Arrow symbols can quickly and easily identify trends in a Google Sheets spreadsheet. For example, you could use an arrow symbol to indicate whether a value has increased or decreased over time. In the following example, let’s look at how to use arrows in Google Sheets.
Prepare your Data
Before inserting arrow symbols, it’s essential to have the data ready in your Google Sheet.
In the above example, we have prepared our variances in column F. The numbers are in the same units and are all the result of subtracting the values in column B from those in column D.
Choose Your Arrow Symbols
There are different types of arrows, and there isn’t a built-in method to find them inside Google Sheets. Let’s look at other ways to find these arrows.
Find Arrow Symbols Online
You can find the arrows you want with an internet search, but it can be confusing as there are so many places to look. Alternatively, you can copy the arrows from the table below and paste them into your spreadsheet.
Use The CHAR Function to Insert Arrow Symbols
If you know the Unicode decimal code for the arrows, you can insert them using the CHAR function. For example, =CHAR(8600) inserts an arrow that points down and to the right. These codes are also available in the table of arrows at the end of this article.
Use an Add-On
The easiest way to insert arrows and other symbols is to use the Insert Special Characters add-on. Just search for “arrow” and choose the symbol you want.
Enter the Formula
Now that you’ve selected your arrows, use them in a formula such as the one in cell G3 below:
Formula used: =IFS(F3>0,"↗",F3<0,"↘",TRUE,"-")
This formula looks at the value in cell F3 and draws an arrow pointing up if the value is positive, down if it’s negative, and inserts a dash if the value is zero.
Live Example in Google Sheet
Make a copy of this spreadsheet to use the examples in this article.
Apply Colors for More Emphasis
The following tutorial will use conditional formatting to add colors to our analysis.
Full List of Unicode Arrow Symbols
Copy the decimal code from this table to use in the CHAR function.
| Decimal | Name | Appearance |
|---|---|---|
| 706 | MODIFIER LETTER LEFT ARROWHEAD | ˂ |
| 707 | MODIFIER LETTER RIGHT ARROWHEAD | ˃ |
| 708 | MODIFIER LETTER UP ARROWHEAD | ˄ |
| 709 | MODIFIER LETTER DOWN ARROWHEAD | ˅ |
| 845 | COMBINING LEFT RIGHT ARROW BELOW | ͍ |
| 846 | COMBINING UPWARDS ARROW BELOW | ͎ |
| 864 | COMBINING DOUBLE TILDE | ͠ |
| 865 | COMBINING DOUBLE INVERTED BREVE | ͡ |
| 866 | COMBINING DOUBLE RIGHTWARDS ARROW BELOW | ͢ |
| 8404 | COMBINING ANTICLOCKWISE ARROW ABOVE | ⃔ |
| 8405 | COMBINING CLOCKWISE ARROW ABOVE | ⃕ |
| 8406 | COMBINING LEFT ARROW ABOVE | ⃖ |
| 8407 | COMBINING RIGHT ARROW ABOVE | ⃗ |
| 8417 | COMBINING LEFT RIGHT ARROW ABOVE | ⃡ |
| 8592 | LEFTWARDS ARROW | ← |
| 8593 | UPWARDS ARROW | ↑ |
| 8594 | RIGHTWARDS ARROW | → |
| 8595 | DOWNWARDS ARROW | ↓ |
| 8596 | LEFT RIGHT ARROW | ↔ |
| 8597 | UP DOWN ARROW | ↕ |
| 8598 | NORTH WEST ARROW | ↖ |
| 8599 | NORTH EAST ARROW | ↗ |
| 8600 | SOUTH EAST ARROW | ↘ |
| 8601 | SOUTH WEST ARROW | ↙ |
| 8602 | LEFTWARDS ARROW WITH STROKE | ↚ |
| 8603 | RIGHTWARDS ARROW WITH STROKE | ↛ |
| 8604 | LEFTWARDS WAVE ARROW | ↜ |
| 8605 | RIGHTWARDS WAVE ARROW | ↝ |
| 8606 | LEFTWARDS TWO HEADED ARROW | ↞ |
| 8607 | UPWARDS TWO HEADED ARROW | ↟ |
| 8608 | RIGHTWARDS TWO HEADED ARROW | ↠ |
| 8609 | DOWNWARDS TWO HEADED ARROW | ↡ |
| 8610 | LEFTWARDS ARROW WITH TAIL | ↢ |
| 8611 | RIGHTWARDS ARROW WITH TAIL | ↣ |
| 8612 | LEFTWARDS ARROW FROM BAR | ↤ |
| 8613 | UPWARDS ARROW FROM BAR | ↥ |
| 8614 | RIGHTWARDS ARROW FROM BAR | ↦ |
| 8615 | DOWNWARDS ARROW FROM BAR | ↧ |
| 8616 | UP DOWN ARROW WITH BASE | ↨ |
| 8617 | LEFTWARDS ARROW WITH HOOK | ↩ |
| 8618 | RIGHTWARDS ARROW WITH HOOK | ↪ |
| 8619 | LEFTWARDS ARROW WITH LOOP | ↫ |
| 8620 | RIGHTWARDS ARROW WITH LOOP | ↬ |
| 8621 | LEFT RIGHT WAVE ARROW | ↭ |
| 8622 | LEFT RIGHT ARROW WITH STROKE | ↮ |
| 8623 | DOWNWARDS ZIGZAG ARROW | ↯ |
| 8624 | UPWARDS ARROW WITH TIP LEFTWARDS | ↰ |
| 8625 | UPWARDS ARROW WITH TIP RIGHTWARDS | ↱ |
| 8626 | DOWNWARDS ARROW WITH TIP LEFTWARDS | ↲ |
| 8627 | DOWNWARDS ARROW WITH TIP RIGHTWARDS | ↳ |
| 8628 | RIGHTWARDS ARROW WITH CORNER DOWNWARDS | ↴ |
| 8629 | DOWNWARDS ARROW WITH CORNER LEFTWARDS | ↵ |
| 8630 | ANTICLOCKWISE TOP SEMICIRCLE ARROW | ↶ |
| 8631 | CLOCKWISE TOP SEMICIRCLE ARROW | ↷ |
| 8632 | NORTH WEST ARROW TO LONG BAR | ↸ |
| 8633 | LEFTWARDS ARROW TO BAR OVER RIGHTWARDS ARROW TO BAR | ↹ |
| 8634 | ANTICLOCKWISE OPEN CIRCLE ARROW | ↺ |
| 8635 | CLOCKWISE OPEN CIRCLE ARROW | ↻ |
| 8636 | LEFTWARDS HARPOON WITH BARB UPWARDS | ↼ |
| 8637 | LEFTWARDS HARPOON WITH BARB DOWNWARDS | ↽ |
| 8638 | UPWARDS HARPOON WITH BARB RIGHTWARDS | ↾ |
| 8639 | UPWARDS HARPOON WITH BARB LEFTWARDS | ↿ |
| 8640 | RIGHTWARDS HARPOON WITH BARB UPWARDS | ⇀ |
| 8641 | RIGHTWARDS HARPOON WITH BARB DOWNWARDS | ⇁ |
| 8642 | DOWNWARDS HARPOON WITH BARB RIGHTWARDS | ⇂ |
| 8643 | DOWNWARDS HARPOON WITH BARB LEFTWARDS | ⇃ |
| 8644 | RIGHTWARDS ARROW OVER LEFTWARDS ARROW | ⇄ |
| 8645 | UPWARDS ARROW LEFTWARDS OF DOWNWARDS ARROW | ⇅ |
| 8646 | LEFTWARDS ARROW OVER RIGHTWARDS ARROW | ⇆ |
| 8647 | LEFTWARDS PAIRED ARROWS | ⇇ |
| 8648 | UPWARDS PAIRED ARROWS | ⇈ |
| 8649 | RIGHTWARDS PAIRED ARROWS | ⇉ |
| 8650 | DOWNWARDS PAIRED ARROWS | ⇊ |
| 8651 | LEFTWARDS HARPOON OVER RIGHTWARDS HARPOON | ⇋ |
| 8652 | RIGHTWARDS HARPOON OVER LEFTWARDS HARPOON | ⇌ |
| 8653 | LEFTWARDS DOUBLE ARROW WITH STROKE | ⇍ |
| 8654 | LEFT RIGHT DOUBLE ARROW WITH STROKE | ⇎ |
| 8655 | RIGHTWARDS DOUBLE ARROW WITH STROKE | ⇏ |
| 8656 | LEFTWARDS DOUBLE ARROW | ⇐ |
| 8657 | UPWARDS DOUBLE ARROW | ⇑ |
| 8658 | RIGHTWARDS DOUBLE ARROW | ⇒ |
| 8659 | DOWNWARDS DOUBLE ARROW | ⇓ |
| 8660 | LEFT RIGHT DOUBLE ARROW | ⇔ |
| 8661 | UP DOWN DOUBLE ARROW | ⇕ |
| 8662 | NORTH WEST DOUBLE ARROW | ⇖ |
| 8663 | NORTH EAST DOUBLE ARROW | ⇗ |
| 8664 | SOUTH EAST DOUBLE ARROW | ⇘ |
| 8665 | SOUTH WEST DOUBLE ARROW | ⇙ |
| 8666 | LEFTWARDS TRIPLE ARROW | ⇚ |
| 8667 | RIGHTWARDS TRIPLE ARROW | ⇛ |
| 8668 | LEFTWARDS SQUIGGLE ARROW | ⇜ |
| 8669 | RIGHTWARDS SQUIGGLE ARROW | ⇝ |
| 8670 | UPWARDS ARROW WITH DOUBLE STROKE | ⇞ |
| 8671 | DOWNWARDS ARROW WITH DOUBLE STROKE | ⇟ |
| 8672 | LEFTWARDS DASHED ARROW | ⇠ |
| 8673 | UPWARDS DASHED ARROW | ⇡ |
| 8674 | RIGHTWARDS DASHED ARROW | ⇢ |
| 8675 | DOWNWARDS DASHED ARROW | ⇣ |
| 8676 | LEFTWARDS ARROW TO BAR | ⇤ |
| 8677 | RIGHTWARDS ARROW TO BAR | ⇥ |
| 8678 | LEFTWARDS WHITE ARROW | ⇦ |
| 8679 | UPWARDS WHITE ARROW | ⇧ |
| 8680 | RIGHTWARDS WHITE ARROW | ⇨ |
| 8681 | DOWNWARDS WHITE ARROW | ⇩ |
| 8682 | UPWARDS WHITE ARROW FROM BAR | ⇪ |
| 8683 | UPWARDS WHITE ARROW ON PEDESTAL | ⇫ |
| 8684 | UPWARDS WHITE ARROW ON PEDESTAL WITH HORIZONTAL BAR | ⇬ |
| 8685 | UPWARDS WHITE ARROW ON PEDESTAL WITH VERTICAL BAR | ⇭ |
| 8686 | UPWARDS WHITE DOUBLE ARROW | ⇮ |
| 8687 | UPWARDS WHITE DOUBLE ARROW ON PEDESTAL | ⇯ |
| 8688 | RIGHTWARDS WHITE ARROW FROM WALL | ⇰ |
| 8689 | NORTH WEST ARROW TO CORNER | ⇱ |
| 8690 | SOUTH EAST ARROW TO CORNER | ⇲ |
| 8691 | UP DOWN WHITE ARROW | ⇳ |
| 8961 | ELECTRIC ARROW | ⌁ |
| 8963 | UP ARROWHEAD | ⌃ |
| 8964 | DOWN ARROWHEAD | ⌄ |
| 8996 | UP ARROWHEAD BETWEEN TWO HORIZONTAL BARS | ⌤ |
| 9031 | APL FUNCTIONAL SYMBOL QUAD LEFTWARDS ARROW | ⍇ |
| 9032 | APL FUNCTIONAL SYMBOL QUAD RIGHTWARDS ARROW | ⍈ |
| 9040 | APL FUNCTIONAL SYMBOL QUAD UPWARDS ARROW | ⍐ |
| 9047 | APL FUNCTIONAL SYMBOL QUAD DOWNWARDS ARROW | ⍗ |
| 9099 | BROKEN CIRCLE WITH NORTHWEST ARROW | ⎋ |
| 10132 | HEAVY WIDE-HEADED RIGHTWARDS ARROW | ➔ |
| 10136 | HEAVY SOUTH EAST ARROW | ➘ |
| 10137 | HEAVY RIGHTWARDS ARROW | ➙ |
| 10138 | HEAVY NORTH EAST ARROW | ➚ |
| 10139 | DRAFTING POINT RIGHTWARDS ARROW | ➛ |
| 10140 | HEAVY ROUND-TIPPED RIGHTWARDS ARROW | ➜ |
| 10141 | TRIANGLE-HEADED RIGHTWARDS ARROW | ➝ |
| 10142 | HEAVY TRIANGLE-HEADED RIGHTWARDS ARROW | ➞ |
| 10143 | DASHED TRIANGLE-HEADED RIGHTWARDS ARROW | ➟ |
| 10144 | HEAVY DASHED TRIANGLE-HEADED RIGHTWARDS ARROW | ➠ |
| 10145 | BLACK RIGHTWARDS ARROW | ➡ |
| 10146 | THREE-D TOP-LIGHTED RIGHTWARDS ARROWHEAD | ➢ |
| 10147 | THREE-D BOTTOM-LIGHTED RIGHTWARDS ARROWHEAD | ➣ |
| 10148 | BLACK RIGHTWARDS ARROWHEAD | ➤ |
| 10149 | HEAVY BLACK CURVED DOWNWARDS AND RIGHTWARDS ARROW | ➥ |
| 10150 | HEAVY BLACK CURVED UPWARDS AND RIGHTWARDS ARROW | ➦ |
| 10151 | SQUAT BLACK RIGHTWARDS ARROW | ➧ |
| 10152 | HEAVY CONCAVE-POINTED BLACK RIGHTWARDS ARROW | ➨ |
| 10153 | RIGHT-SHADED WHITE RIGHTWARDS ARROW | ➩ |
| 10154 | LEFT-SHADED WHITE RIGHTWARDS ARROW | ➪ |
| 10155 | BACK-TILTED SHADOWED WHITE RIGHTWARDS ARROW | ➫ |
| 10156 | FRONT-TILTED SHADOWED WHITE RIGHTWARDS ARROW | ➬ |
| 10157 | HEAVY LOWER RIGHT-SHADOWED WHITE RIGHTWARDS ARROW | ➭ |
| 10158 | HEAVY UPPER RIGHT-SHADOWED WHITE RIGHTWARDS ARROW | ➮ |
| 10159 | NOTCHED LOWER RIGHT-SHADOWED WHITE RIGHTWARDS ARROW | ➯ |
| 10161 | NOTCHED UPPER RIGHT-SHADOWED WHITE RIGHTWARDS ARROW | ➱ |
| 10162 | CIRCLED HEAVY WHITE RIGHTWARDS ARROW | ➲ |
| 10163 | WHITE-FEATHERED RIGHTWARDS ARROW | ➳ |
| 10164 | BLACK-FEATHERED SOUTH EAST ARROW | ➴ |
| 10165 | BLACK-FEATHERED RIGHTWARDS ARROW | ➵ |
| 10166 | BLACK-FEATHERED NORTH EAST ARROW | ➶ |
| 10167 | HEAVY BLACK-FEATHERED SOUTH EAST ARROW | ➷ |
| 10168 | HEAVY BLACK-FEATHERED RIGHTWARDS ARROW | ➸ |
| 10169 | HEAVY BLACK-FEATHERED NORTH EAST ARROW | ➹ |
| 10170 | TEARDROP-BARBED RIGHTWARDS ARROW | ➺ |
| 10171 | HEAVY TEARDROP-SHANKED RIGHTWARDS ARROW | ➻ |
| 10172 | WEDGE-TAILED RIGHTWARDS ARROW | ➼ |
| 10173 | HEAVY WEDGE-TAILED RIGHTWARDS ARROW | ➽ |
| 10174 | OPEN-OUTLINED RIGHTWARDS ARROW | ➾ |