About This Tool
Writing SQL queries is hard enough; reading messy, single-line queries from logs or legacy code is a nightmare. Poorly formatted SQL leads to syntax errors, logic bugs, and wasted time during code reviews. When a production database goes down and you need to debug a 200-line query at 3 AM, readability is not optional. It is a critical factor in how quickly your team can identify issues and ship fixes. Our Free SQL Formatter instantly cleans up your code. It adds proper indentation, standardizes keyword casing (e.g., converting "select" to "SELECT"), and breaks complex logic into readable blocks. This tool supports MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, and SQLite syntax conventions. Readable SQL is safer SQL because you can spot missing WHERE clauses, incorrect JOINs, and unintended Cartesian products before they reach production. Paste your query above, click Format, and get clean, structured SQL in seconds. Your queries and schema details remain completely private — nothing is stored or shared.
Why Format SQL?
SQL databases do not care about whitespace, but humans do. A query like `SELECT * FROM users WHERE id=1` is fine, but a 50-line JOIN with nested subqueries is unreadable without structure. Formatting helps you visualize the data flow, spot missing conditions, and understand table relationships at a glance. Code reviews become faster when team members can scan formatted queries instead of mentally parsing long single-line statements. Consistent formatting also reduces merge conflicts in version control because everyone follows the same style.Standard Formatting Rules
- Keywords: Should be Uppercase (SELECT, FROM, WHERE). This makes SQL keywords visually distinct from table and column names.
- Newlines: Major clauses (FROM, JOIN, WHERE) start on a new line so each logical section is clearly separated.
- Indentation: Conditions (AND, OR) should be indented to show hierarchy and make complex WHERE clauses easier to follow.
- Columns: In long SELECT lists, each column should be on its own line for readability and easier commenting during debugging.
- Subqueries: Nested queries should be indented one level deeper than their parent to clearly indicate scope.
Common Use Cases
SQL formatting is essential in several common development scenarios. During code reviews, formatted queries allow reviewers to spot logical errors and performance issues quickly. When migrating databases, formatting helps compare schema changes side-by-side. Debugging production issues requires readable queries so the team can trace data flow through JOINs and subqueries. Building BI dashboards often involves complex analytical queries with window functions and CTEs that become unmanageable without proper indentation. Writing documentation with SQL examples also benefits from consistent formatting that readers can easily follow.Performance Best Practices
While formatting does not affect query performance, readable SQL makes it easier to identify and fix performance problems. Always check that your WHERE clauses use indexed columns. Avoid SELECT * in production queries because it fetches unnecessary data and prevents covering index optimizations. Use EXPLAIN or EXPLAIN ANALYZE to examine query execution plans. Replace correlated subqueries with JOINs where possible for better performance. Limit result sets with TOP or LIMIT to prevent large data transfers, and consider pagination for user-facing queries.Supported SQL Features
This formatter recognizes standard ANSI SQL keywords including SELECT, FROM, WHERE, JOIN (LEFT, RIGHT, INNER, OUTER), GROUP BY, HAVING, ORDER BY, LIMIT, OFFSET, INSERT INTO, UPDATE, SET, DELETE FROM, CREATE TABLE, DROP TABLE, ALTER TABLE, and CASE/WHEN/THEN/ELSE/END expressions. It also handles aggregate functions like COUNT, SUM, AVG, MIN, and MAX. The keyword uppercasing feature ensures consistent casing across your queries regardless of how they were originally written.Integration Tips
For automated formatting in your development workflow, consider integrating SQL formatting into your CI/CD pipeline. Many teams use pre-commit hooks to format SQL files before they are committed to version control. IDE extensions for VS Code, JetBrains, and Sublime Text can format SQL on save. When working with ORMs like Sequelize or TypeORM, enable query logging and paste the raw SQL into this tool to verify the generated queries are correct. For stored procedures and migrations, formatted SQL reduces the risk of syntax errors during deployment.Frequently Asked Questions
Which SQL dialects are supported?
This formatter handles standard ANSI SQL syntax, which works for MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, SQL Server, and Oracle. It recognizes common keywords shared across most relational databases. Dialect-specific syntax like MySQL backtick quoting or PostgreSQL array operators will be preserved but may not receive special formatting treatment.
Is my SQL sent to a server?
No. Your database queries, table names, schema details, and any sensitive data in your SQL remain completely private. Nothing is stored, shared, or transmitted. There are no analytics on query content and no data collection of any kind.
Can this tool format stored procedures and complex queries?
This tool handles standard SQL statements including SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, and CREATE TABLE queries. For very complex stored procedures with procedural logic (IF/ELSE, WHILE loops, DECLARE statements), the formatter applies basic keyword formatting. You may need to adjust indentation manually for dialect-specific procedural extensions like PL/pgSQL or T-SQL control flow blocks.