it down to apply it to the entire range of cells. To use add-ons, go to the “Add-ons” menu, search for the add-on you want to use, and follow the instructions to configure the add-on.

Q: What is the “Date Sorter” add-on?

A: The “Date Sorter” add-on is a popular add-on that allows you to sort by date with multiple columns or with custom date formats. To use the “Date Sorter” add-on, go to the “Add-ons” menu, search for the add-on, and follow the instructions to configure the add-on.

Q: How do I use the “Date Sorter” add-on?

A: To use the “Date Sorter” add-on, go to the “Add-ons” menu, search for the add-on, and follow the instructions to configure the add-on. Once you’ve configured the add-on, you can sort your data by date using the add-on.