How to Make a Check Mark in Excel

To make a check mark in Excel, go to Insert → Symbol, choose the Wingdings font, and select the check mark (character code 252 displays as ✓). For a fast keyboard option, hold Alt and type 0252 on the numeric keypad while the Wingdings font is applied.

If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to insert a check mark symbol in your Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, look no further. In this guide, we’ll show you two simple methods to make a check mark in Excel – one using the symbols library, and another by using a keyboard shortcut. Whether you need to indicate task completion, approval status or a simple tick mark for reference, these techniques will save you time and effort. If you instead want a clickable box to tick on and off, see how to add a check box in Excel or insert a checkbox without the Developer tab using Excel 365’s new control.

Method 1: Inserting a Check Mark from the Symbols Library

The easiest way to make a check mark in Excel is by inserting a symbol from the Symbols library. Here’s how:

1. Select the cell where you want to insert the check mark.
2. Click on the Insert tab on Excel’s ribbon menu.
3. Click on the Symbol button in the Symbols section.
4. A new window will open. Select the Wingdings font from the dropdown list.
5. Scroll down until you find the check mark symbol (✓), or type 252 in the Character code box (with from: set to Symbol (decimal)) to jump straight to it.
6. Click on the check mark symbol to select it and click Insert.
7. The check mark symbol will now be inserted into the selected cell.

A quick tip on fonts: the simple check mark (✓) is character 252 in Wingdings, while character 254 in the same font gives you a check mark inside a box. The Wingdings 2 font also includes check marks at different character codes, so it’s worth browsing both if you want a particular style. For a closely related walkthrough, see how to insert a check mark in Excel and the alternate guide on adding a check mark in Excel.

Using the CHAR Formula

You can also generate a check mark with a formula. Set the cell’s font to Wingdings, then enter =CHAR(252) to display a ✓, or =CHAR(254) for a boxed check mark. This is handy when you want a check mark to appear as the result of a calculation. If you only need to paste the symbol itself, the short reference on the check mark in Excel covers it too.

Pro Tip:

You can quickly insert a check mark into many cells by using the copy and paste function. Select the cell with the check mark symbol and press Ctrl + C to copy it. Select the cells where you want to paste the check mark and press Ctrl + V to paste it.

Method 2: Inserting a Check Mark Using a Keyboard Shortcut

If you need to insert multiple check marks in your Excel spreadsheet, using a keyboard shortcut can save you a lot of time. Here’s how:

1. Select the cell where you want to insert the check mark and set its font to Wingdings (the Alt code maps to a check mark only in this font).
2. Hold Alt and type 0252 on the numeric keypad, then release the keys.
3. The check mark symbol (✓) will be inserted into the selected cell.

Pro Tip:

If you use another keyboard layout than US QWERTY, the Alt code for the check mark symbol may be different. You can find the Alt code for your keyboard layout by searching online for “Alt code for check mark” followed by your keyboard layout name.

Alternative Check Marks

If you’re not a fan of the Wingdings check mark (✓), don’t worry, there are other options available in the Symbols library. Here are a few alternatives:

• The tick mark (✔) – Also available in the Wingdings font, this check mark is more square-shaped than the traditional tick.
• The ballot X (✗) – This symbol indicates rejection or failure, and can be found in the Wingdings 2 or 3 fonts.
• The heavy check mark (✔) – A bold version of the standard check mark, this symbol is available in several fonts, including Arial and Times New Roman.

Experiment with different check mark symbols to find the one that works best for your spreadsheet needs.

Conditional Formatting with Check Marks

If you’re using check marks to indicate completion status or approval status in your Excel spreadsheet, you can take it a step further by using conditional formatting. Here’s how:

1. Select the range of cells that you want to apply the conditional formatting to.
2. Click on the Home tab on Excel’s ribbon menu.
3. Click on the Conditional Formatting button in the Styles section.
4. Select New Rule, then click on Use a formula to determine which cells to format option.
5. In the formula box, enter the formula =A1=”✓” (replace A1 with the top-left cell of your selected range).
6. Click on the Format button, then select the formatting options you want to apply to cells that contain a check mark.
7. Click OK to close the formatting dialog box, then click OK again to apply the conditional formatting.

Now, any cell in the selected range that contains a check mark will be formatted according to your chosen formatting style.

Final Thoughts

Knowing how to make a check mark in Excel is a valuable skill that can save you time and make your spreadsheets more organized and visually appealing. Whether you prefer to use the Symbols library or a keyboard shortcut, Excel offers many ways to insert check marks into your cells. And by using conditional formatting, you can take your check mark usage to the next level. We hope that this guide has been helpful and informative.

FAQ

Here are some common questions related to making a check mark in Microsoft Excel:

Can I change the color of the check mark symbol in Excel?

Yes, you can change the color of the check mark symbol by using the font color formatting tools. Simply select the cell or range of cells that contains the check mark, and then select the font color you want from the “Font Color” drop-down menu on the Home tab of the Excel ribbon.

My keyboard doesn’t have a numpad. How can I use the Alt code to insert a check mark in Excel?

If your keyboard doesn’t have a numpad, you can still use the Alt code to insert a check mark, but you’ll need to use the on-screen keyboard. To open the on-screen keyboard in Windows, go to the Start menu, type “on-screen keyboard” and select the option that appears. Once the on-screen keyboard is open, use it to enter the Alt code (Alt + 0252) and insert the check mark symbol into your Excel spreadsheet.

Can I insert a check box instead of a check mark in Excel?

Yes, you can insert a check box in Excel by using the Developer tab. First, go to File > Options > Customize Ribbon and check the box next to “Developer” in the list of available tabs. Click OK to save your changes. Then, go to the Developer tab and click on the “Insert” drop-down menu. Select “Check Box (Form Control)” or “Check Box (ActiveX Control)” to insert the check box into your spreadsheet. You can then link the check box to a cell to show a check mark when the box is checked. In current versions of Microsoft 365, there is also a simpler built-in control: go to Insert → Checkbox to drop an interactive checkbox into selected cells with no Developer tab required. For step-by-step instructions, see add a check box in Excel or create a checkbox in Excel.

Is there a way to insert a check mark automatically when I enter data in a cell?

Yes, you can use Excel’s data validation feature to automatically insert a check mark into a cell when you enter certain data. First, select the cell or range of cells that you want to apply the validation to. Go to the Data tab on Excel’s ribbon menu and click on the “Data Validation” button. In the Data Validation dialog box, select “List” from the “Allow” drop-down menu. In the “Source” field, enter the values “✓” and ” ” (a blank space), separated by a comma. Click OK to apply the data validation. Now, when you enter “✓” into the selected cell, Excel will automatically replace it with a check mark symbol.

Can I remove the check mark symbol from a cell in Excel?

Yes, you can remove the check mark symbol from a cell by selecting the cell and pressing the delete key on your keyboard. This will remove the check mark symbol from the cell and leave it blank.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a check mark symbol and a checkbox in Excel?

A check mark symbol (✓) is just a static character typed into a cell — it sits in the cell as text and does nothing on its own. An interactive checkbox is a clickable control that toggles between TRUE and FALSE (checked and unchecked) and can drive formulas or conditional formatting. Use a symbol when you simply want to mark something done; use a checkbox when you want users to tick items on and off.

What is the character code for a check mark in Excel?

The standard check mark is character code 252 in the Wingdings font, and a check mark inside a box is character 254. You can insert either through Insert → Symbol by typing the code in the Character code box, or generate them with =CHAR(252) and =CHAR(254) after setting the cell font to Wingdings.

How do I insert the Unicode check mark (✓) directly?

You can paste the Unicode check mark character (✓, U+2713) or heavy check mark (✔, U+2714) into any cell without changing the font — these display in normal fonts like Calibri or Arial. The simplest method is to copy the symbol from this page, from Character Map, or from another cell, then paste it where you need it. This is the cleanest option when you want the mark to keep its appearance across fonts.

Does the Alt + 0252 shortcut work in any font?

No. Alt + 0252 only produces a check mark when the active cell is formatted in the Wingdings font, because the code points to character 252 in that specific font. In a normal font, the same Alt code produces an entirely different character, so set the font to Wingdings first. The numeric keys must be typed on the numpad with Num Lock on.

How do I add an interactive checkbox in Excel 365?

In current Microsoft 365 builds, select the cells you want, then go to Insert → Checkbox on the ribbon to drop in clickable checkboxes that return TRUE/FALSE — no Developer tab or form controls needed. On older versions you’ll instead use the Developer tab’s form controls. See create checkboxes in Excel or make a checklist in Excel for full walkthroughs.

Can I count cells that contain a check mark?

Yes. If you typed a Unicode check mark (✓), use =COUNTIF(range,"✓") to count them. If you used the Wingdings 252 character, count by its underlying letter (=COUNTIF(range,"ü")) since Wingdings maps the lowercase ü to the check mark. For interactive 365 checkboxes, count TRUE values with =COUNTIF(range,TRUE).