An online SQL formatter turns dense, unreadable query strings into clean, indented SQL that is easy to review, debug, and share - in seconds.
What is SQL Formatting?
SQL queries generated by ORMs, exported from monitoring tools, or pasted from query logs often arrive as a single long string with no line breaks or indentation. Reading these queries, spotting mistakes, or reviewing them in pull requests is unnecessarily hard.
Formatting breaks the query into logical sections - SELECT columns on separate lines, FROM and JOIN clauses indented, WHERE conditions aligned - so the query's intent is immediately clear.
How to Use the SQL Formatter
- Open the SQL Formatter on UtilWave.
- Paste your SQL query into the input field.
- Select your SQL dialect from the dropdown: MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, T-SQL, or Standard SQL.
- The formatted query appears instantly on the right.
- Copy the result to paste into your editor, documentation, or code review.
- All processing runs locally in your browser.
Supported SQL Dialects
- MySQL - uses backtick identifiers and MySQL-specific functions
- PostgreSQL - double-quoted identifiers,
::cast syntax - SQLite - lightweight dialect with limited window functions
- T-SQL - Microsoft SQL Server syntax with
TOP,NOLOCK, and square-bracket identifiers - Standard SQL - ANSI-compatible formatting for maximum portability
Common Use Cases
Code reviews - Format queries before pasting into pull request descriptions so reviewers can understand the logic immediately.
Debugging slow queries - Formatted queries are far easier to analyze when looking for missing indexes or unnecessary subqueries.
Documentation - Include formatted SQL examples in READMEs, wikis, and API documentation for clarity.
ORM-generated queries - Log the raw SQL output of your ORM, format it, and understand exactly what it is sending to the database.
Learning SQL - Beginner queries become much clearer when formatted correctly, showing JOIN relationships and WHERE conditions visually.
FAQ
Does the formatter change the meaning of my query? No. Formatting only adds whitespace and line breaks. The query runs identically before and after formatting.
Can I format stored procedures and multi-statement scripts? Yes - the formatter handles multi-statement scripts, BEGIN/END blocks, and stored procedure bodies.
Does it support CTEs (Common Table Expressions)?
Yes. WITH clauses and recursive CTEs are formatted with proper indentation.
Will it minify my SQL? The primary focus is beautification, but you can manually remove whitespace after formatting if you need a compact version.
Beautify your queries now with the free SQL Formatter.