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How to Create a Pivot Table in Google Sheets

Tap each step to follow along in order.

  1. Select the data range to analyze

    Click and drag to select the range of data you want to summarize with a pivot table.

  2. Click "Insert > Pivot table"

    From the top menu, click "Insert > Pivot table" to create a new pivot table.

  3. Set rows, columns, and values

    In the editor panel on the right, drag the fields you want to analyze into Rows, Columns, and Values.

  4. Change the summary function

    In the Values section, switch the calculation to SUM, AVERAGE, COUNT, or another function you need.

  5. Why is this useful?

    Instead of scanning through hundreds or thousands of rows by hand, a pivot table summarizes totals and patterns by category in just a few clicks.

Summarize a huge spreadsheet at a glance

Instead of checking hundreds or thousands of rows one by one, a pivot table lets you see totals and patterns broken down by category in just a few clicks.

Keep your source data clean first

A pivot table works best when the source range has consistent headers and no blank rows or merged cells -- cleaning up stray formatting before you build the table saves you from confusing or incomplete summaries.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a pivot table change my original data?

No. A pivot table leaves the source data untouched and builds a separate summary table alongside it.

Does the pivot table update automatically when I add new data?

After adding new rows to the source range, refresh or reopen the pivot table editor and the summary updates to include the latest data.