How to Create a Database in Notion for Beginners

Updated 15 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

This guide walks you through creating your first database in Notion, a flexible workspace tool that combines notes, tasks, and spreadsheets. You’ll learn how to build a simple database from scratch, add and organize entries, and switch between different views—so you can track anything from a reading list to a project pipeline.

What You’ll Need

A Notion account (free or paid). If you don’t have one, sign up at notion.so.
Notion app or web browser access. The steps are the same on desktop, web, and mobile, though menu locations may vary slightly.
A page where you want the database to live. You can create a new page or use an existing one.

Step-by-Step

Open the page where you want the database. If you’re starting fresh, click “New page” in the sidebar and give it a name, like “Book Tracker” or “Project Tasks.”
Type a forward slash (“/”) anywhere on the page. This opens the block menu. Alternatively, click the “+” that appears when you hover over the left margin.
Choose “Table – Inline” or “Table – Full page.” In the block menu, type “table” and you’ll see two options. Inline places the database inside your current page; Full page creates a separate page for the database. For beginners, inline is usually easier to manage.
Set the row count and column count in the popup that appears. You can start with 3 rows and 3 columns—you can always add more later. Click “Create.”
Rename the columns to match the data you want to track. Click on a column header (like “Name”) and type your own label, e.g., “Title,” “Author,” “Status.” Press Enter to confirm.
Add or remove columns as needed. To add a column, click the “+” at the far right of the header row. To remove one, click the column header, then choose “Delete” from the menu that appears.
Change the property type of a column if needed. Each column has a type—text, number, select, date, checkbox, etc. Click the column header, then “Edit property,” and pick the type that fits your data. For example, a “Due Date” column should be a Date type, and a “Status” column might be a Select type.
Fill in your first row. Click in the first cell under the first column and type a value. Press Tab to move to the next cell. Repeat until the row is complete.
Add more rows by clicking the “+” at the bottom of the table or pressing Enter when you’re in the last cell of a row.
Create a new view to see your data differently. In the top-left of the database, click the current view name (e.g., “Table”), then “+ Add a view.” Choose a layout like Board, Calendar, or List. This doesn’t duplicate your data—it’s just another way to look at it.
Sort and filter your data. Click the “Sort” and “Filter” buttons in the top-right of the database to arrange rows and show only what you need. For example, sort by date or filter to show only “In Progress” tasks.

Common Mistakes

Deleting a column instead of a view. When you click the column header and choose “Delete,” you permanently remove that property and its data. To remove a view, click the view name and choose “Delete view”—that only removes the layout, not the data.
Using the wrong property type. If you put dates in a text column, you can’t sort by date or use a calendar view. Always set the property type to match the data.
Confusing inline vs. full-page databases. An inline database lives inside a page; a full-page database is its own page. If you can’t find your database later, check whether it’s nested inside another page.
Forgetting to name your database. If you create an inline database, it may show as “Untitled.” Click the name at the top-left of the database to rename it—this helps when you link to it elsewhere.

Tips

Start simple. You can always add more columns or views later. Don’t overcomplicate your first database with too many properties.
Use templates. Notion offers pre-built database templates (like a task list or content calendar). When you type “/” and search “template,” you can insert one and then customize it.
Leverage relations. Once you’re comfortable, you can link two databases using a Relation property—e.g., connect a “Books” database to an “Authors” database. This is powerful but not necessary at the start.
Keyboard shortcuts. Press “Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + N” to create a new page, and use “Tab” to move between cells quickly.
Duplicate a database to reuse its structure. Click the “⋯” menu on the database title and choose “Duplicate” to copy the entire database with its views and data.

Troubleshooting

I can’t find the database I created. If you made an inline database, it’s on the page where you created it. Look in the page’s content. If you made a full-page database, it appears in your sidebar—search for its name using the search bar (Ctrl/Cmd + P).
My data disappeared when I switched views. Views don’t delete data; they just show a subset based on filters. Check if a filter is active by looking at the “Filter” button—if it’s highlighted, click it and remove the filter.
I can’t change a column’s type. Some types can’t be changed if they already contain data that doesn’t fit the new type. For example, you can’t convert a text column with “hello” into a number column. Create a new column with the correct type and copy the data over.
The database is showing on the page but I can’t edit it. Make sure you’re not in “Full page” view of another app or that the page isn’t locked. Check the page’s “⋯” menu for a “Lock” option—if locked, unlock it.
My calendar view is empty. A calendar view only shows entries that have a date property. Ensure your database has a Date column and that your entries have dates filled in.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What’s the difference between a table and a database in Notion?

A table is one view of a database. A database is the underlying collection of entries and properties. You can have multiple views (table, board, calendar) of the same database.

2. Can I share a database with others?

Yes. Share the page that contains the database by clicking “Share” in the top-right. You can give people view-only or edit access. They’ll see the same data and views.

3. How do I add a checkbox or a dropdown to a database?

Click the column header, choose “Edit property,” and select “Checkbox” or “Select” (for a dropdown). For a Select, you can then add options by typing them when you fill in a cell.

4. Can I convert an existing bulleted list into a database?

Not directly. You would need to create a new database and manually copy the items into rows, or use the “Turn into database” feature if available (select the list, click the “⋯” menu, and look for that option—it may not work in all cases).

5. How do I delete a database without losing my page?

Click the “⋯” menu on the database title (for inline) or on the page in the sidebar (for full-page), and choose “Delete.” This deletes the database and its data. The surrounding page remains intact.

6. Can I import data from Excel into a Notion database?

Yes. Create a new database, then click the “⋯” menu on the database title and choose “Import.” You can upload a CSV or Excel file, and Notion will map the columns automatically.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.