Google Sheets Basics: Create Spreadsheets for Free

Track budgets, make lists, and organize data with Google Sheets — the free, cloud-based alternative to Excel.

At a Glance

Create your first spreadsheet

~20s

Go to sheets.google.com and sign in with your Google account. Click "Blank" to start fresh, or choose a template (Budget, To-do list, Schedule). The grid of cells is your workspace — each cell is identified by a column letter and row number (like A1, B2). Click any cell and start typing. Press Tab to move right, Enter to move down.

Enter and format data

~19s

Type your data into cells — names in column A, numbers in column B, dates in column C. To format: select cells, then use the toolbar to Bold (Ctrl+B), change font size, add borders, or change background color. For currency: select the cells → FormatNumberCurrency. Sheets auto-saves everything to your Google Drive.

Use simple formulas

~18s

Formulas start with = sign. Click a cell and type: =SUM(B2:B10) to add up all numbers in cells B2 through B10. =AVERAGE(B2:B10) for the average. =MAX(B2:B10) for the highest number. =MIN(B2:B10) for the lowest. =COUNT(B2:B10) to count how many cells have numbers. Press Enter to calculate. The result updates automatically when you change any input.

Sort and filter your data

~25s

To sort: click any cell in the column you want to sort by → DataSort sheet A-Z (or Z-A). To filter: DataCreate a filter. Small dropdown arrows appear in each column header — click one to show only specific values (like "show only expenses over $50"). Filters help you find exactly what you need in large spreadsheets.

Quick Tip

Freeze your header row so it stays visible while scrolling: ViewFreeze → 1 row.

Share and collaborate

~18s

Click the green "Share" button (top right). Enter someone's email and choose Viewer, Commenter, or Editor access. Multiple people can edit the same spreadsheet at the same time — you'll see their cursors in different colors. To download as Excel: FileDownloadMicrosoft Excel (.xlsx). Sheets works on any device with a browser.

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