diff --git a/includes/admin/assets/js/um-admin-forms.js b/includes/admin/assets/js/um-admin-forms.js
index 74d47bcc..c317cbd8 100644
--- a/includes/admin/assets/js/um-admin-forms.js
+++ b/includes/admin/assets/js/um-admin-forms.js
@@ -245,21 +245,18 @@ jQuery(document).ready( function() {
 			html += '<span class="um-field-icon"><i class="um-faicon-sort"></i></span>';
 		}
 
+		let dataTypesOptions = '';
+		jQuery.each( um_forms_data.md_sorting_data_types, function( key, label ) {
+			dataTypesOptions += '<option value="' + key + '">' + label + '</option>';
+		} );
+
 		html += '<span class="um-field-wrapper">' + selector_html + '</span>' +
 			'<span class="um-field-control">' +
 			'<a href="javascript:void(0);" class="um-select-delete">' + wp.i18n.__( 'Remove', 'ultimate-member' ) + '</a>' +
 			'</span>' +
 			'<span class="um-field-wrapper um-custom-order-fields"><label>' + wp.i18n.__( 'Meta key', 'ultimate-member' ) + ':&nbsp;<input type="text" name="meta_key" /></label></span>' +
 			'<span class="um-field-wrapper um-custom-order-fields"><label>' + wp.i18n.__( 'Data type', 'ultimate-member' ) + ':&nbsp;<select name="data_type" />' +
-			'<option value="CHAR">' + wp.i18n.__( 'CHAR', 'ultimate-member' ) + '</option>' +
-			'<option value="NUMERIC">' + wp.i18n.__( 'NUMERIC', 'ultimate-member' ) + '</option>' +
-			'<option value="BINARY">' + wp.i18n.__( 'BINARY', 'ultimate-member' ) + '</option>' +
-			'<option value="DATE">' + wp.i18n.__( 'DATE', 'ultimate-member' ) + '</option>' +
-			'<option value="DATETIME">' + wp.i18n.__( 'DATETIME', 'ultimate-member' ) + '</option>' +
-			'<option value="DECIMAL">' + wp.i18n.__( 'DECIMAL', 'ultimate-member' ) + '</option>' +
-			'<option value="SIGNED">' + wp.i18n.__( 'SIGNED', 'ultimate-member' ) + '</option>' +
-			'<option value="TIME">' + wp.i18n.__( 'TIME', 'ultimate-member' ) + '</option>' +
-			'<option value="UNSIGNED">' + wp.i18n.__( 'UNSIGNED', 'ultimate-member' ) + '</option>' +
+			dataTypesOptions +
 			'</select></label></span>' +
 			'<span class="um-field-wrapper um-custom-order-fields"><label>' + wp.i18n.__( 'Order', 'ultimate-member' ) + ':&nbsp;<select name="order" />' +
 			'<option value="ASC">' + wp.i18n.__( 'ASC', 'ultimate-member' ) + '</option>' +
diff --git a/includes/admin/class-admin.php b/includes/admin/class-admin.php
index 2e8b66ef..25974780 100644
--- a/includes/admin/class-admin.php
+++ b/includes/admin/class-admin.php
@@ -1,21 +1,18 @@
 <?php
 namespace um\admin;
 
-// Exit if accessed directly.
 if ( ! defined( 'ABSPATH' ) ) {
 	exit;
 }
 
 if ( ! class_exists( 'um\admin\Admin' ) ) {
 
-
 	/**
 	 * Class Admin
 	 * @package um\admin
 	 */
 	class Admin extends Admin_Functions {
 
-
 		/**
 		 * @var string
 		 */
diff --git a/includes/admin/core/class-admin-enqueue.php b/includes/admin/core/class-admin-enqueue.php
index a46b67b8..57f9cbfb 100644
--- a/includes/admin/core/class-admin-enqueue.php
+++ b/includes/admin/core/class-admin-enqueue.php
@@ -375,6 +375,7 @@ if ( ! class_exists( 'um\admin\core\Admin_Enqueue' ) ) {
 						),
 						admin_url( 'admin.php' )
 					),
+					'md_sorting_data_types' => UM()->member_directory()->sort_data_types,
 				)
 			);
 
diff --git a/includes/admin/core/class-admin-forms.php b/includes/admin/core/class-admin-forms.php
index 68995432..1d5e12fa 100644
--- a/includes/admin/core/class-admin-forms.php
+++ b/includes/admin/core/class-admin-forms.php
@@ -1613,7 +1613,7 @@ if ( ! class_exists( 'um\admin\core\Admin_Forms' ) ) {
 							$other_order = $value['order'];
 						}
 					} else {
-						if ( ! in_array( $value, array_keys( $field_data['options'] ) ) ) {
+						if ( ! array_key_exists( $value, $field_data['options'] ) ) {
 							continue;
 						}
 					}
@@ -1623,7 +1623,7 @@ if ( ! class_exists( 'um\admin\core\Admin_Forms' ) ) {
 					$options = '';
 					foreach ( $field_data['options'] as $key => $option ) {
 						if ( is_array( $value ) ) {
-							$selected = selected( $key == 'other', true, false );
+							$selected = selected( 'other' === $key, true, false );
 						} else {
 							$selected = selected( $key == $value, true, false );
 						}
@@ -1635,21 +1635,19 @@ if ( ! class_exists( 'um\admin\core\Admin_Forms' ) ) {
 					if ( $sorting ) {
 						$html .= '<span class="um-field-icon"><i class="um-faicon-sort"></i></span>';
 					}
+
+					$data_types_html = '';
+					foreach ( UM()->member_directory()->sort_data_types as $type_key => $type_label ) {
+						$data_types_html .= '<option value="' . esc_attr( $type_key ) . '" ' . selected( $other_type, $type_key, false ) . '>' . esc_html( $type_label ) . '</option>';
+					}
+
 					$html .= '<span class="um-field-wrapper">
 						<select ' . $id_attr . ' ' . $name_attr . ' ' . $class_attr . ' ' . $data_attr . '>' . $options . '</select></span>
 						<span class="um-field-control"><a href="javascript:void(0);" class="um-select-delete">' . __( 'Remove', 'ultimate-member' ) . '</a></span>
 						<span class="um-field-wrapper um-custom-order-fields"><label>' . __( 'Meta key', 'ultimate-member' ) . ':&nbsp;<input type="text" name="um_metadata[_um_sorting_fields][other_data][' . $k . '][meta_key]" value="' . esc_attr( $other_key ) . '" /></label></span>
-						<span class="um-field-wrapper um-custom-order-fields"><label>' . __( 'Data type', 'ultimate-member' ) . ':&nbsp;<select name="um_metadata[_um_sorting_fields][other_data][' . $k . '][data_type]" />
-						<option value="CHAR" ' . selected( $other_type, 'CHAR', false ) . '>' . __( 'CHAR', 'ultimate-member' ) . '</option>
-						<option value="NUMERIC" ' . selected( $other_type, 'NUMERIC', false ) . '>' . __( 'NUMERIC', 'ultimate-member' ) . '</option>
-						<option value="BINARY" ' . selected( $other_type, 'BINARY', false ) . '>' . __( 'BINARY', 'ultimate-member' ) . '</option>
-						<option value="DATE" ' . selected( $other_type, 'DATE', false ) . '>' . __( 'DATE', 'ultimate-member' ) . '</option>
-						<option value="DATETIME" ' . selected( $other_type, 'DATETIME', false ) . '>' . __( 'DATETIME', 'ultimate-member' ) . '</option>
-						<option value="DECIMAL" ' . selected( $other_type, 'DECIMAL', false ) . '>' . __( 'DECIMAL', 'ultimate-member' ) . '</option>
-						<option value="SIGNED" ' . selected( $other_type, 'SIGNED', false ) . '>' . __( 'SIGNED', 'ultimate-member' ) . '</option>
-						<option value="TIME" ' . selected( $other_type, 'TIME', false ) . '>' . __( 'TIME', 'ultimate-member' ) . '</option>
-						<option value="UNSIGNED" ' . selected( $other_type, 'UNSIGNED', false ) . '>' . __( 'UNSIGNED', 'ultimate-member' ) . '</option>
-						</select></label></span>
+						<span class="um-field-wrapper um-custom-order-fields"><label>' . __( 'Data type', 'ultimate-member' ) . ':&nbsp;<select name="um_metadata[_um_sorting_fields][other_data][' . $k . '][data_type]" />' .
+						$data_types_html .
+						'</select></label></span>
 						<span class="um-field-wrapper um-custom-order-fields"><label>' . __( 'Order', 'ultimate-member' ) . ':&nbsp;<select name="um_metadata[_um_sorting_fields][other_data][' . $k . '][order]" />
 						<option value="ASC" ' . selected( $other_order, 'ASC', false ) . '>' . __( 'ASC', 'ultimate-member' ) . '</option>
 						<option value="DESC" ' . selected( $other_order, 'DESC', false ) . '>' . __( 'DESC', 'ultimate-member' ) . '</option>
diff --git a/includes/admin/templates/directory/sorting.php b/includes/admin/templates/directory/sorting.php
index 6a33522b..9a9566d0 100644
--- a/includes/admin/templates/directory/sorting.php
+++ b/includes/admin/templates/directory/sorting.php
@@ -7,18 +7,6 @@ global $post_id;
 $_um_sorting_fields = get_post_meta( $post_id, '_um_sorting_fields', true );
 $_um_sorting_fields = empty( $_um_sorting_fields ) ? array() : $_um_sorting_fields;
 
-$custom_type_options = array(
-	'CHAR'     => 'CHAR',
-	'NUMERIC'  => 'NUMERIC',
-	'BINARY'   => 'BINARY',
-	'DATE'     => 'DATE',
-	'DATETIME' => 'DATETIME',
-	'DECIMAL'  => 'DECIMAL',
-	'SIGNED'   => 'SIGNED',
-	'TIME'     => 'TIME',
-	'UNSIGNED' => 'UNSIGNED',
-);
-
 $fields = array(
 	array(
 		'id'      => '_um_sortby',
@@ -42,7 +30,7 @@ $fields = array(
 		'label'       => __( 'Data type', 'ultimate-member' ),
 		'tooltip'     => __( 'To correct sort by a custom field, choose a data type', 'ultimate-member' ),
 		'value'       => UM()->query()->get_meta_value( '_um_sortby_custom_type', null, 'CHAR' ),
-		'options'     => $custom_type_options,
+		'options'     => UM()->member_directory()->sort_data_types,
 		'conditional' => array( '_um_sortby', '=', 'other' ),
 	),
 	array(
@@ -52,8 +40,8 @@ $fields = array(
 		'tooltip'     => __( 'To correct sort by a custom field, choose an order', 'ultimate-member' ),
 		'value'       => UM()->query()->get_meta_value( '_um_sortby_custom_order', null, 'ASC' ),
 		'options'     => array(
-			'ASC'  => 'ASC',
-			'DESC' => 'DESC',
+			'ASC'  => __( 'ASC', 'ultimate-member' ),
+			'DESC' => __( 'DESC', 'ultimate-member' ),
 		),
 		'conditional' => array( '_um_sortby', '=', 'other' ),
 	),
diff --git a/includes/class-config.php b/includes/class-config.php
index 1892d6fe..3273fa67 100644
--- a/includes/class-config.php
+++ b/includes/class-config.php
@@ -1,13 +1,12 @@
 <?php
 namespace um;
 
-
-if ( ! defined( 'ABSPATH' ) ) exit;
-
+if ( ! defined( 'ABSPATH' ) ) {
+	exit;
+}
 
 if ( ! class_exists( 'um\Config' ) ) {
 
-
 	/**
 	 * Class Config
 	 *
diff --git a/includes/core/class-member-directory-meta.php b/includes/core/class-member-directory-meta.php
index 4b616a69..cd54bd87 100644
--- a/includes/core/class-member-directory-meta.php
+++ b/includes/core/class-member-directory-meta.php
@@ -1,27 +1,36 @@
 <?php
 namespace um\core;
 
-
-if ( ! defined( 'ABSPATH' ) ) exit;
-
+if ( ! defined( 'ABSPATH' ) ) {
+	exit;
+}
 
 if ( ! class_exists( 'um\core\Member_Directory_Meta' ) ) {
 
-
 	/**
 	 * Class Member_Directory_Meta
 	 * @package um\core
 	 */
 	class Member_Directory_Meta extends Member_Directory {
 
+		/**
+		 * @var array
+		 */
+		public $joins = array();
 
 		/**
-		 * @var string
+		 * @var array
 		 */
-		var $joins = array();
-		var $where_clauses = array();
+		public $where_clauses = array();
 
-		var $roles = array();
+		/**
+		 * @var array
+		 */
+		public $roles = array();
+
+		/**
+		 * @var bool
+		 */
 		var $roles_in_query = false;
 
 		var $general_meta_joined = false;
@@ -35,7 +44,7 @@ if ( ! class_exists( 'um\core\Member_Directory_Meta' ) ) {
 		/**
 		 * Member_Directory_Meta constructor.
 		 */
-		function __construct() {
+		public function __construct() {
 			parent::__construct();
 
 			add_action( 'updated_user_meta', array( &$this, 'on_update_usermeta' ), 10, 4 );
@@ -501,7 +510,6 @@ if ( ! class_exists( 'um\core\Member_Directory_Meta' ) ) {
 				}
 			}
 
-
 			$profile_photo_where = '';
 			if ( $directory_data['has_profile_photo'] == 1 ) {
 				$profile_photo_where = " AND umm_general.um_value LIKE '%s:13:\"profile_photo\";b:1;%'";
@@ -578,7 +586,6 @@ if ( ! class_exists( 'um\core\Member_Directory_Meta' ) ) {
 				}
 			}
 
-
 			if ( ! empty( $_POST['search'] ) ) {
 				$search_line = trim( stripslashes( sanitize_text_field( $_POST['search'] ) ) );
 
@@ -600,7 +607,6 @@ if ( ! class_exists( 'um\core\Member_Directory_Meta' ) ) {
 				$this->is_search = true;
 			}
 
-
 			//filters
 			$filter_query = array();
 			if ( ! empty( $directory_data['search_fields'] ) ) {
@@ -638,7 +644,6 @@ if ( ! class_exists( 'um\core\Member_Directory_Meta' ) ) {
 				}
 			}
 
-
 			//unable default filter in case if we select other filters in frontend filters
 			//if ( empty( $this->custom_filters_in_query ) ) {
 			$default_filters = array();
@@ -676,7 +681,7 @@ if ( ! class_exists( 'um\core\Member_Directory_Meta' ) ) {
 
 			if ( ! empty( UM()->builtin()->saved_fields ) ) {
 				foreach ( UM()->builtin()->saved_fields as $key => $data ) {
-					if ( $key == '_um_last_login' ) {
+					if ( '_um_last_login' === $key ) {
 						continue;
 					}
 
@@ -694,26 +699,26 @@ if ( ! class_exists( 'um\core\Member_Directory_Meta' ) ) {
 			// handle sorting options
 			// sort members by
 			if ( $sortby == $directory_data['sortby_custom'] || in_array( $sortby, $custom_sort ) ) {
-				$custom_sort_order = ! empty( $directory_data['sortby_custom_order'] ) ? $directory_data['sortby_custom_order'] : 'CHAR';
+				$custom_sort_order = ! empty( $directory_data['sortby_custom_order'] ) ? $directory_data['sortby_custom_order'] : 'ASC';
 
 				$this->joins[] = "LEFT JOIN {$wpdb->prefix}um_metadata umm_sort ON ( umm_sort.user_id = u.ID AND umm_sort.um_key = '{$sortby}' )";
 
-				$custom_sort_type = ! empty( $directory_data['sortby_custom_type'] ) ? $directory_data['sortby_custom_type'] : 'CHAR';
+				$meta_query       = new \WP_Meta_Query();
+				$custom_sort_type = ! empty( $directory_data['sortby_custom_type'] ) ? $meta_query->get_cast_for_type( $directory_data['sortby_custom_type'] ) : 'CHAR';
 				if ( ! empty( $directory_data['sorting_fields'] ) ) {
-					// phpcs:disable WordPress.Security.NonceVerification -- already verified here
+					// phpcs:ignore WordPress.Security.NonceVerification -- already verified here
 					$sorting        = sanitize_text_field( $_POST['sorting'] );
-					$sorting_fields = unserialize( $directory_data['sorting_fields'] );
-					// phpcs:enable WordPress.Security.NonceVerification
+					$sorting_fields = maybe_unserialize( $directory_data['sorting_fields'] );
+
 					foreach ( $sorting_fields as $field ) {
 						if ( isset( $field[ $sorting ] ) ) {
-							$custom_sort_type  = $field['type'];
+							$custom_sort_type  = ! empty( $field['type'] ) ? $meta_query->get_cast_for_type( $field['type'] ) : 'CHAR';
 							$custom_sort_order = $field['order'];
 						}
 					}
 				}
-				if ( 'NUMERIC' === $custom_sort_type ) {
-					$custom_sort_type = 'DECIMAL';
-				}
+
+				/** This filter is documented in includes/core/class-member-directory.php */
 				$custom_sort_type = apply_filters( 'um_member_directory_custom_sorting_type', $custom_sort_type, $sortby, $directory_data );
 
 				$this->sql_order = " ORDER BY CAST( umm_sort.um_value AS {$custom_sort_type} ) {$custom_sort_order} ";
@@ -819,7 +824,6 @@ if ( ! class_exists( 'um\core\Member_Directory_Meta' ) ) {
 
 			$this->sql_order = apply_filters( 'um_modify_sortby_parameter_meta', $this->sql_order, $sortby );
 
-
 			$profiles_per_page = $directory_data['profiles_per_page'];
 			if ( UM()->mobile()->isMobile() && isset( $directory_data['profiles_per_page_mobile'] ) ) {
 				$profiles_per_page = $directory_data['profiles_per_page_mobile'];
diff --git a/includes/core/class-member-directory.php b/includes/core/class-member-directory.php
index 231f44dd..7d9c40af 100644
--- a/includes/core/class-member-directory.php
+++ b/includes/core/class-member-directory.php
@@ -1,20 +1,18 @@
 <?php
 namespace um\core;
 
-
-if ( ! defined( 'ABSPATH' ) ) exit;
-
+if ( ! defined( 'ABSPATH' ) ) {
+	exit;
+}
 
 if ( ! class_exists( 'um\core\Member_Directory' ) ) {
 
-
 	/**
 	 * Class Member_Directory
 	 * @package um\core
 	 */
 	class Member_Directory {
 
-
 		/**
 		 * Member Directory Views
 		 *
@@ -28,6 +26,10 @@ if ( ! class_exists( 'um\core\Member_Directory' ) ) {
 		 */
 		var $sort_fields = array();
 
+		/**
+		 * @var array
+		 */
+		var $sort_data_types = array();
 
 		/**
 		 * @var array
@@ -320,6 +322,20 @@ if ( ! class_exists( 'um\core\Member_Directory' ) ) {
 
 			$this->sorting_supported_fields = apply_filters( 'um_members_directory_custom_field_types_supported_sorting', array( 'number' ) );
 
+			$this->sort_data_types = array(
+				'CHAR'     => __( 'CHAR', 'ultimate-member' ),
+				'NUMERIC'  => __( 'NUMERIC', 'ultimate-member' ),
+				'BINARY'   => __( 'BINARY', 'ultimate-member' ),
+				'DATE'     => __( 'DATE', 'ultimate-member' ),
+				'DATETIME' => __( 'DATETIME', 'ultimate-member' ),
+				'DECIMAL'  => __( 'DECIMAL', 'ultimate-member' ),
+				'SIGNED'   => __( 'SIGNED', 'ultimate-member' ),
+				'TIME'     => __( 'TIME', 'ultimate-member' ),
+				'UNSIGNED' => __( 'UNSIGNED', 'ultimate-member' ),
+			);
+
+			$this->sort_data_types = apply_filters( 'um_members_directory_sort_data_types', $this->sort_data_types );
+
 			if ( ! empty( UM()->builtin()->saved_fields ) ) {
 				foreach ( UM()->builtin()->saved_fields as $key => $data ) {
 					if ( $key == '_um_last_login' ) {
@@ -1434,21 +1450,45 @@ if ( ! class_exists( 'um\core\Member_Directory' ) ) {
 				unset( $this->query_args['order'] );
 
 			} elseif ( ( ! empty( $directory_data['sortby_custom'] ) && $sortby == $directory_data['sortby_custom'] ) || in_array( $sortby, $custom_sort ) ) {
-				$custom_sort_order = ! empty( $directory_data['sortby_custom_order'] ) ? $directory_data['sortby_custom_order'] : 'CHAR';
+				$custom_sort_order = ! empty( $directory_data['sortby_custom_order'] ) ? $directory_data['sortby_custom_order'] : 'ASC';
 
-				$custom_sort_type = ! empty( $directory_data['sortby_custom_type'] ) ? $directory_data['sortby_custom_type'] : 'CHAR';
+				$meta_query       = new \WP_Meta_Query();
+				$custom_sort_type = ! empty( $directory_data['sortby_custom_type'] ) ? $meta_query->get_cast_for_type( $directory_data['sortby_custom_type'] ) : 'CHAR';
 				if ( ! empty( $directory_data['sorting_fields'] ) ) {
-					// phpcs:disable WordPress.Security.NonceVerification -- already verified here
+					// phpcs:ignore WordPress.Security.NonceVerification -- already verified here
 					$sorting        = sanitize_text_field( $_POST['sorting'] );
-					$sorting_fields = unserialize( $directory_data['sorting_fields'] );
-					// phpcs:enable WordPress.Security.NonceVerification
+					$sorting_fields = maybe_serialize( $directory_data['sorting_fields'] );
+
 					foreach ( $sorting_fields as $field ) {
 						if ( isset( $field[ $sorting ] ) ) {
-							$custom_sort_type  = $field['type'];
+							$custom_sort_type  = ! empty( $field['type'] ) ? $meta_query->get_cast_for_type( $field['type'] ) : 'CHAR';
 							$custom_sort_order = $field['order'];
 						}
 					}
 				}
+				/**
+				 * Filters the sorting MySQL type in member directory custom sorting query.
+				 *
+				 * Note: Possible MySQL types are BINARY|CHAR|DATE|DATETIME|SIGNED|UNSIGNED|TIME|DECIMAL
+				 *
+				 * @since 2.1.3
+				 * @hook um_member_directory_custom_sorting_type
+				 *
+				 * @param {string} $custom_sort_type MySQL type to cast meta_value. 'CHAR' is default.
+				 * @param {string} $sortby           meta_key used for sorting.
+				 * @param {array}  $directory_data   Member directory data.
+				 *
+				 * @return {string} MySQL type to cast meta_value.
+				 * @example <caption>Change type to DATE by the directory ID and mete_key.</caption>
+				 * function my_um_member_directory_custom_sorting_type( $custom_sort_type, $sortby, $directory_data ) {
+				 *     if ( '{selected member directory ID}' == $directory_data['form_id'] && '{custom_date_key}' === $sortby ) {
+				 *         $custom_sort_type = 'DATE';
+				 *     }
+				 *
+				 *     return $custom_sort_type;
+				 * }
+				 * add_filter( 'um_member_directory_custom_sorting_type', 'my_um_member_directory_custom_sorting_type', 10, 3 );
+				 */
 				$custom_sort_type = apply_filters( 'um_member_directory_custom_sorting_type', $custom_sort_type, $sortby, $directory_data );
 
 				$this->query_args['meta_query'][] = array(
@@ -2643,10 +2683,7 @@ if ( ! class_exists( 'um\core\Member_Directory' ) ) {
 			add_filter( 'get_meta_sql', array( &$this, 'change_meta_sql' ), 10, 6 );
 
 			add_filter( 'pre_user_query', array( &$this, 'pagination_changes' ), 10, 1 );
-//echo '<pre>';
-//print_r($this->query_args);
-//echo '</pre>';
-//exit();
+
 			$user_query = new \WP_User_Query( $this->query_args );
 
 			remove_filter( 'pre_user_query', array( &$this, 'pagination_changes' ), 10 );