Syntax
SORTBY(array, by_array1, [sort_order1], ...)
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| array | Parameter of the SORTBY function. |
| by_array1 | Parameter of the SORTBY function. |
| [sort_order1] | (Optional.) Parameter of the SORTBY function. |
| ... | Parameter of the SORTBY function. |
Examples
Sort names by scores
Formula
=SORTBY(A2:A20, B2:B20, -1)
Returns the names from column A sorted by the scores in column B, highest first. The scores column doesn't need to be in the output.
Multi-level sort
Formula
=SORTBY(A2:C50, B2:B50, 1, C2:C50, -1)
Sorts by column B ascending first, then by column C descending as the tiebreaker. Equivalent to a two-level sort in the Sort dialog.
Sort products by calculated margin
Formula
=SORTBY(A2:D30, (D2:D30-C2:C30)/C2:C30, -1)
Sorts products by profit margin (calculated from price minus cost / cost) without needing a helper column.
Common Errors
#VALUE!
The sort-by array has a different number of rows than the main array.
#SPILL!
The spill range contains non-empty cells that block the output.
Tips
Sort by a column not in the output
SORTBY's biggest advantage: you can return columns A:C but sort by column E without including E in the output. SORT can't do this.
Sort by calculations
The by_array can be a formula, not just a range. Sort by LEN(A2:A20) to sort by text length, or by MONTH(D2:D20) to sort by month.
Multiple sort levels
Add as many by_array/sort_order pairs as needed. Each pair after the first acts as a tiebreaker for the previous sort level.
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