Lists are simple and minimalist database views. They're ideal for storing notes, articles, and documents that don't need too many properties. Every item in a list is a page that can be opened with one click and store as much content as you want — including more pages.

• Create a list
• Full-page list
• In-line list
• List view in a database
• Open a list item as a page
• Customize page
• Add a new item
• Item options
• Customize your list
• Edit properties
• Rearrange rows & properties
• Show & hide properties
• Filter your list
• Sort your list
• Search your list
• Link to your list
• List use cases
• FAQs
• Related guides

Create a list

There are several ways to add a list to your workspace:

Full-page list

• Create a new page in your workspace.
• Click on List in the grayscale menu provided.

• If you want to create a full-page list inside another page:
• On a new line, type /list full and press enter.
• Now when you go back to your original page, you'll see the list nested inside it.

In-line list

You can add a list inside a page that contains different types of content blocks, like text.

• On a new line, type /list and hit enter.
• Give it a title in the space provided.

List view in a database

You can add a list to an existing database to view its data in that format. More on views here →

• Click + Add a view or the name of the current view at the top left of your database.
• Select List from the dropdown menu, and give it a name in the text box.
• Click Create and your brand new list will pop up.
• You can still toggle back to other views using that same left dropdown.

Open a list item as a page

Every item in a Notion list is its own page, where you can add more content.

• Just click on any item to open it as a page.
• You'll see all your properties organized at the top.
• Click on the property name to edit it or its type.
• Click in the property field to edit its content.
• Reorder properties by hovering and using the ⋮⋮ to drag and drop them up or down.
• Add a new property to your list from this page by clicking + Add a property.
• Under properties, there's space for comments that will be attributed to you.
• The body of the page can be edited just like any other Notion page. Add whatever content blocks you want, including in-line databases.

Customize page

When you open any page, you have the ability to change how it looks in a few ways that go beyond typography and text size.

• Click ••• at the top right of any open project page, then Customize page.
• You'll see a menu to edit the appearance of Backlinks and Comments, as well as Properties.
• For backlinks, choose to show them expanded in the body of your page or in a popover.
• For comments, choose to show them expanded or off in the page body.
• For properties, rearrange them using the ⋮⋮ icon, and choose whether to always show them, always hide them, or only show them when in use.

Add a new item

There are a few ways to add a new item to your list:

• Click the + that appears in the left margin when you hover over any other item. Click it to add a new item right below it.
• Click + New at the bottom of your list to add an item to the bottom.
• Click the blue New button at the top right of your list. This creates a new item at the top of your list and immediately opens it as a page.

Item options

Click the ⋮⋮ icon that appears on hover to the left of each item (or right click on the item) to bring up this menu of options:

• Delete: Deletes the line from your list.
• Duplicate: Creates an exact copy of the item below it.
• Copy link: Copies an anchor link to that specific item to your clipboard.
• Rename: Lets you rename the item without opening it.
• Move to: Lets you move the item to another workspace or page (where it will show up as a sub-page).
• Edit property: Brings up a menu with all your list's properties. Click the one you want and then click the new value for it.

Customize your list

You can modify your list to do any job you need it to do. Change its properties, arrangement, and appearance.

Edit properties

In lists, all the properties assigned to an item appear at the far right to label and tag it with helpful information and context.

In the example below, the list stores product documentation. Each document itself is at the left and its properties indicating status, document type, creator, and created time are at the right.

To edit properties in your list:

• Click Properties at the top right of your list, then + Add a property.
• Not all properties in your list need to be visible in your list itself. In the Properties menu, switch on and off what you want visible or hidden.

• You can also add new properties that apply to your whole list in page view by opening an item as a page and clicking + Add a property at the bottom of the list of properties.
• Edit an existing property by clicking ⋮⋮ to the left of it in the Properties menu. This lets you rename it, choose a different property type for it, duplicate it or delete it.

Rearrange rows & properties

Switch up how your list is ordered with drag-and-drop on desktop or browser.

• For items, hover, then click and hold the ⋮⋮ icon on the left to drag it up or down.
• Reorder the way properties display by going to Properties and dragging the listed properties up or down using the left ⋮⋮ icon as a handle.

Show & hide properties

Your list doesn't have to display all the properties that are at work in your list. Only expose the ones that are helpful at a glance.

• Go to Properties at the top right of your table. You'll see a list of all the properties in your list next to a set of toggles.
• Switch on the properties you want to display in your list. Switch off the ones you don't.

Filter your list

View only the items that fit certain criteria, depending on what you need.

• Click Filter at the top of your list.
• Choose which property you want to filter by from the dropdown.
• Choose the condition you want to use, i.e. Contains, Does not contain, etc.
• Define the value of the property you want to see, i.e. a specific tag or date.
• You can add multiple filters at once this way too!
• Remove filters by clicking the X icon next to them in the Filter menu.

Sort your list

Change the order of your list based on your properties being in Ascending or Descending order. For instance, organize docs based on Created time so the newest appear first.

• Click Sort at the top right of your list.
• Choose the property you want to sort by and then choose Ascending or Descending. You'll see your list rearrange in real-time.
• You can add multiple sorts to a list, with sorting criteria taking precedence based on their order in the Sort list. (You can use the ⋮⋮ icon to drag and drop them up or down.)
• Remove sorts by click the X icon next to them in the Sort menu.

Search your list

You can search for specific content in your list.

• Click Search at the top right and type the word(s) you're looking for in item titles or property fields.
• You'll see your list change in real-time to only show the items that fit that criteria.

Link to your list

You can copy an anchor link to this specific view of your list so you can share it elsewhere.

• Click the ••• icon at the top right of your list.
• Click Copy link to view and the URL will copy to your clipboard so you can share it.

List use cases

Here are a couple use cases for lists from our team:

• Meeting Notes: Your team can capture notes in one central place for full transparency.
• Notes & Drafts: Keep process docs, drafts, and specs in the same place for everyone.

FAQs

Related guides

Something we didn't cover? Message us in the app by clicking ? at the bottom right on desktop (or in your sidebar on mobile). Or email us at team@makenotion.com ✌️