PURPOSE: To automatically sort bar-like materials in a device for sorting the materials by providing length measuring, length setting, storing, comparing, intaking, and tracking means thereat.

CONSTITUTION: The length of shape steel is detected by the touch roll of a length measuring meter 40, and is converted into pluse signals. A length setting instrument 42 sets the nominal length of constant length material. The upper and lower limit values of the JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards) tolerance of the nominal size are stored in the memory of a CPU44 to prepare a table in the memory beforehand. The range of the measured data is searched in the memory to set the nominal size as measured value. When the length of the shape steel is compared with the nominal length in allowable range to judge the nominal length of the shape steel. When the steel reaches intake units 34b to 34d, the CPU44 controls the units 34b to 34d in response to the comared results as tracking means so as to automatically sort the steels.