How to Insert a Check Mark in Excel

When you need to check things off

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Updated on September 11, 2020

What to Know

Hands-down easiest option: Click the cell then select Wingdings 2 in the font menu. Click the cell again and press Shift+P.
Next easiest: Select the cell and click Insert > Symbol > Wingdings 2 or Segoe UI and select the check mark icon. Click Insert.

This article explains four different ways to insert a check mark into an Excel spreadsheet. Instructions apply to Microsoft Excel 365 and Excel 2019, 2016, and 2013.

How to Add a Check Mark Using a Keyboard Shortcut

Your keyboard is the quickest way to insert a check mark.

Select the cell in Excel where you want to add the check mark.
Using the Font drop-down menu, select Windings 2.
Select the cell once again and press Shift+P.

How to Add a Check Mark in Excel Using Symbols

The next easiest method is to use the Insert menu.

Open Microsoft Excel and select the cell where you want to add the check mark.
Select Insert.
Select Symbol.
Using the Font drop-down menu, select either Segoe UI Symbol or Wingdings.

Each of these fonts has its own check mark icon, so it really depends on which font type you'd like to use.
Select the check mark icon you'd like to use and take note of the Character code number.

Each font type has a different character code for the check mark icon.
Select Insert.
Select the X in the top right corner to close the Symbol window.

Insert a Check Mark in Excel Using the Character Code

Now that you have successfully added a check mark icon to your Excel spreadsheet using the Symbol menu, you can do so using the built-in Character function in Excel and the character code shown in the Symbol window.

Select the cell where you want to insert the check mark and then select the Home tab.
Using the Font drop-down, select the font type of the check mark you want to use.
Once you've selected the Font, type =char(character code) in the cell where you want to insert the check mark, but replace "character code" with the actual code. For Segoe UI Symbol, use "E001." For Windings, use "252."

If you need to add the check mark to multiple cells, you can just copy this cell and paste it over with the format included.

How to Add a Check Mark Using AutoCorrect

This method is a bit more complicated to set up, but it allows Excel to remember some of your preferences for future use.

Insert a check mark using one of the methods detailed above.
Copy the cell that has the check mark and note the Font type you are using.
Select File > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options.
In the "Replace" text field, enter the word you want to be replaced by the check mark icon and paste the value of the copied cell in the "With" text field.
Select Add.
Select OK.
Type the word you entered in Step 4 in the cell where you want to add the check mark and change the Font type to the one noted in Step 2.

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