How to Add Star Ratings in Google Sheets: A Step-by-Step Guide

Andrew Kamphey -

Have you ever wondered if you could add star ratings in Google Sheets? Well, the answer is yes!

TL;DR

  • You can add star ratings in Google Sheets using data validation and emojis, creating an engaging rating system for surveys and feedback forms.
  • The process involves creating a range of star emojis, setting up a dropdown menu for selection, and using Google Sheets Formulas to convert emojis to numeric values for calculations.
  • Once numeric values are established, you can easily calculate averages and enhance your data presentation with various emojis or symbols for different rating systems.
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If you can answer this question you don't have to read this article

Which two of the following functions can be used to convert star emojis into numeric values for calculation in Google Sheets?

A) AVERAGE
B) VLOOKUP
C) SWITCH
D) CONCATENATE

While incorporating star ratings might sound a bit complex, with a little bit of scripting and some clever use of data validation and emojis, you can create an interactive and visually appealing rating system in your Google Sheets.

While incorporating star ratings might sound a bit complex, with a little bit of scripting and some clever use of data validation and emojis, you can create an interactive and visually appealing rating system in your Google Sheets.

Let's dive in and explore how you can achieve this.

Why Add Star Ratings in Google Sheets?

Adding star ratings to Google Sheets can be incredibly useful for surveys, feedback forms, or any other data collection that benefits from a visual rating system. Instead of using plain numbers, star ratings can make your data more engaging and easier to understand at a glance.

Getting Started with Star Ratings

Step 1: Create a Range for Star Ratings

First, you'll need to create a range that contains the star emojis (or any other emojis you want to use for your rating system).

  1. Open a new Google Sheet: Go to sheet.new to create a new sheet.
  2. Create a range: In a new tab (let's call it "DropDowns"), list the star emojis from 1 to 5 stars. You can copy these emojis from any source or use the following:

Step 2: Add Data Validation

Next, you need to add a dropdown menu in the cells where you want to use the star ratings.

  1. Select the cells: Click on the cells where you want to add the star rating dropdown.
  2. Go to Data Validation: Click on "Data" in the menu, then select "Data validation."
  3. Set up the validation:
    • Criteria: Choose "List from a range" and select the range you created in the "DropDowns" tab.
    • Show dropdown list in cell: Make sure this box is checked.
  4. Save: Click "Save."

Now, you have a dropdown menu with star ratings in your selected cells.

Step 3: Using Emojis Directly in Data Validation

If you prefer not to use a separate tab, you can directly input emojis into the data validation setup.

  1. Select the cells: Click on the cells where you want the star rating dropdown.
  2. Go to Data Validation: Click on "Data" in the menu, then select "Data validation."
  3. Set up the validation:
    • Criteria: Choose "List of items."
    • Items: Directly input the star emojis separated by commas, like this:
  4. Save: Click "Save."

Step 4: Handling Numeric Values for Star Ratings

Since emojis are not numeric values, you can't directly calculate averages or perform other numeric operations on them. To solve this, you can use VLOOKUP or SWITCH functions to convert emojis to numbers.

Using VLOOKUP

  1. Create a reference table: In a new tab, create a table with star emojis in one column and their corresponding numeric values in the next column.
  2. Use VLOOKUP: In the cell where you want to display the numeric value, use the VLOOKUP function.

Example:

This formula will look up the emoji in cell A1 and return its numeric value from the reference table.

Using SWITCH

The SWITCH function is another way to convert emojis to numbers without needing a reference table.

  1. Use SWITCH: In the cell where you want to display the numeric value, use the SWITCH function. Example:

This formula will directly convert the emoji in cell A1 to its corresponding numeric value.

Step 5: Calculating the Average Star Rating

Once you have the numeric values, you can easily calculate the average star rating.

  1. Convert all star ratings to numbers: Use either VLOOKUP or SWITCH to convert each star rating to a number.
  2. Calculate the average: Use the AVERAGE function to calculate the average of the numeric values. Example:

This formula will calculate the average star rating from the numeric values in the range B1:B10.

Adding More Visual Elements

You can also use other emojis or symbols to create different types of rating systems. For example, you can use thumbs up/down, smiley faces, or any other emoji that fits your needs.

Example: Thumbs Up/Down Rating

  1. Create a range: List the emojis for thumbs up and thumbs down in a new tab or directly in data validation.
  2. Set up data validation: Follow the same steps as above to create a dropdown with these emojis.
  3. Convert to numeric values: Use VLOOKUP or SWITCH to convert the emojis to numbers. Example:
  4. Calculate the average: Use the AVERAGE function to calculate the average rating.

Conclusion

Adding star ratings and other visual elements to Google Sheets can greatly enhance the way you collect and present data. With a combination of data validation, emojis, and some simple functions, you can create an interactive and visually appealing rating system that is both fun and functional.

Try these steps in your own Google Sheets and see how they can transform your data presentation. If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to reach out!

Happy rating!