diff --git a/random_file_picker/tui.py b/random_file_picker/tui.py
index 840b3b2..89955bd 100644
--- a/random_file_picker/tui.py
+++ b/random_file_picker/tui.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ Here's an example usage:
 
 import pathlib
 import random
+from collections.abc import Callable
 from typing import ClassVar, cast, final, override
 
 import typed_argparse as tap
@@ -30,6 +31,36 @@ from random_file_picker.openers import (
 
 GEEQIE_AVAILABLE = is_geeqie_available()
 
+# Map valid sort keys to the function that extracts the comparison value
+SORT_KEYS: dict[str, Callable[[pathlib.Path], float | int | str]] = {
+    "name": lambda p: p.name.lower(),
+    "date": lambda p: p.stat().st_mtime,
+    "size": lambda p: p.stat().st_size,
+}
+
+# Map valid order strings to their `reverse` boolean flag (True = descending)
+SORT_ORDERS: dict[str, bool] = {
+    "a": False, "asc": False, "ascending": False,
+    "d": True, "desc": True, "descending": True,
+}
+
+def parse_and_sort_files(files: list[pathlib.Path], sort_args: list[str]) -> None:
+    """Sort files in place and raise ValueError on invalid rules."""
+    rules: list[str] = []
+    for arg in sort_args:
+        rules.extend(r.strip() for r in arg.split(",") if r.strip())
+
+    for rule in reversed(rules):
+        parts = rule.split(":")
+        key_str = parts[0].strip().lower()
+        order_str = parts[1].strip().lower() if len(parts) > 1 else "a"
+
+        if key_str not in SORT_KEYS:
+            raise ValueError(f"Invalid sort key '{key_str}'. Valid options: {', '.join(SORT_KEYS.keys())}")
+        if order_str not in SORT_ORDERS:
+            raise ValueError(f"Invalid sort order '{order_str}'. Valid options: {', '.join(SORT_ORDERS.keys())}")
+        files.sort(key=SORT_KEYS[key_str], reverse=SORT_ORDERS[order_str])
+
 class Args(tap.TypedArgs):
     file_size: int = tap.arg("-s", default=10, help="Maximum file size in MB")
     directory: str = tap.arg("-d", default=".", help="Directory to search for files")
@@ -37,6 +68,7 @@ class Args(tap.TypedArgs):
     use_geeqie: bool = tap.arg("--use-geeqie", default=False, help="Whether to use Geeqie as the image viewer")
     no_trash: bool = tap.arg("--no-trash", default=False, help="Delete files immediately without moving to trash")
     no_random: bool = tap.arg("--no-random", default=False, help="Do not randomize the order of files")
+    sort: list[str] | None = tap.arg("--sort", nargs="*", help="Sort rules (e.g. 'date:d, name:a'). Keys: name, date, size. Orders: a, d.")
     blacklist: list[str] | None = tap.arg("--blacklist", nargs="*", help="List of glob patterns to blacklist files")
     whitelist: list[str] | None = tap.arg("--whitelist", nargs="*", help="List of glob patterns to whitelist files")
 
@@ -105,6 +137,7 @@ class MenuApp(App[None]):
         use_geeqie: bool = False,
         use_trash: bool = True,
         no_random: bool = False,
+        sort: list[str] | None = None,
     ):
         super().__init__()
         self.directory: pathlib.Path = pathlib.Path(directory)
@@ -115,6 +148,7 @@ class MenuApp(App[None]):
         self.use_geeqie: bool = use_geeqie
         self.use_trash: bool = use_trash
         self.no_random: bool = no_random
+        self.sort_rules: list[str] = sort or []
         self.usable_files: list[pathlib.Path] = []
         self.current_index: int = 0
         self.current_file: pathlib.Path | None = None
@@ -189,6 +223,13 @@ class MenuApp(App[None]):
         if event.state == WorkerState.SUCCESS:
             files = worker.result or []
             self.usable_files = list(files)
+
+            if self.sort_rules:
+                try:
+                    parse_and_sort_files(self.usable_files, self.sort_rules)
+                except ValueError as e:
+                    status.update(f"❌ Sorting error: {e}")
+                    return
             if not self.no_random:
                 random.shuffle(self.usable_files)
 
@@ -376,6 +417,14 @@ def main_with_tap(args: Args) -> None:
         print("❌ Geeqie is not available on this system. Please install it or run without --use-geeqie.")
         return
 
+    # Validate sort arguments before launching the TUI
+    if args.sort:
+        try:
+            parse_and_sort_files([], args.sort)
+        except ValueError as e:
+            print(f"❌ Sorting error: {e}")
+            return
+
     app = MenuApp(
         directory=args.directory,
         file_limit=args.file_size,
@@ -385,6 +434,7 @@ def main_with_tap(args: Args) -> None:
         use_geeqie=args.use_geeqie,
         use_trash=not args.no_trash,
         no_random=args.no_random,
+        sort=args.sort or [], # default filesystem order if no sort rules are provided
     )
     app.run()