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Grids

Smartsheet Reorder Columns A-Z

Smartsheet has no built-in way to sort column order. On sheets that have grown over time or been imported from external sources, columns are often scattered in the order they were added — not in any logical sequence. Reordering them requires dragging each column header to its new position one at a time.

Without Grid Tools

The daily workaround

Drag columns one at a time
Users click and drag each column header to its desired position, repeating the action for every column that needs to move.
Lose track of position mid-drag
On wide sheets, dragging a column across 20 or 30 others to the right position is error-prone and often drops the column in the wrong spot.
Re-sort imported sheets manually
Every time a sheet is rebuilt or imported from Excel or CSV, the column order resets and the entire drag-and-drop process starts over.
Scroll to verify final order
After reordering, users scroll across the full sheet width to confirm that columns ended up in the intended sequence.
Screenshot: Dragging a column header across many columns
Dragging a column header to a new position
Screenshot: Column dropped in wrong position mid-drag
Column landing in the wrong slot during a long drag
Screenshot: Scattered column order on a wide sheet
Disorganised column order on a wide imported sheet

With Grid Tools

How Grid Tools handles it

Sort columns A-Z in one action
Alphabetize all column names instantly without dragging a single header.
Works on any sheet width
Handles sheets with dozens of columns without the drag-and-drop errors that occur on wide grids.
Clean up imported sheets fast
After importing from Excel or CSV, restore a logical column order in seconds.
No drag-and-drop required
The sort runs through the Grid Tools toolbar — select the option and the columns reorder automatically.
Screenshot: Grid Tools reorder columns control in toolbar
Reorder columns control in the Grid Tools toolbar
Screenshot: Columns sorted alphabetically A-Z
Columns reordered alphabetically in one action
Screenshot: Before and after column order comparison
Column order before and after alphabetical sort

Frequently asked questions

Does Smartsheet have a built-in column sort or reorder option?

No. Smartsheet only allows columns to be reordered by dragging their headers one at a time. There is no alphabetical sort for column names. Grid Tools adds that capability.

Will reordering columns break my formulas or cross-sheet references?

No. Smartsheet formulas reference columns by name, so alphabetically reordering columns does not break any formula or cross-sheet reference.

Can I choose a custom sort order rather than A-Z?

Grid Tools currently sorts columns A-Z. Custom sort orders are not yet supported — you can do final manual adjustments after the alphabetical sort if specific columns need to be pinned in place.

Does the first column (primary column) get moved?

No. Smartsheet's primary column is locked in the first position and cannot be moved. Grid Tools reorders all other columns alphabetically while leaving the primary column in place.

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