How to Create a Dependent Drop Down List in Google Sheets (Dynamic & Easy)

🔄 How to Create a Dependent Drop Down List in Google Sheets

A dependent drop-down list means that the options in the second dropdown depend on the selection made in the first. This is especially useful for things like selecting a category and sub-category, country and state, etc.

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✅ Step-by-Step Example:

Let’s say you want this setup:

📋 Source Data:

Category	Sub-Items
Fruits	Apple, Banana, Mango
Vegetables	Carrot, Spinach
Beverages	Tea, Coffee

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🔧 Step 1: Set Up Your Lists

Use a new sheet (e.g., named "Lists"):

makefileCopyEditA1: Fruits       B1: Apple    C1: Banana   D1: Mango  
A2: Vegetables   B2: Carrot   C2: Spinach
A3: Beverages    B3: Tea      C3: Coffee

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🔧 Step 2: Name Each Range

1. Select B1:D1 (Apple, Banana, Mango).
2. Go to Data > Named ranges, name it Fruits.
3. Do the same for:
   • B2:C2 → Name it Vegetables
   • B3:C3 → Name it Beverages

📝 Important: The named range must match exactly with the text in your first dropdown.

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🔧 Step 3: Create the First Dropdown (Main Category)

1. In your main sheet, click on cell A1.
2. Go to Data > Data validation.
3. Under Criteria, choose List of items and type:

CopyEditFruits,Vegetables,Beverages

Click Done.

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🔧 Step 4: Create the Dependent Dropdown

1. Click on cell B1 (where the dependent dropdown will go).
2. Go to Data > Data validation.
3. Under Criteria, choose Custom formula is.
4. Enter:

excelCopyEdit=INDIRECT(A1)

✅ This tells Google Sheets: “Get the named range based on the value in A1.”

Click Done.

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🔍 How It Works:

• When you select “Fruits” in A1 → B1 will show Apple, Banana, Mango
• If you select “Vegetables”, you’ll see Carrot, Spinach in B1

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