Excel Reverse Order - How To Reverse Rows? (Top 3 Methods)

What Is Reverse Order In Excel?

Excel reverse order involves flipping the data in a column, with the values at the bottom, in the original data, showing at the top after the flip. Though Excel does not offer an inbuilt option to reverse the order of data rows, one can flip the data using the Sort option, Excel formula, and VBA coding technique.

Users can use this Excel option to reverse the order of unsorted data, such as names and numeric values in a column or array.

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For example, the table below contains a list of employee names.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can I flip columns and rows in Excel?

We can flip columns and rows in Excel.

If we have to flip columns or rows of data, use the Sort option from the Data tab.

And if we must flip columns and rows to rows and columns respectively, use the Transpose excel option from the Paste Special window.

2. How to reverse order in Excel horizontally?

We can reverse order in Excel horizontally using the following steps.
1) First, change the given data rows into columns using the Transpose option in the Paste Special window.
2) Next, sort the columns using the Sort option from the Data tab.
3) Finally, rotate the columns to rows using the Transpose option in the Paste Special window.

Let us see the steps with an example.

The below table shows a set of fruits, their order dates, and order status data.

Suppose the requirement is to flip the data order horizontally. Then, the steps are as follows:

• Step 1: Select the table range and press Ctrl + C to copy the data.

Select a cell, say, cell E1, press the shortcut keys Alt + E + S to open the Paste Special window, and check the Transpose box.

Clicking OK will paste the transposed data into the selected cell.

• Step 2: Add a helper column of numbers in ascending order to the end of the transposed data in column L.

• Step 3: Click on a cell in the transposed data range and follow the path Data → Sort to open the Sort window.

• Step 4: Ensure the My data has headers box remains unchecked and pick column L, the helper column, as the Sort by option.

And pick the Largest to Smallest option as the Order.

Clicking OK will reverse the order of the values in the transposed data.

• Step 5: Select the transposed data range, leaving the helper column unselected. And press Ctrl + C to copy the data.

Select a cell, say, cell A10, press the shortcut keys Alt + E + S to open the Paste Special window, and check the Transpose box.

And clicking OK will flip the source data horizontally.

When we compare the source and the final data, the order of the data in each row appears flipped horizontally in the output.

3. Why is reverse order in Excel not working?

The reverse order in Excel is not working, perhaps because of the below reasons:
• We tried applying the Sort method without the numbers in the helper column being in ascending order.
• The Sort Options setting in the Sort window does not match the desired reverse order type (vertical and horizontal).

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