How To Make a Progress Bar In Notion

Introduction.

Notion has become one of the most popular tools for organizing tasks, tracking goals, and staying productive.

It’s flexible, easy to use, and endlessly customizable. But one of the best features you can add to your Notion workspace is a progress bar.

These visual trackers help you see how far you’ve come on a project or toward a goal at a glance. They’re motivating, practical, and honestly, kind of fun to create.

This guide will walk you through why progress bars are so useful, how to set them up in Notion, and different ways to customize them to suit your needs.

By the end of this, you’ll have the tools to build a progress bar that fits perfectly into your workflow.

Why Use Progress Bars in Notion?

Progress bars do more than just look cool—they’re incredibly effective at keeping you on track. Seeing your progress visually can make big goals feel more achievable. Plus, they provide instant feedback. For example:

Motivation: Watching the bar fill up encourages you to keep going.
Clarity: You can quickly see how much work is left.
Accountability: It’s harder to ignore incomplete tasks when you see them right in front of you.

These little helpers can track anything: personal goals, project deadlines, book reading lists, or even workout routines.

How Do I Make a Progress Bar in Notion?

1. Set Up Your Database

To create a progress bar, you’ll need a database. This could be a table, gallery, or even a kanban board. For this guide, I’ll use a table since it’s the easiest to follow.

Open a page in Notion and add a database table.
Create columns for Task, Status, and Completion (or any names you prefer).

2. Add a Formula Property

The magic of progress bars lies in Notion’s formula property. This is where you’ll calculate and display your progress.

Click Add a Property and select Formula.
Name it something like “Progress Bar.”

3. Use the Right Formula

Notion formulas can get a little tricky, but here’s a simple one to start:

Here’s what this does:

The ▰ symbol fills in based on how much of the task is completed.
The ▱ symbol represents the remaining progress.
The completion variable is a number between 0 and 1, where 1 is 100% done.

If you’re using percentages, adjust the formula slightly to account for that.

4. Link Progress to Completion

Now, you’ll need to link your progress bar to the actual task completion. Add a number property called “Completion” and update it as you make progress (e.g., 0.25 for 25%, 0.5 for 50%). The bar will update automatically as you input new values.

5. Style and Customize

Notion lets you tweak your setup to make it visually appealing. You can:

Change colors by using emojis or adding colored columns.
Adjust the formula to include text like “50% Complete.”
Use different symbols if you prefer stars (★ and ☆) or blocks (■ and □).

Creative Uses for Progress Bars

Project Management: Track the stages of a big project, from planning to completion.
Habit Tracking: Use it to see how consistent you’ve been with habits like working out or journaling.
Learning Goals: Track how many chapters or lessons you’ve completed in a course.
Event Planning: Monitor tasks for an event like a wedding or party.

FAQs

Can I use a progress bar without a formula?

Yes, but it won’t update automatically. You could manually add emojis or symbols to a text column to simulate a progress bar.

What if my database doesn’t include percentages?

You can still use a progress bar! Replace percentages with counts (e.g., 3/10 tasks done). Just tweak the formula to divide completed tasks by the total.

Do progress bars work on the Notion mobile app?

Yes, but formulas might look slightly different on smaller screens. They’re still functional and update just as they would on a desktop.

Can I share my progress bar setup?

Absolutely. If your workspace is shared with a team or friends, they’ll be able to see the progress bars in real-time.

Final Thoughts

Progress bars are more than just a feature—they’re a way to keep yourself motivated and organized. Once you’ve set one up, you’ll wonder how you managed without it.

How do you plan to use progress bars in your Notion setup? Let me know what you’re tracking, and maybe I can share more tips!