Sort CSV rows by any column

For arranging an export before analysis, comparison or presentation, Sort a CSV file orders rows by the column and direction you choose.

Order CSV rows by the selected column and direction, then copy a table arranged for your next task. You get the result directly in your browser.

How to use

Load the file you want to order from your device, or paste the rows straight into the input field.
If commas are not the separator in your file, pick the right one: semicolon, tabulation or vertical bar, or let automatic detection handle it.
Choose the column used as the sorting criterion, then set the direction of the sort.
Run the sort and read through the produced table, especially rows where the chosen column mixes words and numbers.

Example

A contact export sorted on the last-name column before an email campaign: the rows follow one another alphabetically and the header line stays right where it was, which makes proofreading much quicker than working through a file left in its original order.

Limits and formats

Imports are capped at 10 MB and only CSV or TXT documents are offered by the file picker.
An alphabetical sort treats numbers as text, so 10 may end up before 9.
Blank rows and quotes that were never closed can change the order you expected, so check the output.
Sorting on a date column written in an unusual format can produce an unexpected sequence of rows.

Where processing happens

Sorting takes place in your browser: the file you load is not shipped to a remote machine and no copy of it is kept once the tab is closed.

Frequently asked questions

Does the sort keep my header row?

Yes, the header identifies the columns and stays at the top, while the data rows are reordered underneath it, so the column labels are never lost in the process.

Can I sort on several columns at once?

No, one column and one direction are handled per run. To refine the order, sort on the secondary criterion first, then run a new sort on the main one.

My separator is not detected, what should I do?

Turn off automatic detection and pick the character your file really uses, whether that is a comma, a semicolon, a tabulation or a vertical bar, then run the sort again.