How to add a checkbox in Google Sheets

Insert a checkbox

1. Select the cell, or the whole range you want boxes in (for example B2:B50).
2. Click Insert → Checkbox.

Every selected cell gets its own box. To add more later, copy a checkbox cell and paste it down the column, or drag the fill handle.

Check and uncheck

Click a box to tick it. To flip a whole range at once, select the cells and press Space.

A checkbox is just TRUE or FALSE

A ticked box holds TRUE and an empty one holds FALSE. That's what makes checkboxes useful: any formula can read them.

The second formula counts ticked boxes. Watch How to count checkboxes in Google Sheets.

Use your own values instead of TRUE/FALSE

1. Select the checkbox cells.
2. Click Data → Data validation and open the rule.
3. Under Criteria, keep Checkbox and tick Use custom cell values.
4. Type the checked and unchecked values, for example Yes and No.

More in How to change a checkbox to Yes or No.

Highlight or strike through a row when it's checked

Select the rows, open Format → Conditional formatting, choose Custom formula is, and enter:

The $ locks the checkbox column so the whole row reacts. Walkthrough: Conditional formatting with checkboxes.

Remove checkboxes

Select the cells and press Delete. If you only want the boxes empty, press Space on ticked ones instead.

Go further

• Everything I know about checkboxes (cool hacks)
• 6 ways to make your checkboxes better
• Checkbox hacks in Google Sheets
• Uncheck every checkbox at once
• Checkbox, explained