SQL SELECT TOP – Limit Rows in SQL Server Queries

Introduction – Why Use SELECT TOP?

The SELECT TOP clause is used in SQL to limit the number of rows returned in a result set. This is especially useful when:

• You only want the top N results (e.g., highest scores, latest records)
• Improving query performance on large tables
• Debugging and sampling datasets

🔔 Note: SELECT TOP is specific to SQL Server and MS Access. Use LIMIT in MySQL/PostgreSQL and FETCH FIRST in Oracle/standard SQL.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to:

• Retrieve the first N rows using TOP
• Use TOP with ORDER BY
• Combine TOP with PERCENT
• Understand syntax differences across databases

1. Basic SELECT TOP Syntax

SELECT TOP 5 *
FROM employees;

Returns the first 5 rows from the employees table.

2. SELECT TOP with ORDER BY

SELECT TOP 3 name, salary
FROM employees
ORDER BY salary DESC;

Retrieves the top 3 highest-paid employees.

3. SELECT TOP PERCENT

SELECT TOP 10 PERCENT *
FROM products
ORDER BY rating DESC;

Returns the top 10% of rows based on rating.

4. Equivalent Syntax in Other SQL Dialects

5. TOP Without ORDER BY

SELECT TOP 5 * FROM students;

May return any 5 rows, not necessarily the top 5 by value — always use ORDER BY for consistency.

Best Practices

Summary – Recap & Next Steps

SELECT TOP is a quick and efficient way to limit the output of your queries in SQL Server. It becomes especially useful in sorted queries, dashboards, and analytics.

Key Takeaways:

• TOP limits the number of rows returned
• Works best when used with ORDER BY
• Use TOP PERCENT for percentage-based sampling
• Alternative: Use LIMIT or FETCH FIRST in other RDBMS

Real-World Relevance:
Used in leaderboards, performance reports, previews, and pagination queries.

Next: Learn about LIMIT and OFFSET for row pagination across SQL dialects.

FAQ – SQL SELECT TOP

What does SELECT TOP do?

It restricts the number of rows returned by a query in SQL Server.

What’s the difference between TOP and LIMIT?

TOP is used in SQL Server. LIMIT is for MySQL/PostgreSQL. FETCH FIRST is for Oracle/standard SQL.

Can I use TOP with ORDER BY?

Yes. It’s the recommended way to return the top N sorted values.

Can I return the top 10% of rows?

Yes, use SELECT TOP 10 PERCENT ... with ORDER BY.

Is SELECT TOP ANSI SQL compliant?

No. It’s specific to SQL Server and Access.