How to use a rollup field in Airtable
Add a rollup field in Airtable to summarize values from linked records: pick the linked field, choose what to roll up, and see the result in your grid.
Quick answer
To use a rollup field in Airtable, add a new field, choose the Rollup type, name it, and pick the linked-record field as the source. Then choose which field to roll up, such as Name, set an aggregation formula like COUNTA(values), and click Create. The grid then shows one summary value per record.
Steps at a glance
- Click the add a field button in the grid header.
- Search for Rollup and select it.
- Type a name for the rollup field.
- Choose the linked-record field as the rollup source.
- Choose the field you want to roll up.
- Check the aggregation formula and click Create.
- Read the rolled-up values in the new column.
Interactive demo
Summary
A rollup field summarizes data from the records you have linked in another field. It lets you count, total, or combine linked values without copying them by hand.
Step-by-step guide
Step 1
Add a new field
Open the table that already has a linked-record field. Click the add a field button at the end of the header row to start a new column.
Step 2
Choose the Rollup field type
In the Find a field type box, search for Rollup and select it. The Create field dialog opens with Rollup chosen as the type.
Step 3
Name the rollup field
Click Field name (optional) and type a clear name, such as Related count. The dialog explains that a rollup summarizes data from linked records.
Step 4
Choose the linked-record field
Under Select rollup source, click Choose a field in this table. This tells the rollup which linked records to look at.
Step 5
Pick the Related field
Select Related from the list. It is the linked-record field in this table, so the rollup reads from the records it points to.
Step 6
Choose the field to roll up
Open Choose a field and select Name. This is the field from the linked records that the rollup will summarize.
Step 7
Create the rollup field
The aggregation formula controls how the linked values are combined. This example uses COUNTA(values). Click Create to add the field.
Step 8
Read the rolled-up values
The new column appears next to Related. Each row shows its summary, so a record with one linked record shows 1 and rows with none show 0.
Why this matters
You have records linked together, such as tasks pointing at related tasks, and you want a quick number for each row. A rollup field calculates it automatically, so your grid stays accurate as links change.
Frequently asked questions
What does a rollup field need before I can create one?
It needs a linked-record field in the same table. You choose that field as the rollup source, then pick which field from the linked records to summarize.
How does the rollup decide what to calculate?
The aggregation formula does it. In this example the formula is COUNTA(values), which gave 1 for the row with one linked record and 0 for rows with none.
Related guides
Continue with more step-by-step guides for getting work done.
How to add a lookup field in AirtableAdd a lookup field in Airtable to pull values from linked records into a table. Follow seven steps from the add field menu to a finished column.
How to link records in AirtableLearn how to link records in Airtable: add a link field to one table, connect it to another table, and pick the record you want to link.
How to add formulas in AirtableAdd a formula field in Airtable to combine or calculate from existing fields. Choose Formula, name the field, type the expression and check results.
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