How to Add a Checkmark in Microsoft Excel

Updated on:

May 12, 2026

By:

Use this interactive demo to learn how to insert a checkmark symbol into an Excel cell.

Quick summary

Adding a checkmark in Microsoft Excel is done through the Insert Symbol dialog, where you select a tick mark from the Bullets & Stars category and place it directly into any cell. This method works across Excel versions and requires no formulas or special fonts.

Steps

Double-click the cell in your Microsoft Excel worksheet where you want to insert the checkmark.
Click Insert in the top navigation bar to open the Insert menu.
Select Symbol from the available options in the Insert menu.
Under Bullets & Stars, choose your preferred checkmark symbol and select it.
Confirm your selection — the checkmark will now appear in the selected cell of your Excel worksheet.

📌 Why this matters

Knowing how to add a checkmark in Microsoft Excel is a practical productivity skill for anyone managing task lists, data validation, or project tracking in spreadsheets. The Insert Symbol method provides a reliable, font-independent way to place a visual tick mark in any Excel cell without writing formulas. This approach works across all modern Excel versions, making it accessible to both beginner and advanced users. Mastering small formatting techniques like this helps teams create cleaner, more readable spreadsheets that communicate status and completion at a glance.

Your product deserves an interactive demo

Start free

How to Organize Dates by Week in Excel

How to Make Cells Fit Text Microsoft Excel

How to Make a Bar Graph in Microsoft Excel