How to Sort Dates in Excel by Year (4 Methods)

Dataset Overview

Let’s consider a dataset of employees with their ID, Name, Joining Date, and Year. We’ll explore four methods to sort these dates in Excel by year: using the YEAR function, SORTBY function, Advanced Filter feature, and the Sort command. Here’s an overview of the dataset that we’ll use to demonstrate these methods:

Method 1 – Sorting Dates with Excel YEAR Function and Sort & Filter Command

Step 1

• Select cell E5.
• Enter the following formula:

• Press Enter to get the year format for the date (e.g., 2019).

• AutoFill the YEAR function for the remaining cells in column E.

Step 2

• Select the cell range from E5 to E13.
• Go to the Home tab and choose Sort Smallest to Largest from the Sort & Filter drop-down list under the Editing option.

• Alternatively, right-click on the selected cells and choose Sort. Then select Sort Smallest to Largest (for ascending order).

• In the Sort Warning dialog box, select Expand the Selection and click the Sort button.

• The dates will be sorted by year.

Read More: How to Sort by Month in Excel

Method 2 – Applying SORTBY Function to Sort Dates by Year Without Mixing Data

Overview of the SORTBY Function:

The syntax of the function is:

The arguments:

array ->  This is a required argument and it is for sorting the range or array.

by_array -> This is another required argument and this indicates the range or array to sort by.

sort_order -> This is an optional argument. Only for sorting orders. 1 = ascending (default), -1 = descending.

array/order -> Another optional argument. Additional array and sort sequence pairs.

Steps

• Create a similar heading as shown in the screenshot.
• Select cell G5 for convenience.

• Enter the SORTBY function:

• Press Enter to get the sorted data.

Method 3 – Using Advanced Filter Tool to Sort Dates by Year in Multiple Columns

Steps

• From the Data tab, go to Data → Sort & Filter → Advanced.

• In the Advanced Filter dialog box:
  • Select data range $B$5:$E$13 in the List range drop-down box.
  • Choose data range $C$15:$D$16 in the Criteria range drop-down box.
  • Click OK.

• You’ll get the sorted result based on the specified condition (joining dates between 1-1-2013 and 12-12-2019).

Read More: How to Sort by Date in Excel

Method 4 – Sorting Dates by Year with Excel Sort Command (Chronological Order)

This method is the easiest way to sort your data.

Steps

• Select the Table Range:
  • First, select the table range from cell B4 to E13.

• Access the Sort Command:
  • Go to the Data tab.
  • Under the Sort & Filter group, click on Sort.

• Configure the Sort Dialog Box:
  • The Sort dialog box will appear.
  • In the Sort by drop-down box, select Joining Date.
  • Under Sort On, choose Cell Values.
  • Customize the order according to your preference. For chronological sorting, select Oldest to Newest.
  • Finally, press the OK button.

• Result:
  • Your data will now be sorted by year.

Read More: How to Sort Dates in Excel by Month and Year

Download Practice Workbook

You can download the practice workbook from here:

Related Articles

• How to Sort Birthdays in Excel by Month and Day
• How to Sort by Date and Time in Excel
• How to Sort Dates in Chronological Order in Excel

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