RANK in PostgreSQL - Examples & AI Generator

The RANK window function in PostgreSQL can get complex—especially when ordering sales, customer activity, or product metrics. Each database has its own syntax quirks, so remembering the exact approach for PostgreSQL takes time and effort. With AI2sql, you can simply describe your ranking goal in plain language and let our AI SQL generator build the perfect, production-ready query—no coding required and ready in just 10 seconds. Whether you’re analyzing performance or tracking KPIs, AI2sql eliminates the manual syntax hunt, so you focus on insights, not code.

RANK Syntax in PostgreSQL

Here's the standard PostgreSQL RANK syntax. Note the use of OVER() and window partitions for accurate ranking:

RANK() OVER (PARTITION BY partition_column ORDER BY order_column [ASC|DESC])

• PARTITION BY: Optional—groups rows before ranking within each partition.

• ORDER BY: Required—defines how rows are ranked within each group.

RANK Examples You Can Generate Instantly

1. Rank Customers by Total Purchase Value

SELECT 
  customer_id,
  SUM(purchase_amount) AS total_spent,
  RANK() OVER (ORDER BY SUM(purchase_amount) DESC) AS purchase_rank
FROM orders
GROUP BY customer_id;

2. Rank Employees Within Each Department by Sales

SELECT 
  department,
  employee_name,
  sales,
  RANK() OVER (PARTITION BY department ORDER BY sales DESC) AS dept_sales_rank
FROM employee_sales;

3. Rank Products by Monthly Revenue

SELECT 
  product_id,
  month,
  SUM(revenue) AS monthly_revenue,
  RANK() OVER (PARTITION BY month ORDER BY SUM(revenue) DESC) AS monthly_rank
FROM product_sales
GROUP BY product_id, month;

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FAQ: RANK in PostgreSQL

When should I use RANK() instead of ROW_NUMBER()?

Use RANK() when you need to assign the same rank to tied rows, leaving gaps in ranking, while ROW_NUMBER() gives every row a unique number without gaps.

Does RANK() require PARTITION BY?

No. PARTITION BY is optional. Use it to create rank groups; omit it to rank the entire result set.

What happens if there are duplicate values in ORDER BY?

Rows with the same order value receive the same rank, and the next rank(s) will be skipped accordingly, following the SQL standard.

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