Using a sort order column in a database table

Use the old trick that BASIC programs (amongst other places) used: jump the numbers in the order column by 10 or some other convenient increment. You can then insert a single row (indeed, up to 9 rows, if you're lucky) between two existing numbers (that are 10 apart). Or you can move row 370 to 565 without having to change any of the rows from 570 upwards.

Update product set order = order+1 where order >= @value changed

Though over time you'll get larger and larger "spaces" in your order but it will still "sort"

This will add 1 to the value being changed and every value after it in one statement, but the above statement is still true. larger and larger "spaces" will form in your order possibly getting to the point of exceeding an INT value.

Alternate solution given desire for no spaces:

Imagine a procedure for: UpdateSortOrder with parameters of @NewOrderVal, @IDToChange,@OriginalOrderVal

Two step process depending if new/old order is moving up or down the sort.

If @NewOrderVal < @OriginalOrderVal --Moving down chain 

--Create space for the movement; no point in changing the original 
    Update product set order = order+1 
    where order BETWEEN @NewOrderVal and @OriginalOrderVal-1;

end if

If @NewOrderVal > @OriginalOrderVal --Moving up chain

--Create space  for the momvement; no point in changing the original  
  Update product set order = order-1 
  where order between @OriginalOrderVal+1 and @NewOrderVal
end if

--Finally update the one we moved to correct value

    update product set order = @newOrderVal where ID=@IDToChange;

Regarding best practice; most environments I've been in typically want something grouped by category and sorted alphabetically or based on "popularity on sale" thus negating the need to provide a user defined sort.

Here is an alternative approach using a common table expression (CTE).

This approach respects a unique index on the SortOrder column, and will close any gaps in the sort order sequence that may have been left over from earlier DELETE operations.

/* For example, move Product with id = 26 into position 3 */
DECLARE @id int = 26
DECLARE @sortOrder int = 3


;WITH Sorted AS (
    SELECT  Id,
            ROW_NUMBER() OVER (ORDER BY SortOrder) AS RowNumber
    FROM    Product
    WHERE   Id <> @id
)

UPDATE  p
SET     p.SortOrder = 
        (CASE 
            WHEN p.Id = @id THEN @sortOrder
            WHEN s.RowNumber >= @sortOrder THEN s.RowNumber + 1
            ELSE s.RowNumber
        END)
FROM    Product p
        LEFT JOIN Sorted s ON p.Id = s.Id