A drop-down list helps you control inputs into a cell. You can allow users to select from a list of options, rather than typing in their own data. These are easy to build with spreadsheets. Let’s learn how to create a drop-down list in Microsoft Excel.
How to Create a Drop-down List in Excel
Drop-down lists let you guide users through inputs. They’re useful in cases where you want to ensure those inputs match the style and formatting that you’ve chosen for the entire workbook.
Let’s plan to place a drop-down list in cell C1 of a worksheet. The inputs will be five weekday options. It’s easiest to place the actual data on a separate worksheet, so open up Sheet2 by clicking at the bottom of your file.
Then, type the list in a column: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Now, it’s time to create the actual drop-down list.
Return to Sheet1, and open the Data tab on the ribbon. On the right side, you’ll see the Data Validation drop-down arrow. Click here.
You’ll see three options, and the one you want is Data Validation at the top. Click it, and now Excel will ask for criteria on the popup menu. This is where you tell Excel how to format your data, and where to find it within the workbook.
From the Allow drop-down, choose List. Then, with the Source field selected, go back to Sheet2 and highlight your data. The input should be:
=Sheet2!$A$1:$A$5
Finally, press OK. You’ll see cell C1 now contains a drop-down arrow. Click on it, and you’ll see the drop-down list you created.
As you can see, it’s easy to make a drop-down list in Microsoft Excel. You can quickly choose custom fields and place them inside any cell that you choose. This is a great way to keep control over your workbook.
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