Implementations of the present disclosure involve an apparatus and/or method for an efficient packet queue depth sorting scheme for a ‘longest queue first’ based switch fabric device. In general, the sorting scheme compares a data queue length on an incoming port to a sorted queue of available ports based on longest queue. Based at least on the results of the comparison of the data queue length on the input port, a port designator is inserted into a re-sorted longest queue available port list in the proper position based on the incoming or outgoing port data length. The remaining entries are then sorted around the inserted port designator. Because the comparison and insertion of the port designator can occur in one clock cycle of the switch fabric device, efficiency of the switch is improved.