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Free reading log template

Keep every book in one list: title, author, pages, when you started and finished, and how you'd rate it. The log works out how long each book took, and the summary tracks your yearly goal, tells you if you're ahead or behind, and breaks your reading down by month and genre.

Google Sheets copy coming soon Download for Excel
Pro Want your goal, pace and stats worked out for you? See Reading Log Pro →
Preview of the real sheet. Click the tabs underneath.Shaded cells are formulas
TitleAuthorGenreFormatPagesStartedFinishedDaysPages a dayRating (1-5)StatusNotes
Project Hail MaryAndy WeirSci-fiPrint476Jan 2, 2026Jan 14, 202613375FinishedCouldn't put it down
Atomic HabitsJames ClearSelf-helpAudio320Jan 10, 2026Jan 29, 202620164FinishedGood for the commute
The Thursday Murder ClubRichard OsmanMysteryEbook382Jan 18, 2026Feb 3, 202617224Finished
Lessons in ChemistryBonnie GarmusFictionPrint390Feb 5, 2026Feb 22, 202618225FinishedBook club pick
The Midnight LibraryMatt HaigFictionEbook304Feb 24, 2026Mar 6, 202611283Finished
EducatedTara WestoverMemoirPrint334Mar 8, 2026Mar 27, 202620175FinishedLend to Mom
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and TomorrowGabrielle ZevinFictionPrint401Apr 1, 2026Apr 25, 202625164Finished
The Silent PatientAlex MichaelidesThrillerAudio336Apr 20, 2026May 2, 202613263FinishedSaw the twist coming
Fourth WingRebecca YarrosFantasyEbook517May 4, 2026May 16, 202613404Finished
Born a CrimeTrevor NoahMemoirAudio304May 20, 2026Jun 4, 202616195FinishedHe reads it himself
Remarkably Bright CreaturesShelby Van PeltFictionPrint360Jun 10, 2026Jun 28, 202619194Finished
The MartianAndy WeirSci-fiPrint369Jul 3, 2026Jul 12, 202610375FinishedVacation read
Where the Crawdads SingDelia OwensFictionPrint368Jul 15, 2026Aug 6, 202623164Finished
SapiensYuval Noah HarariHistoryAudio443Aug 1, 2026Sep 2, 202633133FinishedSlow in the middle
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn HugoTaylor Jenkins ReidFictionEbook389Sep 5, 2026Sep 15, 202611355Finished
Killers of the Flower MoonDavid GrannHistoryPrint338Sep 20, 2026Oct 18, 202629124FinishedWatch the movie next
Demon CopperheadBarbara KingsolverFictionPrint548Oct 20, 2026ReadingPage 310
Mistborn: The Final EmpireBrandon SandersonFantasyEbook541Oct 28, 2026ReadingReading before bed
The WagerDavid GrannHistory329To readOn hold at the library
PiranesiSusanna ClarkeFantasy272To readRecommended by Jess

What's inside

  • One row per book with author, genre, format, pages, start and finish dates, rating and notes
  • Days to read and pages a day worked out for each finished book
  • Status fills in by itself: To read, Reading or Finished, based on the dates you enter
  • A yearly reading goal with books to go, an even-pace check and books per month you need
  • Books, pages and average rating by month and by genre
  • Room for 60 books, and it works in Google Sheets and Excel

How to use it

  1. Make your copy

    Click "Make a copy" to save the reading log to your Google Drive, or download the Excel file.

  2. Set your goal

    On the Summary tab, type how many books you want to read this year. Type =TODAY() in the Today cell so the pace check stays current. The year comes from that date.

  3. Clear the samples

    Delete the sample books on the Reading Log tab. Select the cells from Title to Rating and press Delete, so the formulas in the other columns stay in place.

  4. Add books as you go

    Type the title, author, genre and pages when you start a book, and put today's date in Started. Status changes to Reading.

  5. Finish and rate

    When you finish, add the date in Finished and a rating from 1 to 5. Days, Pages a day and all the summary tabs update.

  6. Keep a to-read list

    Add books you want to read with no dates. They show as To read and are counted on the Summary tab, so the log doubles as your wish list.

Tips

Use the same genre names

The By Genre tab counts exact names. Pick your list once, like Fiction, Mystery or Memoir, and stick to it. Rename the genres on that tab to match yours.

Audiobooks count too

Put Audio in Format and use the page count of the print edition. The Audiobooks finished line shows how many you listened to.

Print it for a reading journal

Go to File > Print, choose Landscape and "Fit to width", and turn on "Show gridlines" under Formatting. Clear the sample rows first to print a blank book log for kids or a book club.

Start a new year

Change the Today cell to a date in the new year, or just keep using =TODAY(). The summary only counts books finished that year, so old rows can stay in the log.

Questions

What should a reading log include?

At least the title, author and the date you finished. Most readers also track pages, a rating and a few words on what they thought. This log has all of those plus genre and format.

How does the yearly goal work?

The Summary tab counts books with a Finished date in the current year. It compares that with where you'd be if you read at an even pace all year, and shows how many books a month you need to finish on time.

Can I use it as a kids' reading log?

Yes. Many teachers ask for minutes or pages read. Use the Pages column for pages, rename Notes to Parent initials, then print it with gridlines for a reading log kids fill in by hand.

How do I add more than 60 books?

Insert rows above the last row of the log and copy the formulas down. Then stretch the ranges on the Summary, By Month and By Genre tabs to the new last row.

Does it work in Excel?

Yes. Download the .xlsx file. All the formulas work the same way in Excel.

Is this book log free?

Yes. Copy it to Google Drive or download the Excel file. No sign-up, no email.

Pro version

Reading Log Pro

Log every book once and see your goal, pace, favourite genres and authors, your to-read pile and your book club in one place.

Every book in one list

Want to read it, reading it, finished it or gave up: it all goes on the Books tab. Status, days to read and stars work themselves out.

Know if you're on pace

Set a goal for each year. The Dashboard tells you how many books ahead or behind you are and how many you're on track to read by December 31.

See what you love

Month-by-month stats, genres, fiction against nonfiction, formats and your most-read authors, with charts and your records for the year.

A to-read pile in order

To Read sorts your list by priority, then oldest first, and tells you how many months of reading are waiting.

Run your book club

Keep meetings, hosts and picks. It shows the next meeting, the countdown and whether you've finished the book yet.

Reading challenges built in

Use the 24 starter prompts or type your own, pick a book for each, and watch them tick off as you finish.

FreePro
Reading logOne Books list for to-read, reading, finished and gave up
Yearly goalGoals for every year with ahead or behind pace
Books by monthMonth by month: pages, ratings, formats and a goal-pace chart
Books by genreGenres, fiction against nonfiction and most-read authors
·Dashboard with reading now, top rated and up next
·Sorted to-read pile
·Book club schedule
·Reading challenge tracker

$19 one-time

9 tabs: Start Here, Dashboard, Books, To Read, Year, Genres & Authors, Book Club, Challenge and Setup. You get two copies: one filled in with a sample year of reading so you can see it working, and a blank one ready for your own books.

Get Reading Log Pro for $19
  • Instant download after checkout
  • Works in Google Sheets and Excel
  • Yours to keep and reuse every year

Habit tracker

Tick off each day and watch your streaks grow.

Goal tracker

Targets, milestones and progress that tell you if you're on track.

Assignment tracker

Due dates, grades and what's left, for every class.