# Query Google Sheets like SQL There are two ways to run SQL-style queries against a Google Sheet: the built-in QUERY() function inside the sheet, and a REST API for querying from your app or an AI agent. Here is when to use each. *Last updated: 2026-07-15 · Source: * ## Key facts - Google Sheets has **no SQL engine**. The `QUERY` function uses the Google Visualization API Query Language — SQL-*like*, with `select`, `where`, `group by`, `order by`, `limit` and `pivot`. ([source](https://developers.google.com/chart/interactive/docs/querylanguage)) - It has **no joins and no subqueries**, and columns are referenced by letter (`A`, `B`) rather than by header name. ([source](https://developers.google.com/chart/interactive/docs/querylanguage)) - Over a REST endpoint the equivalent is query parameters — filter, sort, paginate and aggregate by **column name** — which is what most people mean when they ask to "query a sheet with SQL". ## Can you query Google Sheets with SQL? Almost. Google Sheets has a `QUERY()` function that takes a SQL-*like* language — it supports `SELECT`, `WHERE`, `GROUP BY`, and `ORDER BY`, but it is not real SQL: there are no joins, no subqueries, and it only runs inside a cell, not over an API. So there are two ways to "query a sheet with SQL", and which one you want depends on where the answer needs to end up. Inside the spreadsheet, use `QUERY()`. From an app, a website, or an AI agent, put an API in front of the sheet and filter over HTTP instead. ## Option 1: the QUERY() function Google Sheets ships a `QUERY()` function that uses a SQL-like syntax right inside a cell: ```bash =QUERY(A1:D, "SELECT A, B WHERE C = 'active' ORDER BY D DESC LIMIT 10") ``` This is perfect for computed views *within* the spreadsheet. It cannot, however, serve data to your app or an AI agent — it only writes results into another range. ## Option 2: query over a REST API To query from code, put PasteSheet in front of the sheet and use URL parameters as your query: ```bash # WHERE status = 'active' ORDER BY created DESC LIMIT 10 curl 'https://pastesheet.com/api/your-endpoint-id?status=active&sort=created&order=desc&limit=10' ``` The mapping is direct: exact filters are your `WHERE`, `sort`/`order` is `ORDER BY`, and `limit`/`offset` is `LIMIT`/`OFFSET`. For grouped totals, see [group by and aggregation](https://pastesheet.com/guides/google-sheets-query-group-by); for sorting details, see [order by](https://pastesheet.com/guides/google-sheets-query-order-by). ## SQL, QUERY(), and the API side by side The same query expressed three ways — in SQL, in the `QUERY()` function, and as PasteSheet URL parameters: | SQL | QUERY() clause | PasteSheet API | | --- | --- | --- | | `SELECT a, b` | `select A, B` | Columns set by your column config | | `WHERE col = 'x'` | `where C = 'x'` | `?col=x` | | `WHERE col LIKE 'x%'` | `where C starts with 'x'` | `?contains[col]=x` | | `ORDER BY col DESC` | `order by D desc` | `?sort=col&order=desc` | | `GROUP BY col` | `group by A` | `?group_by=col&sum=…` | | `LIMIT 10 OFFSET 20` | `limit 10 offset 20` | `?limit=10&offset=20` | ## What QUERY() cannot do Neither option is full SQL. There are **no joins and no subqueries** — a Google Sheet is a single flat table, not a relational schema — and `QUERY()` references columns by letter (`A`, `B`) rather than by header name, so inserting a column shifts what your formula reads. If you need joins across tables, that is the signal to move to a [real database](https://pastesheet.com/guides/google-sheets-as-a-database). ## Frequently asked questions ### Can you query Google Sheets with SQL? Yes. Use the built-in QUERY() function for SQL-like queries inside the sheet, or a REST API to run SQL-style filters, sorting, and grouping from your app. ### What is the QUERY() function? A Google Sheets formula that runs a SQL-like statement (SELECT, WHERE, ORDER BY, GROUP BY) over a range and writes the result into the sheet. ### How do I query a sheet from my app? Expose it via PasteSheet and pass query parameters — filters map to WHERE, sort/order to ORDER BY, and group_by/count/sum/avg to GROUP BY. ### Can I do JOINs in a Google Sheets query? No. The QUERY() function and the Google Visualization Query Language have no JOIN or subquery support — a sheet is a single flat table. For joins across tables, use a real database. ### Is the QUERY() function case-sensitive? Yes, its string comparisons are case-sensitive; wrap a column in LOWER() to match regardless of case. Over the PasteSheet API, filters match by column name. ## Sources - [Query Language Reference (Google Visualization API)](https://developers.google.com/chart/interactive/docs/querylanguage) — Google - [QUERY function](https://support.google.com/docs/answer/3093343) — Google Docs Editors Help ## Related guides - [Google Sheets Query: Sort & Order By](https://pastesheet.com/guides/google-sheets-query-order-by) — Sort Google Sheets query results by any column, ascending or descending, including by date. Use the QUERY() function or sort and order URL parameters. - [Google Sheets Query: Group By & Totals](https://pastesheet.com/guides/google-sheets-query-group-by) — Group Google Sheets rows and compute totals: count, sum, and average by any column. Use the QUERY() function in-sheet or group_by aggregation over a REST API. - [Google Sheets Query: Starts With Filter](https://pastesheet.com/guides/google-sheets-query-starts-with) — Filter Google Sheets rows by a starts-with or partial text match. Use the QUERY() function's STARTS WITH, or the contains and search parameters over a REST API. - [Turn Google Sheets Into a REST API (No Code)](https://pastesheet.com/guides/google-sheets-rest-api) — Turn a public or restricted Google Sheet into a live JSON REST API with filtering, sorting, and pagination — no backend, no code. --- [PasteSheet](https://pastesheet.com) turns any Google Sheet into a live REST API and MCP server for AI agents — no backend, no code. Canonical HTML version of this page: