How to Sort Excel Columns Alphabetically

Format the Header Row. The header row is the first row in a spreadsheet containing column names. Sometimes Excel may mistakenly include this row in the sort, assuming it is part of the data, especially if your spreadsheet consists entirely of text. Here are a few ways to prevent this from happening:

• Format the header row differently, such as by making the text bold or changing its color.
• Ensure there are no empty cells in the header row.
• If Excel continues to sort the header, select the header row and use the Ribbon menu at the top, click on Home → Editing → Sort & Filter → Custom Sort → My Data Has Headers).

Select the column to sort. You can click on the column header cell or the letter above the column (A, B, C, D, etc.).

Open the Data tab. Click the Data tab in the menu at the top of the screen to view options for working with data in the ribbon above the spreadsheet.

Locate the Sort and Filter option. The ribbon is divided into sections with labels underneath. Look for the section labeled Sort & Filter.

• If you can't find it under the Data tab, try going back to the Home tab and look for the Sort & Filter button in the Editing section.

Click the A → Z button. To sort the spreadsheet alphabetically, simply click the A → Z icon under the Sort and Filter section. The selected column will be sorted alphabetically. In most versions of Excel, this button is usually located at the top left corner of the Sort and Filter section.

• If you want to sort in reverse alphabetical order, click the Z → A icon.

This method is applicable when both first and last names are in the same cell. If you have a list of full names (formatted with first name followed by last name) in a separate column, the sorting will be based only on the first name. The following steps will guide you in splitting the full names into two columns and sorting by the last name column.

Insert a new blank column. Place this column immediately to the right of the full name column.

Enter the formula for the first name. In the top cell of the new column, enter the formula: =LEFT(A1,FIND(" ",A1)), ensuring that there is a space inside the quotation marks. This formula will search in the full name column and copy all data before the space.

Copy the formula down the entire column. Click on the header of the new column, copy, and paste the formula you just entered. You will see all first names automatically populate in this column.

Create the last name column. Create a new column to the right of the first name column. Copy and paste this formula to fill the last name column:

• =RIGHT(A1,LEN(A1)-FIND(" ",A1))

Sort by the last name column. Now, you can arrange the last name column alphabetically, as described earlier.