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Airtable Basics: Building Your First Database

Airtable looks like a spreadsheet but behaves like a database β€” here is how to set one up from scratch.

  1. Create a new base

    Click Create a base on the Airtable home screen, then start from a blank base or pick a template that fits what you're organizing.

  2. Add and name a table

    Click the + tab at the bottom of your base to add a new table, and name it for the kind of data it will hold, such as customers or inventory.

  3. Add fields and set their type

    Click the + button to the right of your columns to add a new field, choosing a type like text, number, date, single select, or link to another record.

  4. Switch between grid, calendar, and kanban views

    Click Create a view in the sidebar to add a calendar view built on a date field, or a kanban view that sorts cards by a single-select field, alongside your default grid.

  5. Filter and sort to see only what you need

    Use the Filter and Sort menus above any view to narrow down records that meet certain conditions or reorder them by whatever field matters most.

What actually makes Airtable different from a spreadsheet

A spreadsheet cell just holds text or a number; an Airtable field can hold a specific data type, an attachment, or a link to a record in a completely different table. That link is the key difference β€” it lets you build genuine relationships between tables, similar to a relational database, without writing any code.

When a base is actually the right tool for the job

A base tends to earn its keep once you're tracking more than one kind of related information β€” customers and their orders, projects and their tasks, inventory and its suppliers β€” rather than a single flat list. For a simple one-off list with no relationships to track, a plain spreadsheet is often still the faster option.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Airtable free to use?

Airtable offers a free plan with limits on records and features per base, alongside paid plans that raise those limits β€” check current plan details for exact numbers since they can change over time.

Can I import an existing spreadsheet into Airtable?

Yes β€” Airtable supports importing a CSV file or pasting spreadsheet data directly into a new or existing table, and it will generally suggest field types automatically based on the data.