var locktos = []; $(document).ready(function() { $("#sortable li.static").each(function () { locktos.push($(this).index()); $(this).attr("id", "static-" + $(this).index()); }); alert($("#sortable li").eq(locktos[1]).attr("id")); }); $("#sortable").sortable({ "cancel":"li.static", "change":function(event,ui) { // var locktos = [1, 5]; for(i=0;i<locktos.length;i++) { console.log(locktos[i]); var thisindex = $(ui.helper).index(); var fixed = $("#static-"+locktos[i]); var index = fixed.index(); var targetindex = locktos[i]+1; console.log(index + ", targetindex: " + targetindex); if(index !== targetindex) { if(index > targetindex ) { fixed.prev().insertAfter(fixed); //move it up by one position } else if(index==(targetindex-1) && thisindex>targetindex) { //don't move it at all } else { fixed.next().insertBefore(fixed); //move it down by one position } } else if(index==targetindex && thisindex>targetindex) { fixed.prev().insertAfter(fixed); //move it up by one position } } } });

 ul > li {display:block;height:15px;width:100px;background:#ccc;margin:2px;padding:3px;border:1px solid #aaa;}

 <ul id="sortable"> <li>oranges</li> <li class="static">apples</li> <li>bananas</li> <li>pineapples</li> <li>grapes</li> <li class="static">pears</li> <li>mango</li> </ul>