Alphabetical order: sort any list A to Z
Paste a list to sort it alphabetically, by number or by length. Accents, capitals and numbers sort the way a dictionary would.
How to sort a list alphabetically
- 1Paste your list, one item per line (or separated by commas).
- 2Choose the order: A to Z, Z to A, by number, by length, reverse or random.
- 3Tick options such as ignoring "the" and "a" or removing duplicates.
- 4Press Copy result to take the sorted list.
Alphabetical order rules
Alphabetical order compares items letter by letter: "cap" comes before "car" because p comes before r, and a shorter word that matches the start of a longer one comes first ("car" before "card"). This tool also follows the conventions most style guides use:
- Capitals don't change the order: "apple" and "Apple" sort together.
- Accents sort with their base letter: "éclair" files under e.
- Numbers sort by value: 2 comes before 10.
- Articles can be ignored: "The Zoo" sorts as "Zoo" when the option is on.
More ways to sort
"By number" orders lines by the first number they contain, so a list of prices or rankings lines up from smallest to largest; lines without a number go last. "Shortest first" and "Longest first" sort by character count, handy for tidying keyword lists. "Reverse" flips the current order without sorting, and "Shuffle" randomises it, for example to pick a running order or draw names. To remove repeated lines without sorting, use remove duplicate lines.
Frequently asked questions
How do I put a list in alphabetical order? +
Paste the list into the left box with one item on each line, keep "A to Z" selected, and the sorted list appears on the right. Press Copy result to paste it back into your document.
How are numbers sorted? +
Naturally, the way people expect: "item 2" comes before "item 10", not after it as in a strict character sort. Choose "By number" to sort by the first number in each line, such as prices, scores or years.
How do I ignore "The" when alphabetising titles? +
Tick "Ignore The / A / An". Book, film and band names then sort by their first real word, so "The Beatles" files under B, the convention used by libraries and music services.
Are capital letters sorted separately? +
No. By default, "apple" and "Apple" sort together, as in a dictionary. Tick "Match case" to put capitals first when two items are otherwise identical.
Does it handle accented letters? +
Yes. Sorting follows Unicode collation, so é sorts with e and ñ with n rather than after z. The order matches what a dictionary or an operating system file list would use.
How do I alphabetise in Word, Google Docs or Excel? +
In Word, select the lines and choose Home > Sort. In Google Docs, there is no built-in sort; paste the list here or use an add-on. In Excel and Google Sheets, select the column and choose Sort A to Z from the Data menu, or use =SORT(A:A) in Sheets.