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How to Flip Data Vertically in Excel

Cody Schneider•

Ever found yourself looking at a list in Excel, wishing you could just flip it upside down? Maybe you have a list of recent sales transactions but want to see the very last one listed first. This article walks you through exactly how to flip your data vertically in Excel, reversing the order of your rows quickly and easily using four different methods.

What Exactly Does It Mean to Flip Data Vertically?

Flipping data vertically is another way of saying "reversing the order of the rows." If you have data in rows 1 through 20, flipping it vertically means Row 20 becomes Row 1, Row 19 becomes Row 2, and so on, until Row 1 is at the very bottom.

Imagine you have a simple list of top-performing marketing campaigns from a monthly report:

  • Row 1: January Campaign

  • Row 2: February Campaign

  • Row 3: March Campaign

  • Row 4: April Campaign

Flipping this data would result in a new order that shows the most recent campaign first:

  • Row 1: April Campaign

  • Row 2: March Campaign

  • Row 3: February Campaign

  • Row 4: January Campaign

This is different from transposing data, which switches rows into columns and columns into rows. Here, we are specifically changing the top-to-bottom order of the rows themselves.

Why Would You Need to Flip Data Vertically?

This might seem like a niche task, but it comes in handy quite often in data analysis and reporting. Here are a few practical scenarios:

  • Viewing Recent Data First: Most systems export data in chronological order, with the oldest entry at the top. If you’re analyzing recent sales, website log data, or project updates, you probably want to see the latest activities first.

  • Preparing Data for Import: Some software or systems require data to be imported in a specific order, often reverse-chronological.

  • Visual Presentation: For charts and reports, sometimes presenting data from newest to oldest tells a more effective story, especially when you're looking for recent trends.

  • Correcting Data Entry: If data was accidentally entered bottom-to-top, a quick vertical flip can fix the entire sheet in a few clicks.

Let's get into the step-by-step methods you can use to accomplish this.

Method 1: Use a Helper Column and the Sort Feature

This is the classic, most intuitive way to reverse row order in Excel, and it works in any version of the software. It involves creating a temporary column to help with the sorting.

Step 1: Add a Helper Column

Insert a new, empty column right next to your data. To do this, right-click the column letter to the right of your data (for example, if your data ends in Column C, right-click on Column D) and select Insert. You can name this column something like "SortOrder" or "Helper."

Step 2: Fill the Column with a Number Sequence

In the first cell of your new helper column (next to your first row of data), type the number 1. In the cell right below it, type 2. Now, select both of these cells. A small green square, called the fill handle, will appear in the bottom-right corner of your selection. Double-click this handle, and Excel will automatically fill the rest of the column with a consecutive series of numbers (3, 4, 5, etc.) down to your last row of data.

Step 3: Sort from Largest to Smallest

Now for the main event. Click any cell within your helper column. Then, go to the Data tab on the Ribbon and click the Z → A button (Sort Largest to Smallest). Excel will pop up a "Sort Warning" dialog box asking if you want to expand the selection. Make sure "Expand the selection" is checked and click Sort. This is extremely important - it ensures that your actual data rows move along with the descending sort of your helper column.

Your data is now flipped vertically!

Step 4: Remove the Helper Column

With your data in the correct order, you no longer need the helper column. Right-click the column letter of the helper column and select Delete.

Best for: A quick, one-time data flip when you don't need the results to update automatically.

Method 2: Use Dynamic Formulas (SORTBY & SEQUENCE)

If you have a newer version of Excel (Microsoft 365 or Excel 2021), you have access to powerful dynamic array functions that can do this without any helper columns or manual sorting. This method is non-destructive, meaning your original data stays untouched.

Step 1: Understand the Functions

This approach combines two functions:

  • SEQUENCE(rows): Generates a list of sequential numbers. For example, SEQUENCE(5) would output a column of numbers from 1 to 5.

  • SORTBY(array, by_array, [sort_order]): Sorts the contents of a range or array (array) based on the values in a corresponding range or array (by_array).

We'll use SEQUENCE to create a virtual "helper column" and feed that into SORTBY to reverse the order.

Step 2: Write the Formula

Click on an empty cell where you want your flipped data to appear. Let’s assume your data range is A2:C11. You would type the following formula:

=SORTBY(A2:C11, SEQUENCE(ROWS(A2:C11)), -1)

Let's quickly break this down:

  • A2:C11: This is the source data you want to flip.

  • SEQUENCE(ROWS(A2:C11)): The ROWS function counts how many rows are in your range (in this case, 10). SEQUENCE(10) then generates a vertical array of numbers from 1 to 10. This serves as our sorting criteria.

  • -1: This tells SORTBY to sort in descending order.

Press Enter, and Excel will immediately spill the flipped version of your entire table into the new location. The best part? If you change any data in the original range (A2:C11), the flipped version will update automatically.

Best for: Creating a dynamic, reflected copy of your data that updates in real-time. Works great for dashboards.

Method 3: Power Forward with Power Query

For those who frequently work with large datasets or perform the same data cleaning tasks repeatedly, Power Query is the most robust and scalable solution. It might seem intimidating at first, but it’s just a series of simple clicks.

Step 1: Load Your Data into Power Query

First, format your data as an official Excel Table by selecting any cell in your data and pressing Ctrl + T. With your table selected, go to the Data tab and click From Table/Range. This will open the Power Query Editor, a separate window where you can transform your data.

Step 2: Add an Index Column

In the Power Query Editor, go to the Add Column tab. Click on Index Column. A new column named "Index" will appear at the end, numbered from 0 onwards (or 1 if you choose 'From 1' from the dropdown).

Step 3: Sort the Index Column in Descending Order

Click the dropdown arrow on the header of the new Index Column and select Sort Descending. Your data is now in reverse order.

Step 4: Remove the Index Column

Since this column was just a temporary sorting tool, we can now remove it. Right-click on the "Index" column's header and choose Remove.

Step 5: Close & Load

Go to the Home tab and click the top part of the Close & Load button. Power Query will load the now-flipped data into a new worksheet in your workbook. The benefit of this is that if your source data ever changes, you just need to go to the Data tab and click Refresh All to update the flipped table instantly.

Best for: Automating reporting processes, handling large files, and creating a repeatable workflow that can be refreshed on demand.

Method 4: The Old-School INDEX Formula

Before dynamic arrays, formula experts often relied on a combination of INDEX, ROWS, and ROW for this task. It's a bit more "manual" than the SORTBY method but works in nearly every version of Excel and offers more granular control.

Step 1: Prepare Your Destination

Select the top-left cell where you want your new, reversed-order data to appear. For this example, let's assume your original data is in the range A2:C11 and you want to start the output in cell E2.

Step 2: Enter the INDEX Formula

In cell E2, paste the following formula:

=INDEX($A$2:$C$11, ROWS($A$2:$A$11)-ROW(A1)+1, COLUMN(A1))

Let's unpack what's happening here:

  • INDEX($A$2:$C$11, ...): The main function. We ask it to find a value within our source data range $A$2:$C$11. The dollar signs ($) lock the reference so it doesn't change when we copy the formula.

  • ROWS($A$2:$A$11)-ROW(A1)+1: This is the clever part that determines the row number.

    • ROWS($A$2:$A$11): Calculates total number of rows (10).

    • ROW(A1): Returns the row number of cell A1 which is 1.

    • So for the first formula in cell E2, it computes 10 - 1 + 1 = 10, fetching the 10th row from your source data.

  • COLUMN(A1): This specifies which column from our source data to fetch. COLUMN(A1) is 1, so it gets the first column. When copied to the right, COLUMN(A1) becomes COLUMN(B1) (2), and so forth, fetching the corresponding columns.

Step 3: Copy the Formula Down and Across

With the formula entered, click the fill handle on cell E2 and drag it down to cover the same number of rows as your original data. Then, with that column still selected, drag the fill handle to the right to cover the necessary number of columns. As you drag the formula, the ROW and COLUMN references update, progressively pulling the 9th row, 8th row, etc., perfectly flipping your data.

Best for: Users with older versions of Excel who need a formula-based solution and cannot use dynamic arrays like SORTBY.

Final Thoughts

Flipping data vertically in Excel is a surprisingly common task, and which method you choose depends entirely on your needs. For a one-time change, the simple helper column and sort method is easiest. If you need a live, dynamic dashboard, the SORTBY function is unbeatable. For complex, repeatable data pipelines, Power Query is your most powerful ally.

While mastering these functions is a great skill, sometimes the real bottleneck isn't the formula but getting all your data — from Google Analytics, Shopify, Facebook Ads, or your CRM — into one place to begin with. We built Graphed to solve this very problem. Instead of endless CSV downloads and manual reporting, you connect your tools once and can instantly sort, filter, and visualize any data you need just by asking in simple English. It automates the drudgery so you can spend less time wrangling Excel and more time discovering insights.