Google Sheets

How to Filter in Google Sheets

Filter in Google Sheets to review rows by status, owner, date, category, amount, or text without changing the underlying spreadsheet.

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By Justin Freels/Updated August 20, 2026/4 min read

Filtering in Google Sheets lets you temporarily show only the rows that match a condition. It is useful for reviewing overdue tasks, one owner's work, a spending category, a sales stage, or records above a certain amount.

Filters help reviewers focus without deleting or moving the source data.

Turn on a basic filter

Step 1. Select the header row or the full data range.

Step 2. Choose Data -> Create a filter.

Step 3. Use the filter icon in a column header.

Step 4. Choose values, conditions, or text rules.

For example, a project tracker can filter Status to Blocked, while an expense tracker can filter Category to Travel.

Filter by condition

Google Sheets supports conditions such as text contains, date is before, greater than, blank, not blank, and custom formulas.

That makes filters useful for weekly review:

Due date is before today
Amount is greater than 500
Owner is not blank
Status is not Done

These filters are especially useful in sales pipelines, content calendars, employee schedules, and budget review sheets.

Use filter views for shared sheets

In a shared spreadsheet, a normal filter changes what everyone sees. If several people need different views, use Data -> Filter views -> Create new filter view.

Filter views let each reviewer keep a personal view without disrupting the team.

TIP

Use filter views for recurring review modes like "my open tasks," "this week's content," or "unapproved expenses."

Common filter mistakes

Mistake	What happens	Fix
Filtering only part of the table	Rows appear mismatched	Select the full data range
Missing headers	Filter controls are confusing	Add one clear header row
Blank rows in the table	Filter range may stop early	Remove blank separator rows
Using normal filters in shared review	Other users lose their view	Use filter views

The Griddy way

Filters are simple, but deciding which views matter can be harder than clicking the menu.

"Create filter views for blocked tasks, overdue items, unassigned rows, and this week's review items"

Griddy can create useful review views from the sheet's actual columns and keep the source table intact.

Filter without losing context

Use a filter view when multiple people need different views of the same data; a regular filter changes what every collaborator sees. Keep a header row, avoid merged cells inside the table, and confirm that formulas or charts reference the full data range rather than only the currently visible rows. Before sharing a filtered link, clear criteria that could hide important records. If the view is part of a recurring process, name it and document which columns it filters so another person can reproduce the result.

Save a clean, unfiltered view as the default starting point. That small habit prevents a later reviewer from mistaking a filtered subset for the complete dataset.

Sources

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Tell Griddy what you need in plain English, then inspect and keep editing the result in the browser, Excel, or Google Sheets.

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Filter the templates your team reviews every week

Filters turn large operating sheets into focused review views by owner, status, category, date, stage, or amount.

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