Sorting a column alphabetically in Google Sheets is easy; you simply right-click the header and select “Sort A to Z.” However, if your spreadsheet is constantly being updated with new names or sales figures via a Google Form, the new data will just pile up at the bottom of the list. Instead of manually clicking the sort button every single day, you can use the SORT function to create a fully automated, self-organising list.
Using the SORT Function
To do this, you must leave your original, messy raw data alone and create a brand new column that acts as an automatically sorted “mirror” of the original.
- Leave your raw data in Column A (e.g., A2:A100).
- Click on an empty cell in a completely different column (for example, cell C2) where you want the sorted list to appear.
- Type the following formula:
=SORT(A2:A, 1, TRUE) - Press Enter.
How the Formula Works
Google Sheets will instantly pull all the data from Column A and display it in perfect alphabetical order in Column C. Here is how the syntax works:
- A2:A — This is the range of raw data you want to sort. By leaving off the final number (just writing “A” instead of “A100”), you tell the formula to look all the way to the absolute bottom of the sheet, ensuring it catches any new data added in the future.
- 1 — This tells the formula to sort by the first column in your selected range.
- TRUE — This tells the formula to sort in ascending order (A to Z, or 1 to 10). If you want descending order (Z to A), change this word to FALSE.