Google Sheets Checkbox Strikethrough: How to Set It Up

To strike through a task when its Google Sheets checkbox is checked, select the task cells or rows, open Format > Conditional formatting, choose Custom formula is, and enter =$A2=TRUE if the checkbox is in column A and your first data row is row 2. In the formatting style, choose the strikethrough text option and click Done. The checkbox itself does not automatically cross out text; conditional formatting connects its checked state to the appearance of the cells you choose.

Set up checkbox strikethrough step by step

This setup works in Google Sheets in a web browser. The example assumes a simple task list with a checkbox in column A and task names in column B. Change the column letter and starting row to match your sheet.

Select the task cells you want to format, such as B2:B100. Select the task column only if you want only task names crossed out.
Choose Format > Conditional formatting. Sheets opens a conditional-formatting panel.
Under Apply to range, confirm that the range matches the cells you selected. For this example, it should be B2:B100.
Open the Format cells if menu and select Custom formula is.
Enter the formula shown below. It assumes checkboxes are in A2:A100 and the first formatted task cell is B2. The formula evaluates to TRUE for a row whose checkbox is checked, so Sheets applies the rule to that task cell.
Under formatting style, select the strikethrough text icon. You can also set a muted text color if you want completed tasks to recede visually.
Click Done, then test the rule by checking and unchecking one box.

=$A2=TRUE

If your checkboxes are in C and your list begins on row 5, select the task range and adjust the reference to =$C5=TRUE. The column letter must point to the checkbox column, and the row number must match the first row in the range being formatted. The dollar sign before the column letter keeps the checkbox column fixed as the rule applies across cells; leaving the row number unlocked lets it change from one row to the next.

How the checkbox formula works

A standard Google Sheets checkbox stores a logical value: an unchecked box is FALSE, and a checked box is TRUE. Conditional formatting tests that value for each applicable row. When the test returns TRUE, Sheets displays the formatting you set. When it returns FALSE, the rule does not apply, so the text returns to its ordinary appearance.

The formula is a condition, not a command that edits the text. It does not insert strike-through characters, delete content, or change the checkbox. That distinction matters if you copy or export the sheet: the task text remains intact, while the visual effect depends on the conditional-formatting rule being present. The same task can therefore be restored simply by unchecking its box.

The mixed reference in =$A2=TRUE is intentional. The dollar sign fixes column A, where the checkboxes live. The row number is relative, so the rule checks A2 for the first row, A3 for the next, and so on. A reference such as =$A$2=TRUE locks both the column and row; used on a multirow list, it would make every row depend on the single checkbox in A2. That is a frequent reason a rule appears to format the wrong tasks.

Strike through a whole row instead of one cell

To cross out a complete task row, select the whole table range, for example A2:F100, rather than just the task-name column. Keep the checkbox in column A. The formula below assumes A2:F100 is the selected range and that A2 contains its first checkbox. For each row, it tests the checkbox in column A; the rule turns TRUE for a checked row and applies strikethrough across the selected cells in that row.

=$A2=TRUE

Choosing the range is a design decision. Formatting only B2:B100 keeps dates, notes, and status details easy to read while making the task name visibly complete. Formatting A2:F100 makes completion stand out across the list, which can help in a shared project tracker. You can also select a smaller set of columns, such as B2:C100, if you want to strike through the task and its owner but leave the checkbox and due date unchanged.

When a rule is applied across multiple columns, the fixed $A reference is especially useful. Without it, Sheets may shift the checkbox reference as it evaluates cells in columns B, C, and beyond. The rule could then look at a neighboring task field rather than the checkbox. After saving, check a box in a row near the bottom of the range as well as one near the top; both should affect only their own rows.

Insert and organize the checkboxes

If the list does not have checkboxes yet, place the cursor in the first checkbox cell or select a range of cells, then choose Insert > Checkbox. A checkbox is inserted into each selected cell. You can also copy a cell that contains a checkbox and paste it into additional rows, but inserting the full range at once is often simpler for a new list.

A clear layout prevents formula mistakes. Put checkboxes in one dedicated column, task descriptions in another, and headers above the data. For instance, row 1 can contain headings, while rows 2 through 100 hold tasks. The formula then refers to the checkbox column and starts at row 2. If you add a title row or move the table, update both the conditional-formatting range and the formula’s starting row.

Google Sheets also supports custom values for checkbox cells through data validation. If you use custom checked and unchecked values instead of the standard TRUE and FALSE values, the condition must match the checked value you chose. For an ordinary checklist, leaving the default values in place is less error-prone and makes the TRUE-based example work as written. If the checkbox values have been customized, inspect the data-validation settings before troubleshooting the rule.

Choose a useful completion style

Strikethrough is familiar, but it is not the only signal a completed item can use. In the conditional-formatting style, you can combine it with a lighter text color or a subtle fill. A restrained style is generally easier to scan than making the whole row very dark or bright. If some users may have difficulty distinguishing colors, do not rely on color alone: the line through the text and the checkbox both communicate the status.

Think about what the sheet is for before applying a style to every column. In a personal to-do list, striking through the task name may be enough. In an operational tracker, users may still need to read the due date, owner, or completion notes after a task is finished. Leaving those details unstruck can preserve their usefulness. You can also keep completed items visible for context rather than automatically hiding or deleting them.

Conditional formatting changes how a cell looks, not its stored value or the structure of your list. If you need completed tasks moved to another section, sorted to the bottom, or removed from a view, that is a separate workflow. A strike-through rule is best for communicating status while keeping the original list in place.

Common problems and fixes

Nothing changes when you check a box: Confirm that the conditional-formatting rule is enabled, that its apply-to range covers the task cells, and that the formula points to the checkbox column. Also verify that you selected Custom formula is, rather than a different condition type.
Every task crosses out together: Check whether the formula locks the row, as in =$A$2=TRUE. For a row-by-row list, leave the row number relative: =$A2=TRUE.
The wrong rows are crossed out: The row number in the formula should match the first row of the apply-to range. If the range begins at B3, use row 3 in the reference, not row 2.
The rule works in one column but not across the row: Make sure the checkbox column is fixed with a dollar sign, for example $A, and that the apply-to range includes the cells you want formatted.
The checkbox is checked but the rule stays off: The checkbox may use custom values rather than the default logical values. Review its data-validation settings and make the conditional formula test the actual checked value.
Text looks crossed out even after unchecking: Another conditional-formatting rule or manually applied strikethrough may still be affecting the cell. Open Format > Conditional formatting and review the rules that apply to that range; also check the text formatting if the effect remains when the condition is false.

To inspect existing rules, select a cell in the affected range and open Format > Conditional formatting. Review both the apply-to range and the condition. Sheets can have multiple rules for overlapping ranges, so do not assume the first visible rule is the only one responsible for the appearance. Edit or remove the rule that is causing the unwanted formatting rather than clearing formatting from the entire sheet.

Manual formatting and spreadsheet differences

You can apply strikethrough manually by selecting a cell or text and choosing Format > Text > Strikethrough. This is useful for a one-off edit, but it is not linked to the checkbox: checking or unchecking the box will not automatically change manually applied formatting. For a repeating checklist, conditional formatting is usually more dependable because the display follows the cell value.

Excel can create a similar effect by using conditional formatting based on a cell that contains TRUE or FALSE, but its menus and checkbox options differ from Google Sheets. The steps above use Google Sheets menu names and should not be followed as if they were Excel instructions. In Excel, checkbox availability and insertion methods can depend on the version, while the key idea remains the same: have the formatting condition refer to the checkbox’s underlying value and apply it to the intended task range.

For a shared Google Sheet, another advantage of conditional formatting is that the rule is part of the spreadsheet rather than a sequence of manual edits. Users can check a box without needing to remember a formatting shortcut. Still, protect or clearly label the checkbox and task columns if collaborators might overwrite them, and test the setup after duplicating a sheet or changing its layout.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Google Sheets automatically strike through a task when I check its box?
Yes. Add a conditional-formatting rule that tests the checkbox cell, then choose strikethrough as the format. The checkbox alone does not apply the effect; the rule connects the checked state to the task text.

What formula do I use for a checkbox in column A?
If the first data row is row 2, use =$A2=TRUE as the custom formula. If the checkbox is in another column or the list starts on another row, change the reference to match.

Can I strike through the entire row?
Yes. Set the apply-to range to the full row-width portion of your data, such as A2:F100, and use a formula that checks the checkbox column for each row. The column reference should stay fixed while the row number changes.

Does strikethrough delete or change the task text?
No. Conditional formatting changes only the displayed style. The text remains in its cell, and unchecking the box removes the conditional style as long as no other formatting rule applies.

Why does one checkbox strike through every task?
The formula may refer to an absolute row, such as $A$2, so every row checks the same box. Use a fixed checkbox column but a relative row, such as $A2, and make sure the starting row matches the top of the formatted range.

Can I use custom checkbox values?
Yes, but the conditional-formatting condition must match the custom checked value rather than assuming the standard TRUE value. For a simple checklist, standard checkbox values are usually the easiest option.

Try it: the Date Difference Calculator: days, months, years and weekdays between two dates, with the DATEDIF formulas.

More in How-to basics

Sources: Function behaviour and menu paths: Microsoft Support documentation for Excel. Method & sources

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