diff --git a/doc/nvim-tree-lua.txt b/doc/nvim-tree-lua.txt
index be998c6de51..9dc36cada63 100644
--- a/doc/nvim-tree-lua.txt
+++ b/doc/nvim-tree-lua.txt
@@ -191,7 +191,6 @@ Subsequent calls to setup will replace the previous configuration.
         number = false,
         relativenumber = false,
         signcolumn = "yes",
-        -- @deprecated
         mappings = {
           custom_only = false,
           list = {
@@ -426,9 +425,25 @@ if the tree was previously open.
 
 *nvim-tree.sort_by*
 Changes how files within the same directory are sorted.
-Can be one of 'name', 'case_sensitive', 'modification_time' or 'extension'.
-  Type: `string`, Default: `"name"`
-
+Can be one of `name`, `case_sensitive`, `modification_time`, `extension` or a
+function.
+  Type: `string` | `function(nodes)`, Default: `"name"`
+
+  Function is passed a table of nodes to be sorted, each node containing:
+  - `absolute_path`: `string`
+  - `executable`:    `boolean`
+  - `extension`:     `string`
+  - `link_to`:       `string`
+  - `name`:          `string`
+  - `type`:          `"directory"` | `"file"` | `"link"`
+
+  Example: sort by name length: >
+    local sort_by = function(nodes)
+      table.sort(nodes, function(a, b)
+        return #a.name < #b.name
+      end)
+    end
+<
 *nvim-tree.hijack_unnamed_buffer_when_opening*
 Opens in place of the unnamed buffer if it's empty.
   Type: `boolean`, Default: `false`
diff --git a/lua/nvim-tree.lua b/lua/nvim-tree.lua
index a1a81b5a94f..0af27560180 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-tree.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-tree.lua
@@ -640,6 +640,7 @@ local FIELD_OVERRIDE_TYPECHECK = {
   height = { string = true, ["function"] = true, number = true },
   remove_keymaps = { boolean = true, table = true },
   on_attach = { ["function"] = true, string = true },
+  sort_by = { ["function"] = true, string = true },
 }
 
 local function validate_options(conf)
diff --git a/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/sorters.lua b/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/sorters.lua
index 4168a931c95..be0d7fcfbd1 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/sorters.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/sorters.lua
@@ -66,13 +66,52 @@ end
 ---@param t any[]
 ---@param comparator function|nil
 function M.merge_sort(t, comparator)
-  if not comparator then
-    comparator = function(left, right)
-      return left < right
+  if type(M.sort_by) == "function" then
+    local t_user = {}
+    local origin_index = {}
+
+    for _, n in ipairs(t) do
+      table.insert(t_user, {
+        absolute_path = n.absolute_path,
+        executable = n.executable,
+        extension = n.extension,
+        link_to = n.link_to,
+        name = n.name,
+        type = n.type,
+      })
+      table.insert(origin_index, n)
     end
-  end
 
-  split_merge(t, 1, #t, comparator)
+    M.sort_by(t_user)
+
+    -- do merge sort for prevent memory exceed
+    local user_index = {}
+    for i, v in ipairs(t_user) do
+      if type(v.absolute_path) == "string" and user_index[v.absolute_path] == nil then
+        user_index[v.absolute_path] = i
+      end
+    end
+
+    -- if missing value found, then using origin_index
+    local mini_comparator = function(a, b)
+      local a_index = user_index[a.absolute_path] or origin_index[a.absolute_path]
+      local b_index = user_index[b.absolute_path] or origin_index[b.absolute_path]
+
+      if type(a_index) == "number" and type(b_index) == "number" then
+        return a_index <= b_index
+      end
+      return (a_index or 0) <= (b_index or 0)
+    end
+
+    split_merge(t, 1, #t, mini_comparator) -- sort by user order
+  else
+    if not comparator then
+      comparator = function(left, right)
+        return left < right
+      end
+    end
+    split_merge(t, 1, #t, comparator)
+  end
 end
 
 local function node_comparator_name_ignorecase_or_not(a, b, ignorecase)
@@ -150,7 +189,9 @@ end
 
 function M.setup(opts)
   M.sort_by = opts.sort_by
-  if M.sort_by == "modification_time" then
+  if M.sort_by and type(M.sort_by) == "function" then
+    M.node_comparator = M.sort_by
+  elseif M.sort_by == "modification_time" then
     M.node_comparator = M.node_comparator_modification_time
   elseif M.sort_by == "case_sensitive" then
     M.node_comparator = M.node_comparator_name_case_sensisive