How to Sort With a Custom List in Excel

Written by

Editorial Team

Reviewed by

Laura Tsitlidze

Last updated on May 22, 2023

This tutorial demonstrates how to sort with a custom list in Excel.

custom list add 2

Sort Data With a Custom List

In Excel, you have the option to sort data by custom lists. There are standard lists – like days and months – and you can also create a custom list for your data.

excel standard custom lists

Say you have the list of names pictured below in Column B and want to sort first by female and then by male names. Do this with a custom list.

custom sort list 1

Create a Custom List

Select any cell in Column B (range B2:B9), and in the Ribbon, go to Home > Sort & Filter > Custom Sort.

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In the Sort window, in the Order drop down, choose Custom List… Then click OK.

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In the Custom Lists window, choose NEW LIST as the list.
Type in names in the order you need (e.g., female from A to Z, then male from A to Z). Between each name, press ENTER.
Click Add to add the list.

custom list add

This adds your new list to the menu on the left. Click OK to use it in the custom sort.

custom list add 2

This takes you back to the Sort window. The new custom list of names appears in the Order drop down. Click OK to sort the data according to the list.

custom list sort

The result is values in Column B sorted by the custom list you created. custom sort list 5

Import a Custom List

Instead of typing custom list items directly into the Custom Lists window, you can import a list from a range of cells in the workbook.

Say you have the custom list sorted in Column D (range D2:D9) shown below and want to import it and use it for a custom sort.

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In the Ribbon, go to File > Options.

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In Excel Options, go to Advanced > General, and then click Edit Custom Lists.

import custom list 3

In the Custom Lists window, click the arrow icon next to Import to select the range for a new custom list.

import custom list 4

Select the range with sorted items for the list (D2:D9), and click the arrow icon to return to the Custom Lists screen.

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Under Custom lists, there is now a new list of names. Click Import, then OK.

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Finally, the list from the Excel workbook is imported and can be used for custom sorting in the file.
Now go to Home > Sort & Filter > Custom Sort and choose the new list in the Order field as shown in the section above.