How to make a checklist in Word

Option 1: a printable checklist with box bullets

Use this when the checklist will be printed and ticked by hand. It takes about a minute.

1. Type your list, one task per line, and select it.
2. On the Home tab, click the arrow next to Bullets and choose Define New Bullet.
3. Click Symbol, set the font to Wingdings, pick the empty box (character code 168) and click OK.
4. Increase the line spacing a little (Paragraph > Spacing After 6 pt) so there is room to write.

Group long lists under bold headings, one per area or step, so they are easier to scan.

Option 2: a clickable checklist with check boxes

Use this when people will tick items on screen in Word.

1. Show the Developer tab: File > Options > Customize Ribbon, tick Developer, then OK. (On a Mac: Word > Preferences > Ribbon & Toolbar.)
2. Put the cursor at the start of the first task.
3. On the Developer tab, click Check Box Content Control.
4. Copy the box and paste it at the start of every other line, or insert a new one each time.
5. Optional: select a box, click Properties, and change the checked symbol to a tick.

The boxes only work inside Word. If you save the file as a PDF, they become flat and can't be ticked.

Making a checklist in Google Docs

Select your lines and choose Format > Bullets & numbering > Checklist, or click the checklist button in the toolbar. Docs strikes items through as you tick them, and the list works the same on phone and desktop.

The faster way: start from a ready-made checklist

If you mainly need the list rather than the document, browse the free checklist library or create your own checklist. You can:

• download it as a PDF in A4 or US Letter, in any of our designs;
• get a fillable PDF with boxes you can tick in any PDF reader, which Word's own PDF export can't do;
• open it in Google Docs or Sheets to keep editing.

Common questions

How do I add a clickable check box in Word?

Turn on the Developer tab (File > Options > Customize Ribbon, tick Developer), click where the box should go, then choose Check Box Content Control in the Controls group. Click the box to tick it.

Why don't my Word check boxes tick when printed?

Box bullets are just symbols, so they print as empty squares to tick by hand. Only Check Box Content Controls can be ticked on screen, and only while the file is open in Word.

How do I make a checklist in Google Docs?

Select your lines and choose Format > Bullets & numbering > Checklist, or click the checklist button in the toolbar. Each item gets a box you can tick, and ticked items are struck through.

Can I turn a Word checklist into a fillable PDF?

Word can save as PDF, but the check boxes become flat images. To get boxes you can tick in a PDF reader, use a tool that creates PDF form fields, such as the fillable PDF option on ChecklistForge.