Google Sheets Tables: How to Convert, Format and Reference Them

Here's the catch. Table references are the best part, because a formula like =SUM(C2:C7) can point at the Sales Amount column of a table called DeptSales instead, and it updates whenever you add or remove data. But Google notes that #This Row currently isn't supported, and conditional notifications, as of October 2026, are only available to certain work or school accounts.

Two ways to start a table

To turn data you already have into a table:

1. Open a spreadsheet in Google Sheets.
2. Select a range of cells, either empty or with data.
3. On the menu bar, click Format, then Convert to table.
4. Select the right column type for each column.

Or start from a template. Click Insert, then Pre-built table, and a sidebar opens where you can browse, preview and insert one or more pre-built blocks. Google pitches tables at jobs like project tracking, event planning and inventory management, and the templates cover common use cases like these.

Column types keep entries consistent

Each column can have its own type, and the table makes sure the data you enter lines up with it. To change one, open the Column menu next to the column header and click Edit column type. For some column types, Sheets auto-fills chips to make data entry easier, and you can switch those off for a column from the same Edit column type option. If a column's filtered, the filter menu shows instead, so click the Column menu to reach the type settings.

What the table menu does

Click the table menu at the top of your table, next to its name, to find these options:

Option	What it does
Rename table	Changes the name formulas use to refer to it
Adjust table range	Grows or shrinks the cells the table covers
Table header color	Picks a header colour, including a custom one
Table formatting	Shows gridlines, alternating colours, a condensed view or a table footer
Revert to unformatted data	Removes the table's style; the data stays unchanged
Delete table	Removes the table and its data

Read those last two twice before you click. If you only want the styling gone, Revert to unformatted data is the safe one. For finer styling, click Format, then Table formatting, where you can readjust row height, change or remove alternating colours, change the header and footer style, or pick another default style.

Using table references in formulas

When you convert data to a table, Sheets names the table and each column header, and you can use those names in formulas. You write the table name followed by the column header in square brackets, so a total of the Sales Amount column in DeptSales replaces =SUM(C2:C7). Google's syntax also uses special tags, written inside the square brackets, for other parts of a table:

To refer to	What you write after the table name
One column	The column header
The whole table, with headers, data and footers	The tag #ALL
Headers only	The tag #HEADERS
Footers only	The tag #TOTALS
Data without headers or footers	Nothing at all, or the tag #DATA
Data with headers, or data with footers	#HEADERS or #TOTALS paired with #DATA

Table references also work across files. IMPORTRANGE can take a table reference, such as the DeptSales Sales Amount column, in quotes as its second argument instead of a cell range. And they work with smart chip extraction, so a formula can pull the file name from a chip in a table column.

Views that don't change what others see

Views let you filter and sort a table without changing what anyone else sees on the sheet, and each view can have its own settings. Click Views, then choose Create group by view or Create filter view.

• A temporary view is created by default, and it disappears after the spreadsheet refreshes.
• If you have edit access, save it by clicking Save view at the top right, or Views, View options, Save view.
• To reopen a saved view, click the table menu and pick the view's name.
• To refresh a view, click Views, View options, Refresh view.

Group by view and its built-in totals

A group by view collects rows together based on a field you choose, and adds an aggregation automatically: your first column from the left is grouped by Count. You can then pick Average, Count, Empty, Filled, Maximum, Minimum, Percent empty, Percent filled, Percent unique, Sum or Unique for each column.

1. In the column header, select the column you want to group by.
2. Beside the heading name, click the Down arrow, then Group by column.
3. In each category's row, click the Down arrow.
4. Select an aggregation type.

To hide the aggregation results, click Views, View options, Hide group by aggregation. For heavier summaries across many fields, a pivot table in Google Sheets is still the stronger tool.

Conditional notifications for work accounts

If your work or school account has the feature, click Conditional notification next to the table menu. You can create your own rule, or use the pre-built rules Sheets attaches to pre-built tables, such as Send email when project task owner changes. Those pre-built rules stay off until you edit or enable them, so nothing gets emailed without you switching it on.

Should you turn your data into a table?

I'd convert any list that keeps growing, like a task tracker or stock list, because the column types stop messy entries and the references keep your totals right as rows come and go. I'd skip it for a quick one-off calculation. And I'd use views rather than a plain filter in Google Sheets on a shared file, so you're not changing what your colleagues see.

Frequently asked questions

How do I make a table in Google Sheets?

Select a range of cells, then on the menu bar click Format, then Convert to table, and choose a column type for each column.

What are table references in Google Sheets?

They let a formula refer to a table or its columns by name instead of cell addresses, and they update when you add or remove data from the table.

Does deleting a table in Google Sheets delete the data?

Yes. Delete table removes the table and its data. To remove only the styling, use Revert to unformatted data.

Can I filter a Google Sheets table without affecting other people?

Yes. Views let you filter and sort a table without changing what others see on the sheet.

Who can use conditional notifications on tables?

As of October 2026, the feature is only available to certain work or school accounts.