Sort a Row in Excel Worksheet

Sort a Row in Excel

Most of the time when you’re sorting in Excel, you sort based on the values in one or more columns.

If your workbooks are like mine, it’s rare that you sort horizontally, based on the values in a row. But if you need to do that, here’s how to sort a row in Excel.

Sort a Row

Usually we sort by the values in a column in Excel.

It is possible though, to sort by the values in a row, and you can sort in ascending, descending, or custom sort order.

Select Sort Order option
Select Sort Order option

Change the Sort Options

To sort by row, click the Options button in the Sort dialog box.

Then, in the Sort Options, select Sort Left to Right.

Sort Options dialog box
Sort Options dialog box

Sorted By Total Row

In the screen shot below, the total row has been sorted, so the month with the highest total is at the left.

Table Sorted By Total Row
Table Sorted By Total Row

Excel 2010 Sorting

So much has changed in Excel 2010 and Excel 2007 sorting, that I’ve finally updated the sorting in Excel page on the Contextures website.

You can find the detailed instructions for sorting by row, and other sorting tips.

There is also an Excel sorting sample workbook that you can download, at the bottom of the sorting page.

Video: Sort Across Row in Excel

To see the steps for sorting a row in Excel 2010, watch this short Excel video tutorial.

And for more Excel advanced sorting tips, go to the Excel Add-in Advanced Sorting page on my Contextures site.

________________

11 thoughts on “Sort a Row in Excel Worksheet”

  1. 29 22 16 10 20 2
    6 33 4 8 34 21
    15 30 9 3 14 19
    2 18 19 39 6 12
    40 32 1 6 2 11
    36 4 3 10 22 29
    25 9 33 11 32 35
    12 20 25 30 6 21
    38 40 6 37 9 36
    27 12 10 14 20 40
    31 2 7 22 36 24
    22 39 36 20 8 32

    How can I sort a range of numbers so that each row is in assending order. There are 2000 rows in my spreadsheet and I would like each row in order from lowest to highest. Too time consuming to do it row for row. Any details for doing this quickly would be appreciated.

  2. I have the same problem as Debbie: lots of rows I would like to sort in ascending order by value without writing a macro (yes, I do know how to write the macro).

  3. I’ve been looking for this info for a long time also, if anyone ever finds this PLEASE let me know too. I know how to sort left to right one row at a time.

    1. There’s nothing built in that will sort a group of rows or columns individually.
      You can select the rows or columns, one at a time, and sort manually, or write a macro to sort them automatically.

  4. as per data given by you you have data in six columns, i.e. from a to f
    Go to G1 and write the formula =Large($a1:$f1,6). This will give you the value of the sixth largest no. in the range a1:f1.
    In the next column H1 write the formula =large($a1:$f1,5)
    Similarly
    I1 = large($a1:$f1,4)
    J1 = large($a1:$f1,3)
    K1 = large($a1:$f1,2)
    L1 = large($a1:$f1,1)
    This will give you the data in the required order in row 1 in the columns g1:l1
    Now copy this to the next 2000 rows where you have data.
    You can use the data as it is or you can also copy g:l and do paste special values in a:f.
    If you do paste special then you can delete the columns g:l
    raju

  5. Dear all,
    First, thanks Raju very much, it works. I searched for an answer for a long time.
    Now, I have a different problem (I think that it is not hard).
    I need to plot a histogram for students’ marks in the exam.
    For example:
    Student 1 got 7
    Student 2 got 4
    Student 3 got 8
    Student 4 got 9
    Student 5 got 10
    Student 6 got 6
    Student 7 got 8
    Student 8 got 7
    Student 9 got 8
    Student 10 got 7
    Thanks

  6. raju krishnan you have given a solution for a column sort method, how about on rows sorting ?

Leave a Reply to Debbie Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.