If you’re a book lover, you already understand the need for a reading list. It keeps track of the books you have read and the ones you want to read. A reading list spreadsheet also collects all your data in one place, making it easy to visualize patterns in your reading habits and your reading progress over time.
Below, I’ll share my free reading list spreadsheet template. I’ll show you how I built it, what charts you can use to visualize book data, and answer common questions. I prefer making my list this way instead of using a reading list app because it gives me more control over my reading experience.
Reading List Spreadsheet Template
If you’re here for a quick solution, this is it. I made a free reading list spreadsheet template. It’s linked below, and you can make a copy for yourself. Open the file, click File, then click Make a copy. After that, you can customize it any way you want. This is my favorite reading journal style approach because I can keep everything in one place and adjust it as my reading goals change.
Quick start: make a copy, add your first 5 books, pick genres from the dropdown, mark a month finished, and the charts update automatically.
How to Format a Reading List in Google Sheets
A good reading list includes the book’s title, author, genre, and year of publication. It also includes information about the way you interact with the book, because that is where your reading habits show up. At a minimum, you want a clear way to keep track of the books you want to read versus the ones you have finished.
If you want a little more detail, add columns for format (print, ebook, audiobook), rating, page count, and short notes. Even a simple notes column turns your spreadsheet into a lightweight reading journal without the friction of a separate app.
Whatโs Inside the Template
- Core book info: Title, author, genre, and publication year
- Status tracking: A simple way to mark want-to-read versus finished, so your reading progress is obvious at a glance
- Time-based tracking: A month finished field so you can visualize your pace across the year
- Built-in visuals: Charts that update automatically as you add data
Charts and Graphs
My reading list spreadsheet includes a basic breakdown of a book’s notable features. The most eye-catching part is the books finished by month chart and the genre breakdown chart. If you use my template, these charts automatically update when you choose a genre or a completion month.
If you want more advanced visuals, try making a combo chart in Google Sheets.
Here’s a look at what my reading list looked like last year:
Goals
If you’re building a reading list for a New Year reset, or you are doing a reading challenge with friends, you will probably want to track goals. Goals look different for different people, so I did not hardcode them into the template. Instead, I built the tracker so you can add the goal fields you actually care about.
Common reading goals include tracking:
- Total number of books in a year
- Total number of pages each week or month
- Number of books in a specific genre
- Total new authors read
- Number of classics completed
Some of these goals require additional columns. For example, if you want to read a dozen classics, add a column that marks classic versus modern. That lets you use the COUNTIF function to count how many classics you have finished.
Favorite Genres
My template includes a few example genres to get you started. If you only read in a narrow set of genres, you can edit the dropdown list to match your preferences. Advanced spreadsheet nerds may want to make a multiple-selection dropdown for books that fit more than one genre.
Why Use a Spreadsheet as a Reading List
There are many ways to track reading, and a spreadsheet is not the only option. Many people use Goodreads, for example. It is a smart choice if you want to share your list with the world.
I do not want to share my list with the world. I like keeping a personal tracker so I can control the data, keep everything private, and build the exact visuals that motivate me. I built this template for customization, and that is why it beats a reading log app for my own reading experience.
Alternative Book Tracking Options
If you prefer a done-for-you solution, a reading list app can work well. Apps like Reading List: Book Tracker bring simple tracking to your phone. They just do not give me the same flexibility for charts, filters, and custom columns that I get from a spreadsheet.
My Google Sheets book list template includes title and author information, but it can also include page counts, format, or short notes. It is easy to add these as new columns.
Reading List Formulas
Spreadsheet reading lists also let you work with your data. Paired with conditional formatting, simple formulas can turn a plain list into a dashboard that shows your reading progress without any extra effort.
Want to know how many books you read by a specific author, or how many pages you read in a month. Make a pivot table. If you like color-coding, you can also experiment with how to count colored cells.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions I hear about reading lists. Personally, I like tracking my books with a spreadsheet because it keeps my data private and makes it easy to build visualizations that keep me consistent.
Whatโs the best way to track a reading list?
The best way is the one you will actually keep using, and for me that means low friction and clear visuals. A spreadsheet is perfect because it keeps track of the books in one place, it is searchable, and it makes your reading progress obvious without relying on an appโs default features.
How can I hit my reading goals?
I treat reading goals like any other goal. You need a clear target, and you need feedback. Pick one main goal, books per year or pages per month, then track it consistently. Once you can see your pace in a chart, it is much easier to adjust. If you start falling behind, you can choose shorter books, add audiobooks, or plan a weekend catch-up instead of guessing.
Is there a free book list template that tracks reading habits?
Yes. That is exactly what my template is for. You can make a copy for free and log each book with a genre and a month finished. Once you have a little data, the charts start revealing your reading habits, like which months you read the most and which genres you finish fastest.
How can I read more?
For me, tracking data is always the first step to reaching a goal. When I can see my reading progress, I make better decisions. I know when I am coasting, when I am stuck, and what kind of books I finish quickly.
Start by tracking for two weeks without changing anything. Then make one adjustment based on what you see, set a realistic daily target, swap in a shorter book, or add an audiobook during errands. Small changes are easier to sustain than a dramatic overhaul.
How do you come up with a reading list?
I build mine around genres I actually finish, authors I trust, and a short list of stretch reads. If you listen to audiobooks or read on an e-reader, pull your stats there first, then use that as a reality check for what you will finish.
Where can I find my reading list?
If you use my template, you will create your own copy, then it lives in your Google Drive. Go to sheets.google.com and search for the file name, or start from scratch at sheets.new.
Is there an app to keep track of books I’ve read?
Yes, there are many reading list apps worth trying. If you want full control over your categories, columns, and visualizations, a book tracker spreadsheet is hard to beat.
Where can I find the free reading tracker template?
I have my Google Sheets reading tracker spreadsheet template linked above. You can use it to track what you have read and what you want to read this year. I also have a character sheet builder spreadsheet for anyone into tabletop role-playing games.
Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed my free reading list tracker template. I designed it for people who want a clean, flexible way to keep track of the books they read each year. This reading list helps you track your reading by genre, author, and month, and it makes it easy to see patterns in your reading habits over time.
Looking for an even simpler way to track tasks and daily to-dos. Check out my free task list template instead.
Have a question or idea on how to improve my reading list. Let me know in the comments.