How to build a ranked leaderboard in Excel and Google Sheets

Excel & Google Sheets

=RANK(B2,$B$2:$B$6,0)

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Formula

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1Enter participant names in column A and scores in column B.
2In column C (Rank), enter =RANK(B2,$B$2:$B$6,0) and copy it down. The 0 means largest = rank 1.
3To display a sorted leaderboard elsewhere, use LARGE to retrieve scores in order and INDEX/MATCH to find the corresponding name.
4In a separate table, E2=1 down to E6=5, then F2=LARGE($B$2:$B$6,E2) and G2=INDEX($A$2:$A$6,MATCH(F2,$B$2:$B$6,0)).

In Excel 365 or Google Sheets you can use SORT(A2:B6,2,-1) to produce the sorted leaderboard as a spill/array result automatically.

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RANK assigns the same rank to tied scores and skips the next rank. Two players tied at rank 2 means no one has rank 3.

Change the third argument from 0 to 1: =RANK(B2,$B$2:$B$6,1).

Written and reviewed by FormulaCraft Team. Each formula on this page is run through our verification engine before publishing.

Last reviewed: May 28, 2026