How do I create a multi-select property in Notion?

Creating a multi-select property in Notion takes just a few clicks and opens up powerful organizational possibilities for your databases. This versatile property type allows you to assign multiple tags, categories, or labels to any database entry, making it perfect for project management, content organization, and advanced filtering. Whether you're tracking multiple project statuses or categorizing notes with various topics, multi-select properties give you the flexibility that single-select options simply can't match. Let's walk through the straightforward process and explore what makes this feature so valuable.

To create your multi-select property, start by opening your Notion database and navigating to the table view for the easiest experience. Hover over the column headers and click the '+' button to add a new column. Enter a descriptive name for your property—something like "Tags" or "Categories" works well. Next, click the dropdown menu that defaults to "Text" and select "Multi-select" from the options. Your new property is now ready to use.

Adding options to your multi-select property is refreshingly simple. Click into any cell under your new property and start typing to create your first option, then press Enter to save it. You can continue adding options this way, or use a time-saving trick: if you have many options to add, temporarily create them as comma-separated values in a text property, then convert that property to multi-select. This automatically transforms all your comma-separated items into individual selectable options.

The real power of multi-select properties emerges when you start using them for organization and filtering. Each option appears as a colored pill within database cells, and you can assign colors by hovering over any tag and clicking the colored circle. This visual system makes scanning your database incredibly efficient. However, keep in mind that bulk editing works best in table view—other views like board or gallery have more limited batch editing capabilities. When working with automations or the Notion API, remember that updates require sending the complete array of desired tags, not just new additions, to avoid accidentally removing existing selections.

Multi-select properties excel at creating flexible categorization systems that grow with your needs. They're particularly valuable when single categories feel too restrictive—like tagging a project with both "Urgent" and "Design" labels simultaneously. While there's virtually no limit to the number of options you can create, the key to success lies in maintaining consistency and avoiding tag proliferation that could complicate your organization system over time.