How to add a check mark in Excel
The quickest check mark in Excel is a formula: enter =UNICHAR(10003) in a cell to get ✓, or =UNICHAR(10007) for the cross ✗. Wrap it in IF to show a tick automatically, or use Insert → Symbol when you want a fixed character you can copy.
Quick answer
Type =UNICHAR(10003) for ✓. For a conditional tick: =IF(B2>=50,UNICHAR(10003),UNICHAR(10007)).
Step by step
Select a cell
Click the cell where the tick should appear.
Enter the formula
Type
=UNICHAR(10003)and press Enter. 10003 is the decimal code of U+2713. Use 10004 for the heavy ✔.Turn it into a value (optional)
If you need a plain character rather than a formula, copy the cell and use Paste Special → Values.
Style it
Colour ticks green with Home → Font Color, or use conditional formatting so the colour follows the value.
Show a tick or cross from your data
A tracker usually needs ticks that follow a status. If column B holds scores, put this in C2 and fill down: =IF(B2>=50,UNICHAR(10003),UNICHAR(10007)). For a done/not-done column: =IF(D2="Done",UNICHAR(10003),""). Because the result is text, you can still count it: =COUNTIF(C:C,UNICHAR(10003)) returns the number of ticks.
From the Symbol dialog
Insert → Symbol, choose the font Segoe UI Symbol, set “from” to Unicode (hex) and enter 2713 in Character code. Click Insert. The tick is then a character in the cell, not a formula. Double-click a cell first if you want the tick inside existing text.
Real checkboxes
In Microsoft 365, select cells and choose Insert → Checkbox. Each cell then holds TRUE or FALSE and shows a box you can click, which works with formulas such as =COUNTIF(A2:A50,TRUE). In older versions, the Developer tab has a Form Control check box that you link to a cell.
Icon sets
Home → Conditional Formatting → Icon Sets includes a set with a green check, yellow exclamation mark and red cross. It draws icons based on number thresholds without changing the value, useful for dashboards where the cell must stay numeric.
A note on Wingdings
Setting a cell to the Wingdings 2 font and typing a capital P also shows a tick. It breaks as soon as the data leaves Excel: a CSV, a Google Sheets import or a formula that compares text all see “P”. UNICHAR gives you a real ✓.
See the check mark ✓ reference, all the tick and cross symbols, and check marks in Word for documents.
Frequently asked questions
What is the formula for a tick in Excel?
=UNICHAR(10003) returns ✓ and =UNICHAR(10004) returns ✔. UNICHAR is available in Excel 2013 and later, Excel for the web and Google Sheets.
Why does CHAR(10003) not work?
CHAR only covers codes 1 to 255 from the system code page. Use UNICHAR for any Unicode character.
How do I count check marks in Excel?
Use =COUNTIF(range,UNICHAR(10003)). If you used real checkboxes, count TRUE values instead.
Is there a keyboard shortcut for a tick in Excel?
No built-in one. Copy a ✓ cell, use AutoCorrect (File → Options → Proofing) to replace a word such as ;tick with ✓, or insert it from the Symbol dialog.