How To Sort Months In Excel

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Excel provides multiple methods to sort months efficiently. Here’s a detailed guide to help you master month sorting in your spreadsheets.

Understanding Month Sorting in Excel

When working with dates and months in Excel, sorting can be tricky because the default alphabetical sort doesn’t follow the chronological order of months. Fortunately, Excel offers several techniques to help you sort months accurately and efficiently.

Method 1: Using a Helper Column

The most universal method for sorting months involves creating a helper column with month numbers. Here’s how to do it:

1. Create a new column next to your date column
2. Use the MONTH() function to extract month numbers
   • Example formula: =MONTH(B2)
3. Select your entire data range
4. Navigate to the Data tab
5. Click Sort
6. Choose your helper column for sorting

🔍 Note: This method works across all Excel versions and provides the most consistent results.

Method 2: Using SORTBY Function

For Microsoft 365 subscribers, the SORTBY function offers a more dynamic approach:

1. Select the cell where you want sorted results
2. Enter the formula: =SORTBY(entire_table_range, MONTH(date_column))
3. Excel will automatically populate sorted results

Advanced Sorting Techniques

Custom Month Lists

Excel also allows creating custom month lists for sorting:

1. Go to Data tab
2. Click Sort
3. Choose Custom List in the order dropdown
4. Select predefined month order

💡 Note: This method ensures months are sorted chronologically, not alphabetically.

Common Challenges in Month Sorting

• Alphabetical sorting will arrange months as: April, August, December
• Chronological sorting requires additional steps
• Date formatting can impact sorting accuracy

Can I sort months without changing my original data?

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Yes, use the SORTBY function in Microsoft 365 or create a separate sorted view without modifying your source data.

What if my Excel version doesn't support SORTBY?

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Use the helper column method, which works in all Excel versions. Create a column with month numbers and sort based on that.

How do I maintain row integrity while sorting?

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Always select entire data ranges including all columns to ensure related information stays together during sorting.

Mastering month sorting in Excel empowers you to organize and analyze your data more effectively. Whether you’re working with sales reports, project timelines, or personal tracking, these techniques will help you arrange your months precisely how you need them.