How to Build a Notion Reading List Database With Status and Rating

You want a central place in Notion to track what you are reading, what you have finished, and how much you liked each book or article. A standard note or list does not give you the sorting and filtering power you need. A dedicated reading list database with Status and Rating properties solves this problem by turning your library into a searchable, filterable system.

This article walks through creating a new database, adding the correct property types for status and rating, and setting up views that let you see your reading progress at a glance. You will also learn how to add cover images and formulas for extra insight.

What the Reading List Database Does and What You Need

A Notion database stores structured information in rows and columns called properties. Each row is a page that can hold additional content like notes, summaries, or highlights. A reading list database uses properties such as Title, Author, Status, Rating, and Genre to organize your books and articles.

Before building the database, confirm that you have a Notion account with workspace creation rights. Free and paid plans support databases with unlimited rows. You also need a page where the database will live, either a top-level page or a subpage inside an existing workspace.

Steps to Build a Notion Reading List Database With Status and Rating

Follow these steps to create a functional reading list database from scratch. The process uses a Table view for property setup, then switches to a Gallery view for visual browsing.

1. Create a new database page
   Open Notion and navigate to the page where you want the database. Click the + button in the left sidebar or type /database and select Table – Inline. Name the database “Reading List” in the header.
2. Add the Title property
   The first column is already named Name. Rename it to Title by clicking the column header and typing the new name. This column will hold the book or article name.
3. Add a Select property for Status
   Click the + button in the last column header. Choose Select from the property type list. Name the property Status. Add three options: To Read (gray), Reading (blue), Finished (green). Drag the options into this order.
4. Add a Number property for Rating
   Click + again and select Number. Name the property Rating. Click the three dots in the Rating column header and choose Number format. Set Decimal places to 0. Optionally, go to Edit property and enable Number range (Min 1, Max 5) to restrict values.
5. Add an Author Text property
   Click + and select Text. Name the property Author. This column stores the author name as plain text.
6. Add a Genre Select property
   Click + and select Select. Name the property Genre. Add options such as Fiction, Non-Fiction, Science, History, Technology, and Biography.
7. Add a Date property for Date Started
   Click + and select Date. Name the property Date Started. This property tracks when you began reading. Leave the End date option unchecked.
8. Add a Date property for Date Finished
   Click + and select Date. Name the property Date Finished. This property records the completion date. You can use this later in formulas to calculate reading duration.
9. Add a Formula property for reading duration
   Click + and select Formula. Name the property Duration (Days). Enter this formula: if(prop("Date Finished") and prop("Date Started"), dateBetween(prop("Date Finished"), prop("Date Started"), "days"), ""). This shows the number of days between start and finish dates.
10. Switch to a Gallery view
    Click the view name (currently “Table View”) at the top left. Select + Add a view, choose Gallery, and name it “Cover View”. In the Gallery view settings, set Card size to Medium and Card preview to Page cover. This shows book covers as large images.
11. Add a Filter to show only current reading
    In the Gallery view, click Filter at the top. Add a filter: Status contains Reading. This view now shows only books you are currently reading.
12. Add a Sort to order by rating
    In any view, click Sort at the top. Add a sort: Rating descending. This places highest-rated books at the top of the list.
13. Enter your first book entry
    Click + New in the database. Type the book title in the Title field. Set Status to To Read. Leave Rating blank until you finish. Add the author and genre. Optionally, upload a book cover image by clicking Add cover at the top of the page.

If the Database Layout Breaks or Properties Are Missing

Even with correct setup, you may encounter layout or property issues. Below are the most common problems and how to fix them.

Status or Rating column does not appear in a view

When you switch from Table to Gallery view, some properties may be hidden. Click the three dots in the top-right corner of the Gallery view and select Properties. Toggle on Status, Rating, and Author so they appear on each card.

Rating field accepts values above 5

If you did not set a number range, users can type 10 or 100. Open the Rating property by clicking its column header and choosing Edit property. Enable Number range and set Min to 1 and Max to 5. This blocks out-of-range values.

Duration formula shows error or blank for all rows

The formula only works when both Date Started and Date Finished have values. If either date is empty, the formula returns blank. Fill in both dates for any book you have completed. Check that the property names in the formula match exactly: Date Started and Date Finished, including spaces.

Gallery view cards are too small or too large

Click Layout in the top-right corner of the Gallery view. Adjust Card size to Small, Medium, or Large. Set Card preview to Page cover if you want images, or Content if you want text previews.

Reading List Database: Free vs Paid Plan Limits Compared

Item	Free Plan	Plus or Business Plan
Database rows	Unlimited	Unlimited
Properties per database	Up to 50	Up to 100
File uploads per file	5 MB	5 GB per file
View types	Table, Board, Gallery, List, Calendar	All view types plus Timeline
Custom formulas	Supported	Supported
Database automations	Not available	Available on Business and higher

Your reading list database works identically on both plans for basic tracking. The Plus plan gives you larger file attachments for book covers and more properties if you want to add fields like ISBN or Publisher.

Now you have a fully functional reading list database with Status and Rating properties. Start by entering your current book in the Table view, then switch to the Gallery view to see the cover. For an advanced touch, add a Rollup property that counts how many books you finished each month.