Sort by Due Date in Google Sheets: Step-by-Step

To sort tasks by due date in Google Sheets, select the entire task table, open Data > Sort range > Advanced range sorting options, identify the due-date column, and choose A to Z for earliest dates first or Z to A for latest dates first. Sorting the full range keeps each date attached to the correct task. Before you start, check that the due dates are real date values rather than text.

What You’ll Need

A Google account with access to the spreadsheet, preferably with editing permission.
A table with a due-date column and the related information for each item, such as task names, owners, or status.
A browser window with the Google Sheets file open. The instructions below refer to Sheets in a web browser; labels and controls may look different in the mobile app.

You do not need an add-on or a special formula for a basic sort. If the sheet is shared, it is considerate to tell collaborators before sorting a shared range, since a normal sort changes the order they see too.

Step-by-Step

Check the table layout. Find the column containing the due dates and note its column letter, such as D. Confirm that each row represents one item and that the task name, due date, owner, and other details all sit on the same row. Look for a header row such as Task, Due date, and Owner. If there are unrelated notes or a second table beside the task list, keep those outside the range you plan to sort.
Check that the due dates are recognized as dates. Click a due-date cell. A date that Sheets recognizes is stored as a date value, even if its display format is customized. You can select the due-date cells and use Format > Number > Date to apply a date display format. Formatting does not reliably convert text that only looks like a date, so if imported entries still behave like text, correct or re-enter them as dates before sorting. Pay attention to ambiguous entries such as 04/05/2026: depending on the spreadsheet’s locale, this can mean April 5 or May 4.
Select the complete table range. Drag across all columns and rows that belong to the list, including the header row. For example, if headers are in row 1 and task records run through row 40 in columns A to F, select A1:F40. Include blank cells within the table if they are part of its rows, but do not include separate content below or beside it. Selecting only the due-date column is risky because the dates can move without their task details.
Open the range-sorting controls. With the table selected, choose Data > Sort range > Advanced range sorting options. In the dialog, turn on Data has header row if the first row contains column names. This tells Sheets not to treat the header as a task or sort it into the records. If you leave the option off, the header may be moved among the dates or other values.
Choose the due-date column. In Sort by, select the header name for the due-date column if the header-row option is on. Otherwise, choose the column letter. Check the choice before sorting: it is easy to select a neighboring column such as Created date or Last updated instead of Due date. If the dialog offers additional sort columns, leave them unused unless you specifically want dates that match to be ordered by another field.
Choose the order and apply it. Select A to Z to put the oldest due dates first, which is chronological order from earliest to latest. Select Z to A to put the latest dates first. Click Sort. The first option is usually useful for finding overdue and near-term tasks; the second is useful when planning further into the future. If two tasks share a due date, their relative order may not be meaningful unless you add a secondary sort column, such as task name or priority.
Review the result. Check a few rows at the top, middle, and bottom. Make sure the date order is chronological and that each task still has the correct owner, status, and other details beside it. Confirm that the header remains at the top. If the table has blank due dates, inspect where those rows landed and decide whether that placement suits your workflow. Save changes are normally applied automatically in Sheets, but wait for the saved indicator before closing the tab.

Alternative for a list you sort often: Select the table and choose Data > Create a filter. Filter controls appear in the header row. Click the control in the Due date header and choose Sort A to Z or Sort Z to A. This sorts the filtered table while keeping records together, and the filter control remains available for later sorting or filtering. Choose Data > Remove filter when you want to remove the controls. A filter is shared spreadsheet state, so collaborators may see its effects as well.

Common Mistakes

Sorting just one column. If you select only the dates, Sheets may reorder dates without the matching task names and other fields. Select the full rectangular table for a normal range sort, or sort using a filter applied to the complete table.
Forgetting the header-row setting. A heading such as Due date is text, not a date, and can end up in the records if Sheets is told there is no header. Enable Data has header row when the selected range includes column labels.
Assuming date-looking text is a date. Imported values may look like dates but be stored as text. Changing Format > Number > Date changes the display of recognized date values; it does not necessarily turn text into dates. Correct the source values or convert them using a method suited to their format before sorting.
Including unrelated rows or columns. A note, subtotal, or second list inside the selected range can be sorted along with the tasks. Select only the continuous block that represents one table, and keep totals or notes outside it where possible.
Choosing the wrong direction. A to Z means earliest to latest for actual dates, not latest first. If the dates at the top are far in the future, undo with Ctrl+Z on Windows or Command+Z on Mac and repeat with the other order.

Tips

Use a clear header. Name the column Due date rather than relying on a letter. Clear headers make the sort dialog and filter menu easier to use, especially when a sheet has many columns.
Keep one record per row. Avoid merged cells within the task table and avoid inserting section labels between records. A consistent rectangular layout makes sorting predictable and lets filters work as intended.
Use ascending order for action lists. Sorting A to Z puts earlier deadlines first, which helps teams see immediate work. If past-due tasks are mixed with future tasks, consider adding a separate Status or Priority column so the date sort is not expected to communicate every kind of urgency.
Use a filter when you need to revisit the sort. The filter menu lets you sort again or show only selected dates without reopening the advanced range dialog. Filters can also narrow records to a particular owner or status, provided those fields are included in the table.
Be careful with shared files. A regular sort changes row order for everyone viewing the sheet. If people need separate views, use a filter view instead: choose Data > Filter views > Create new filter view, then sort from the relevant column’s filter control. Close the filter view when finished. Access to filter views can depend on your permission level.
Make ambiguous dates unambiguous. Use a consistent date format and, when entering dates manually, consider a format with a four-digit year. The spreadsheet locale is set under File > Settings > General > Locale; check it when entries such as 03/04/2026 are being interpreted unexpectedly.

Troubleshooting

The order looks alphabetical or otherwise wrong. One or more entries may be text rather than date values, or the dates may be interpreted using an unexpected locale. Check a problem cell, confirm the intended day and month, and correct inconsistent entries. Apply a date format after the values are genuine dates, then sort again.

Task details no longer match their due dates. This usually happens when only the due-date column was sorted. Use Ctrl+Z on Windows or Command+Z on Mac promptly to undo the sort if it is still the latest action. Then select the entire table and sort the range again. If further edits have been made, check version history before attempting to reconstruct the original order.

The heading moved into the list. Repeat the range sort and enable Data has header row. Make sure your selected range starts with the header row; if it starts at the first task row, do not include a header setting for a row that is not selected.

Some dates remain at an unexpected end of the list. Blank cells, text entries, and genuine dates can sort differently. Inspect those cells individually and standardize them. If a task has no deadline, consider leaving the cell blank consistently or using a separate status such as Unscheduled rather than mixing several text labels into a date column.

You cannot sort the selected cells. Check that you have editing access and that the range is not protected. If a filter is already active, use its column control or remove the filter before trying the range sort. In a shared sheet, ask the owner to adjust protection or permissions rather than changing unrelated cells.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does A to Z mean earliest due date first?
Yes. For values recognized as dates, A to Z orders them from earliest to latest. Choose Z to A when you want the latest due dates at the top.

Can I sort by due date without moving the header?
Yes. Select the table including its header, open Data > Sort range > Advanced range sorting options, and enable Data has header row. A filter applied to a table also keeps its header row in place.

Can I sort only tasks due this week?
First use a filter on the Due date column to show the dates you need, then sort the visible records. Depending on the date range, you may need to set a filter condition or use the filter menu’s date options. Make sure the filter covers the whole task table.

Will the sort update automatically when I add a new task?
A one-time range sort does not guarantee that future entries will always appear in date order. Add the task to the table and sort again, or use a filter and sort its date column when you need the updated order.

Can I sort by due date and then by priority?
Yes. In Advanced range sorting options, add another sort column if the dialog provides the option. Set Due date as the primary sort and Priority as the next one. The priority sort then orders tasks that share the same date; check that the priority values use a consistent format.

Does sorting change the dates themselves?
No. A sort changes the order of the selected rows, not the date values stored in those cells. When the entire table is selected, the related information in each row moves along with its due date.

Try it: the Date Difference Calculator: days, months, years and weekdays between two dates, with the DATEDIF formulas.

More in How-to basics

Sources: Function behaviour and menu paths: Microsoft Support documentation for Excel. Method & sources

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