Google Sheets QUERY Function Complete Guide 2027

QUERY Basic Syntax

=QUERY(data, query_string, [headers])

data: range to query (e.g., A1:F1000 or Sheet1!A:F)
query_string: SQL-like query in double quotes
headers: number of header rows (usually 1)

Essential QUERY Examples

1. Select all columns

=QUERY(Sales!A:F, "SELECT *", 1)

2. Filter by condition

=QUERY(Sales!A:F, "SELECT A,B,E WHERE C='Hanoi'", 1)

Filter by date range:
=QUERY(Sales!A:F, "SELECT * WHERE A >= date '2027-01-01'", 1)

3. Aggregate with GROUP BY

Revenue by sales rep:
=QUERY(Sales!A:F, "SELECT C, SUM(E) GROUP BY C ORDER BY SUM(E) DESC", 1)

Monthly revenue:
=QUERY(Sales!A:F, "SELECT MONTH(A), SUM(E) GROUP BY MONTH(A)", 1)

4. Dynamic filter using cell reference

=QUERY(Sales!A:F, "SELECT * WHERE C='"&B1&"'", 1)
Where B1 contains the city/rep name to filter by

QUERY vs SUMIFS: When to Use Each

• SUMIFS: Simple aggregation into a single cell. Faster for basic sums.
• QUERY: Complex multi-column analysis, sorting, or when you need multiple result rows.

Common QUERY Errors

• Error: Unable to parse query string — check quote types (use straight quotes, not curly). String values need single quotes inside the query.
• Wrong column letters — QUERY uses A, B, C based on the source range position, not sheet column letters.
• Date filter not working — dates need the format: date 'YYYY-MM-DD'

FAQ