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How to Move Blank Due Dates to the Bottom in Microsoft Lists

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to sort a list by upcoming due dates first, but Microsoft Lists automatically places items with blank due dates at the top of the list, regardless of the chosen sort order.

Product: Microsoft Lists
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Sorting items in a Microsoft List by due date while keeping unassigned tasks or items without a deadline at the very end of the view.
Observed behavior: Items with empty due dates consistently appear at the top of the list when sorting, overriding the desired logical order of showing upcoming dates first.

Before you start

Ensure you have edit permissions for the Microsoft List in question, as modifying column settings or adding calculated helper columns requires appropriate access rights.

Solution 1Recommended

Create a Calculated Helper Column

Since native sorting in Microsoft Lists defaults blanks to the top, creating a custom calculated column allows you to assign a high future date to blanks, forcing them to the bottom.

By using a formula, you can tell Microsoft Lists to substitute a blank date with a date far in the future (like the year 2099) solely for sorting purposes, while keeping your original Due Date column visually unchanged.

Add a new column

Click on 'Add column' in your Microsoft List, scroll down, and select 'More...' to open the advanced column creation page.

Configure the calculated column

Choose 'Calculated (calculation based on other columns)' as the column type and name it something like 'SortDate'.

Enter the sorting formula

In the formula box, enter a formula similar to: =IF(ISBLANK([Due Date]), DATE(2099,12,31), [Due Date]). Ensure the data type returned from this formula is set to 'Date and Time'.

Sort the list

Save the column, return to your list, click the header of your new 'SortDate' column, and select 'Sort Oldest to Newest'.

Hide the Helper Column: You can hide the helper column from your default view to keep it clean. Click the helper column header, go to 'Column settings', and select 'Hide this column'.

Solution 2

Group Items by Due Date

Grouping separates items with dates from those without, allowing you to view upcoming dates clearly without blank items cluttering the top.

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Manage and Sort Data Effortlessly with WPS Office

If you are struggling with limited sorting capabilities in Microsoft Lists, consider managing your structured data in WPS Spreadsheet. It offers powerful, highly customizable sorting and filtering options, making it a perfect free alternative to Microsoft Office tools.

1. Open WPS Spreadsheet: Launch WPS Office and open your existing data list or create a new workbook.
2. Select Your Data: Highlight the columns containing your tasks, due dates, and other details.
3. Apply Custom Sort: Navigate to the Data tab, click Sort, and easily configure your settings to ensure blanks automatically appear at the bottom.

Advanced custom sorting features to handle blank cells perfectly at the bottom.Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) file formats.Lightweight, fast, and completely free to use.Familiar spreadsheet interface for seamless migration and zero learning curve.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Microsoft Lists put blank dates at the top?

Microsoft Lists natively treats blank or null values as the lowest possible value. Therefore, when sorting ascending (oldest to newest), these null values are prioritized and displayed first in the view.

Can I permanently change the default sort order for a List?

Yes, you can save a specific sort order as the default view. Click the view dropdown menu (usually 'All Items' in the top right), select 'Save view as', check the box to make it a public view, and click save to override the current view.

Does sorting work differently in Microsoft Lists compared to Excel?

Yes. Desktop spreadsheet applications like Excel or WPS Spreadsheet typically handle blank cells more intuitively by placing them at the bottom during an ascending sort. Web-based list managers like Microsoft Lists require formulas or workarounds to achieve the exact same behavior.

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