SQL Formatter

SQL Formatter is a free, open-source JavaScript library for making SQL consistently readable in code, editors, scripts, and a browser. It is best for developers working across several database dialects who want configurable output without a subscription. The trade-off is a maintenance-mode project with clear boundaries around procedures, delimiters, and templating.

Overview

SQL Formatter covers a notably broad set of SQL environments, including Standard SQL, BigQuery, ClickHouse, DB2 and DB2i, DuckDB, Hive, MariaDB, MySQL, TiDB, Couchbase N1QL, Oracle PL/SQL, PostgreSQL, Redshift, SingleStoreDB, Snowflake, Spark, SQLite, SQL Server Transact-SQL, and Trino/Presto. That makes it a sensible common formatter for teams whose projects span multiple engines. The dialect list should not be mistaken for full procedural-language support: stored procedures are outside its scope, and it cannot change the delimiter from a semicolon.

Key features

Formatting is configurable at a useful level. You can set indentation, the case of keywords, data types, functions, and identifiers, logical-operator placement, expression width, spacing between queries, and operator spacing. The official browser demo exposes controls for language, indentation, case, operator newlines, expression width, and query spacing, so occasional users can adjust output without building an integration.

Prepared SQL statements can have placeholders replaced with supplied parameter values. That is useful when producing readable examples or inspecting parameterized queries, but it does not turn the formatter into a general templating engine. Templating syntax is not directly supported; the documented parameter-type workaround may fail with some template constructs.

The command-line tool accepts SQL from standard input or a file. It can print formatted output or rewrite a file in place, which suits scripts and repository workflows. Editor support includes VS Code and Vim extensions, plus integrations for Prettier and ESLint. A JSON Schema provides configuration-file autocompletion and IntelliSense, with guidance for VS Code and Zed, reducing friction when teams standardize settings.

Automatic fixes are available through the formatter workflow, and the MIT license permits broad use and modification. The maintainer describes the project as being in maintenance mode: feasible bug fixes are likely, but new features are unlikely. That is reassuring for a stable formatting utility, less so for teams expecting expanding language coverage.

Pricing

There is no paid tier, free trial, or recurring renewal to manage. The free plan is the complete offering, making it appropriate for individual developers, open-source projects, and teams that can operate their own tooling. Its cost advantage does not offset the functional limits if your SQL relies on stored procedures, non-semicolon delimiters, or complex templates.

Platforms

SQL Formatter is offered as an extension, on Linux, macOS, the web, and Windows. The web demo is convenient for one-off formatting, while the CLI and editor integrations are better for repeatable project workflows.

Who it's for

Choose it for polyglot SQL teams, developers embedding formatting in JavaScript tooling, and anyone wanting consistent style in VS Code, Vim, Prettier, ESLint, or command-line pipelines. It is also a strong fit when an MIT license and zero software cost matter. Look elsewhere when procedural SQL, custom statement delimiters, or broad template syntax are central requirements, or when you need an actively expanding feature set.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Wide dialect coverage: supports major cloud, commercial, and open-source SQL variants in one formatter.
• Granular style controls: case, indentation, operators, width, and query spacing can be aligned with a team's conventions.
• Strong workflow integration: CLI, browser demo, VS Code and Vim extensions, Prettier, ESLint, and configuration IntelliSense cover common development paths.
• Free and permissively licensed: the MIT license and 0.00 USD price remove procurement and redistribution barriers.

Cons

• No stored-procedure support: procedural SQL-heavy codebases cannot rely on it for complete formatting.
• Fixed semicolon delimiter: scripts requiring delimiter changes need another tool or manual handling.
• Templating is indirect: the parameter workaround may not accommodate every template construct.
• Maintenance mode: bug fixes remain possible, but new capabilities are unlikely.

Alternatives

For a broader directory of tools, see SQL Linters and Formatters.

SQLCheck is a free open-source command-line option for Linux, macOS, and Windows, suited to readers who prefer a focused CLI tool.

Sqruff is another free choice with extension, desktop, self-hosted, and web availability, useful when deployment flexibility matters.

Poor SQL offers free online and offline formatting, plus SSMS/Visual Studio and command-line support, for Microsoft-oriented workflows.

Sleek is a free open-source formatter delivered through extensions and desktop platforms.

sqlfmt provides a free browser formatter running through WebAssembly with no installation required.

Squawk is a free option spanning mobile, desktop, web, API, extension, and self-hosted deployments.

TSQLLint is free MIT-licensed software installable through dotnet-tool, Homebrew, or NPM, particularly relevant to T-SQL users.

JSQLFormatter is a free formatter for Linux, macOS, self-hosted environments, and Windows.

Verdict

SQL Formatter is a strong choice for developers who need free, configurable formatting across many SQL dialects and toolchains. Its main reason to choose it is the combination of breadth, integrations, and MIT licensing; its main reason to look elsewhere is the hard ceiling around stored procedures, delimiters, templating, and future feature growth.