Formula guide · Google Sheets · Updated May 13, 2026
How to Use QUERY in Google Sheets
Use QUERY to select, filter, group, sort, and label data with a SQL-like formula in Google Sheets.
Quick Answer
QUERY is best when you need one formula to filter, choose columns, sort, group, or relabel a table in Google Sheets.
Copyable Formula
=QUERY(A1:D20,"select A, sum(D) where C = 'Paid' group by A label sum(D) 'Paid total'",1)Syntax
=QUERY(data, "select A, B where C > 100", headers)Google Sheets
Worked Example
| A | C | D |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Status | Amount |
| West | Paid | 120 |
| East | Open | 90 |
| West | Paid | 80 |
Result: Groups paid amounts by region and labels the total column.
Steps
- Select the full data range, including headers when useful.
- Write the query string with select, where, group by, order by, or label.
- Set the header count at the end so Sheets interprets labels correctly.
Common Mistakes
- Using spreadsheet column letters from the sheet instead of the selected range position.
- Forgetting single quotes around text values inside the query string.
- Mixing numbers and text in the same column, which can confuse QUERY.
Excel vs Google Sheets Notes
This page is focused on Google Sheets. Excel may require a different function, pivot table, or Power Query workflow.
Editorial check: This guide was last updated May 13, 2026. Formula behavior can vary by Excel version, Google Sheets rollout, and spreadsheet locale.