Can an SQL Query Use Both WHERE and HAVING Clauses?

Last Updated: 28th October 2025

Yes, an SQL query can include both WHERE and HAVING clauses, and they often work together to filter data at different stages of query execution.

The WHERE clause filters individual rows before any grouping or aggregation takes place.
The HAVING clause filters grouped results after aggregate functions like SUM(), COUNT(), or AVG() have been applied.

Let us assume, I have a table named dbo.books and it has 5 columns and few rows of data. See the below image.

Dummy SQL Server table

👉 First, let's break it down with two separate examples to see how the WHERE and HAVING clauses work in SQL.

1) Using WHERE

SELECT Category, SUM(Price) AS [Total_Price]
    FROM dbo.Books
    WHERE Price > 150
    GROUP BY Category

In the query above, the goal is to calculate the total price for each book category, but only for those records where the individual book price is greater than 150.

Since we're using the SUM() function to aggregate prices by category, we must include a GROUP BY clause to group the results accordingly. Without GROUP BY, SQL Server wouldn't know how to organize the data for aggregation, and the query would result in an error.

2) Using HAVING

SELECT Category, SUM(Price) AS [Total Price]
    FROM dbo.Books
    GROUP BY Category
    HAVING SUM(Price) > 150

In the second query, I am using the HAVING clause. Its on an aggregate function (SUM()). Unlike the WHERE clause, this query first returns the rows by grouping it and then filters it with the total sum using the HAVING clause.

🚀 Mastering SQL Server HAVING Clause: Syntax, Usage & Examples

Now, I want to do something similar (using both the above queries) in a single query. See this query first.

SELECT Category, SUM(Price) AS [Total Price]
    FROM dbo.Books
    WHERE Category IN ('Computers', 'Science', 'Programming')
    GROUP BY Category

Output (image)

SQL Query output using WHERE clause

It returns the sum of price for individual categories. I am filtering the categories using the WHERE clause. I don’t want all the categories.

Now suppose, I want to filter it further to get the rows where sum of the price is greater (>) than 150. Not all the rows.

Unfortunately, I cannot do this in an SQL query! 👇

SELECT Category, SUM(Price) Total_Price
    FROM dbo.Books
    WHERE Category IN ('Computers', 'Science', 'Programming') AND
    SUM(Price) > 150  -- This is incorrect. It will throw an error.
    GROUP BY Category

Therefore, I'll have to use the HAVING clause along with the WHERE clause in the above query.

🚀 SQL Server HAVING Clause Explained with Practical Examples

Using WHERE and HAVING in a single SQL query

SELECT Category, SUM(Price) Total_Price
    FROM dbo.Books
    WHERE Category IN ('Computers', 'Science', 'Programming')
    GROUP BY Category
    HAVING SUM(Price) > 150

Output

Showing output using WHERE and HAVING together in an SQL query

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