How to use a rollup field in Notion

Learn how to add a rollup field in Notion to pull and summarize data from a related database automatically.

Quick answer

To use a rollup field in Notion, first create a relation property linking two databases, then add a new property, set its type to Rollup, choose the relation, select the property to summarize, and pick a calculation like Sum, Average, or Count to display aggregated data automatically.

Steps at a glance

  1. Create a relation property connecting two databases
  2. Add a new property and set its type to Rollup
  3. Select the relation you want to pull data from
  4. Choose the property to summarize from the related database
  5. Pick a calculation type like Sum, Count, or Average
  6. Adjust formatting or number precision if needed
  7. Use the rollup value to filter, sort, or track progress

Interactive demo

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Summary

A rollup field in Notion pulls a property from a linked database into your current database so you can summarize related data without manual entry. It's commonly used to total costs, count linked tasks, or list related values at a glance.

Step-by-step guide

  1. Step 1

    Set up a relation property first

    Rollups depend on an existing relation, so open your database and add a relation property that connects it to another database. If you haven't done this yet, follow the steps to add a relation before continuing, since the rollup field pulls its data through this connection.

  2. Step 2

    Add a new property

    In your database, click the + at the far right of the column headers. Give the new property a name that describes what it will summarize, such as Total Billed or Task Count.

  3. Step 3

    Set the property type to Rollup

    In the menu that opens, find Select type, search for Rollup, and choose it. Notion creates the property with the Rollup type, and you set it up in the next steps.

  4. Step 4

    Choose the relation to pull from

    Click the rollup's column header, choose Edit property, then Relation, and select the relation property you set up earlier. This tells Notion which linked database to pull information from for this rollup.

  5. Step 5

    Select the property to summarize

    Under Edit property, open Target property and pick the field from the related database you want to summarize, such as a number field like Amount. This is the raw value the rollup will aggregate or show.

  6. Step 6

    Pick a calculation

    Under Edit property, open Calculate and choose how Notion should combine the values. The list has Show original, Show unique values, Count, Percent, and More options, where Sum, Average, Median, Min, Max, and Range live. For a number field like Amount, choose More options, then Sum.

  7. Step 7

    Review the rollup in your view

    Close the property settings and check that the values appear correctly in your table view. You can filter or sort by this rollup field from its column menu, the same way you would with any other property.

Why this matters

You're managing a project database where each item links to dozens of tasks, and you need to see total hours logged or how many tasks are still open without opening every page. A rollup field surfaces that data automatically, keeping your database accurate as related items change.

Frequently asked questions

  • What's the difference between a relation and a rollup field?

    A relation connects pages between two databases so they reference each other. A rollup uses that connection to pull and summarize a specific property from the related pages, such as totaling numbers or counting linked items.

  • Can I edit a rollup value directly?

    No, rollup values are calculated automatically and can't be typed into directly. To change the displayed value, update the source property in the related database instead.

  • Can a rollup pull from more than one relation?

    Each rollup property connects to a single relation and property at a time. To summarize multiple relations, create separate rollup properties for each one.

  • Does the rollup update automatically when data changes?

    Yes, rollup values refresh automatically whenever the linked property in the related database is updated, so you always see current totals or counts.

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