How To Create a To Do List in Excel (With Templates)

The human mind is a powerful thing.

But sometimes, it can suddenly blank out!

Like forgetting to note down the grocery items missing in your pantry or the project changes your client wants by the end of the day.

While our brain can do quite a lot, sometimes relying on our memory isn’t always the best way to keep track of our tasks.

That’s why a to-do list in Excel can be helpful.

It helps you break down your tasks into different sections on a single spreadsheet, which you can view at any time.

In this article, we’ll cover the six steps to create a to-do list in Excel and also discuss a better alternative that can handle more complex requirements the easier way.

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Let’s roll!

What Is a To Do List in Excel?

A to-do list in Microsoft Excel helps you organize your most essential tasks in a tabular form. It comes with rows and columns to add a new task, dates, and other specific notes.

Basically, it lets you assemble all your to-dos on a single spreadsheet.

Whether you’re preparing a move-in checklist or a project task list, a to-do list in Excel can simplify your work process and store all your information.

While there are other powerful apps for creating to-do lists, people use Excel because:

It’s a part of the Microsoft Office Suite people are familiar with
It offers powerful conditional formatting rules and data validation for analysis and calculations
It includes an array of reporting tools like matrices, charts, and pivot tables, making it easier to customize the data

In fact, you can create Excel to-do lists for a wide range of activities, including project management, client onboarding, travel itinerary, inventory, and event management.

Without further ado, let’s learn how to create a to-do list in Excel.

6 Simple Steps To Make a To Do List in Excel

Here’s a simple step-by-step guide on how to make a to-do list in Excel.

Step 1: Open a new Excel file

To open a new file, click on the Excel app, and you’ll find yourself at the Excel Home page. Double-click on the Blank Workbook to open a new Excel spreadsheet.

If you’re already on an Excel sheet and want to open a new file:

Click on the File tab, which will take you to the backstage view. Here you can create, save, open, print, and share documents
Select New, then click on Blank Workbook

Want an even faster route?

Press Ctrl+N after opening Excel to create a Blank Workbook.

Your new workbook is now ready for you.

Step 2: Add column headers

In our Excel to-do list, we want to track tasks and keep an eye on the progress by adding the column headers: Date, Task Name, Target, Status, and Comments. You can enter the column headers across the top row of the spreadsheet.

These column headers will let anyone viewing your spreadsheet get the gist of all the information under it.

Step 3: Enter the task details

Enter your task details under each column header to organize your information the way you want.

In our to-do list table, we have collated all the relevant information we want to track:

Date: mentions the specific dates
Task Name: contains the name of our tasks
Target: the number of task items we aim to complete
Status: reflects our work progress

You can also fix the alignment of your table by selecting the cells you want and click on the icon for center alignment from the Home tab.

Step 4: Apply filters

Too many to-dos?

Use the Filter option in Excel to retrieve data that matches particular criteria.

All you need to do is select any cell within the range of your data (A1-E11) > Select Data > then select Filter.

You’ll see drop-down lists appearing in the header of each column, as shown in the image below.

Dropdown options for workbook columns in Excel

Click on the drop-down arrow for the column you want to apply a filter.

As shown in our to-do list table below, we want to apply the filter to the Status column, so we’ve selected the cell range of D1-D11.

Then, in the Filter menu that appears, you can uncheck the boxes next to the data you don’t want to view and click OK. You can also quickly uncheck all by clicking on Select All.

Filter for what you want to see in Excel

In our to-do list, we want to view only the Open tasks, so we apply the filter for that data.

After you save this Excel file, the filter will be there automatically the next time you open the file.

Step 5: Sort the data

You can use the Sort option in Excel to quickly visualize and understand your data better.

We want to sort the data in the Target column, so we’ll select the cell range C1-C11. Click on the Data tab and select Sort.

A Sort Warning dialog box will appear asking if you want to Expand the selection or Continue with the current selection. You can choose the latter option and click on Sort.

The Sort dialog box will open where you have to enter the:

The column you want to Sort by
Cell values you wish to Sort on
Order in which you want to sort the data

For our table, we have chosen the Target column and kept the order from smallest to largest.

Step 6: Edit and customize your to do list

You can edit fields, add columns, use colors and fonts to customize your to-do list the way you want.

Like in our table, we’ve highlighted the Status column so anybody viewing can quickly understand your task progress.

Highlight columns to make them pop in Excel

And voila! ✨

We’ve created a simple Excel to-do list that can help you keep track of all your tasks.

Want to save more time?

Create a template from your existing workbook to keep the same formatting options that you generally use while making your to-do lists.

Or you can use any to-do list Excel template to get started instantly.

10 Excel To Do List Templates

Templates can help keep your workbooks consistent, especially when they’re related to a particular project or client. For example, a daily Excel to-do list template improves efficiency and enables you to complete your tasks sooner.

Here are a few Excel to-do list templates that can help improve efficiency and save time:

However, you can’t always find a template that will fulfill your specific needs.

Additionally, data management in Excel is prone to human error.

Each time a user copy-pastes information from one spreadsheet to another, there is a greater risk of new errors cropping up into successive reports.

Before you commit to Excel to-do lists, here are some limitations to consider.

3 Major Disadvantages of To Do Lists in Excel

Even though widely used, Excel spreadsheets aren’t always the best option for creating your to-do lists.

Here are the three common disadvantages of using Excel for to-do lists:

1. Lack of ownership

When multiple individuals work on the same spreadsheet, you’re unable to tell who’s editing.

You might end up repeating a task in vain if a person forgets to update the Work Status column in shared to-do lists after it’s done.

Additionally, people can easily alter task details, values, and other entries in the to-do lists (intentionally or unintentionally). You won’t know whom to hold accountable for the error or change!

2. Inflexible templates

Not all of the Excel to-do templates you find online are reliable. Some of them are extremely difficult to manipulate or customize.

You’ll spend forever on the internet to find one that works for you.

3. Manual labor

Making to-do lists in Excel involves a significant amount of manual labor.

It may take you quite some time to fill out your to-do items and create an organized system.

This doesn’t sit well with us because tons of project management tools can save you so much time and effort by creating and managing your to dos.

Moreover, the complexity increases with the increasing size of data in your Excel file. Naturally, you’d want a substitute to streamline your to-dos to track them and reduce the monotonous, manual work involved.

And honestly, Excel is no to-do list app.

To manage to-dos, you need a tool that’s specifically designed for it.

Like ClickUp, one of the highest-rated productivity and project management software that lets you create and manage to-dos with ease.

Related Excel guides:

Create To Do Lists Effortlessly With ClickUp

ClickUp can help you create smart to-do lists to organize your tasks.

From adding Due Dates to setting Priorities, ClickUp’s comprehensive features let you create and conquer all your to-dos!

How?

One word: Checklists!

ClickUp’s Checklists give you the perfect opportunity to organize your task information so you never miss even the smallest of details.

All you need to do is click on Add beside To Do (you can find it within any ClickUp task), then select Checklist. You can name your Checklist and start adding the action items. Easy!

Easily organize task information so you never miss a beat with Checklists in ClickUp

Checklists within ClickUp give your tasks a clear outline. Apart from noting down the essential details, you also get subtasks to break down your tasks further.

You can also arrange and rearrange the checklist items with the easy drag-and-drop feature.

Reorganize ClickUp Checklists — Reorganize your ClickUp Checklist by dragging and dropping your items

Worried about some tasks getting overlooked?

With ClickUp, you can add Assignees to your specific to-dos to see things through.

Assign items in ClickUp Checklists — Manage items on your Checklist by assigning them to yourself or the team in ClickUp

It also lets you reuse your favorite Checklist Templates to scale your work efficiency.

To choose a template:

Click Add from the To Do section of any task
Click Checklist to reveal your options
Choose a template and select Use Template

Checklist Templates in ClickUp — Use ClickUp’s Checklist Templates to stay efficient with different recurring tasks

Still hung up on Excel? That’s okay.

ClickUp’s Table view can help you move on.

But our Table view isn’t a mere matrix of rows and columns.

You can visualize your data clearly and create Custom Fields to record almost anything from task progress to file attachments and 15+ other field types.

Moreover, you can easily import your ongoing project details into ClickUp with our Excel and CSV import options!

But wait, that’s not all!

Here are some other ClickUp features that’ll make you forget Excel in an instant:

Assign Task: assign tasks to one or Multiple Assignees to quicken your pace of work
Custom Tags: effectively organize your task details by adding Tags
Task Dependencies: help your teammates understand their to-dos concerning other tasks by setting Dependencies
Recurring Tasks: save your time and effort by streamlining repetitive to-dos
Google Calendar Sync: easily sync your Google Calendar events with the ClickUp Calendar view. Any updates in your Google Calendar will automatically reflect on ClickUp too
Smart Search: search Docs easily and other items that you’ve recently created, updated, or closed
Custom Statuses: denote the status of your tasks, so the team knows at which stage of the workflow they currently are
Notepad: jot down ideas quickly with our portable, digital Notepad
Embed view: declutter your screen and add the apps or websites alongside your tasks instead
Gantt Charts: track work progress, assignees, and dependencies with a simple drag and drop functionality (check out this Excel dependencies guide)

Tame Your To Do Lists With ClickUp

Excel may be a decent option for planning daily to-dos and simple task lists. However, when you work with multiple teammates and tasks, Excel might not be ideal for what you need. Collaboration isn’t easy, there’s too much manual labor, and no team accountability.

That’s why you need a robust to-do list tool to help you manage tasks, track deadlines, follow work progress, and foster team collaboration.

Fortunately, ClickUp brings all of this to the table and so much more.

You can create to-dos, set Reminders, track Goals, and view insightful Reports.

Switch to ClickUp for free and quit wasting all that brainpower on simple to-do lists!

Questions? Comments? Visit our Help Center for support.

How To Create a To Do List in Excel (With Templates)

What Is a To Do List in Excel?

6 Simple Steps To Make a To Do List in Excel

Step 1: Open a new Excel file

Step 2: Add column headers

Step 3: Enter the task details

Step 4: Apply filters

Step 5: Sort the data

Step 6: Edit and customize your to do list

10 Excel To Do List Templates

1. Excel project management task list template

2. Excel inventory list template

3. Excel action item list template

4. Excel simple to-do list template

5. Excel bill paying checklist template

6. Excel weekly assignment to-do list template

7. Excel prioritized to-do list template

8. Excel homework to-do list template

9. Excel to-do list with deadlines template

10. Excel project task list template