Limit on the WHERE col IN (…) condition

Question

I'm using the following code:

SELECT * FROM table
WHERE Col IN (123,123,222,....)

However, if I put more than ~3000 numbers in the IN clause, SQL throws an error.

Does anyone know if there's a size limit or anything similar?!!

Answer 1

You can use tuples like this: SELECT * FROM table WHERE (Col, 1) IN ((123,1),(123,1),(222,1),....)

There are no restrictions on number of these. It compares pairs.

Answer 2

Depending on your version, use a table valued parameter in 2008, or some approach described here:

Arrays and Lists in SQL Server 2005

Answer 3

Parameterize the query and pass the ids in using a Table Valued Parameter.

For example, define the following type:

CREATE TYPE IdTable AS TABLE (Id INT NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY)

Along with the following stored procedure:

CREATE PROCEDURE sp__Procedure_Name
    @OrderIDs IdTable READONLY,
AS

    SELECT *
    FROM table
    WHERE Col IN (SELECT Id FROM @OrderIDs)

Answer 4

There is a limit, but you can split your values into separate blocks of in()

Select * 
From table 
Where Col IN (123,123,222,....)
or Col IN (456,878,888,....)

Answer 5

Depending on the database engine you are using, there can be limits on the length of an instruction.

SQL Server has a very large limit:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms143432.aspx

ORACLE has a very easy to reach limit on the other side.

So, for large IN clauses, it's better to create a temp table, insert the values and do a JOIN. It works faster also.

Answer 6

Why not do a where IN a sub-select...

Pre-query into a temp table or something...

CREATE TABLE SomeTempTable AS
    SELECT YourColumn
    FROM SomeTable
    WHERE UserPickedMultipleRecordsFromSomeListOrSomething

then...

SELECT * FROM OtherTable
WHERE YourColumn IN ( SELECT YourColumn FROM SomeTempTable )