54+ Printable To Do List & Checklist Templates

Most of us use some form of a list in our everyday lives to help us keep track of the tasks we want to accomplish or help us remember important things in our lives. Making a list also helps us save time and not forget things, such as a grocery list of items we need to purchase for supper. Creating a checklist of all of the items we need to bring with us on vacation is another very common list.

Lists are used extensively in business as well. Task lists, To-do lists, and project lists are just a few of the different forms they may take. Many people will list the items they want to keep track of on a notepad, while many will use electronic lists on their computers or smartphones.

Let’s review list templates, what they are, types, and how to create them in the following paragraphs.

What Is a List Template?

A list template is a document or spreadsheet or a master list you have created to use every time you need to keep track of something. For example, a grocery list template might contain all of the groceries you typically purchase when grocery shopping. Every item is not required each time you go to the grocery store. However, reviewing the master grocery list template each time and selecting those items needed on the current trip will help save time and avoid multiple trips to the store to purchase items that were forgotten.

The same concept applies to many different types of activities, e.g., vacation planning, donation planning, guest lists, and many more. Once you have created your master list template, it can be reused each time you need to complete an activity.

Types of List Templates

There are many different list templates; however, they do have some things in common. They are tailored to the activity the list will be used for. For example, a To-Do list will have a task, start date, due date, and other subcategories based on the objective of the list. A grocery list will have a list of items to purchase (task) and possibly the prices indicated to help with budgeting. The following is a short description and list templates (in Word, Excel and PDF Format) of several of the more common lists many consumers and business people use in their everyday lives.

Asset List Template

Your assets consist of everything you own, whether it is cash, equities, mutual funds, bonds, your bank accounts, property and land, and all of your personal property, including your house, furnishings, vehicles, and all of the toys you may own. The first step is to consider what kind of an asset list you want to maintain. For example, it might be only financial. Other types are physical assets such as property or perhaps your personal property. The headings you may use may vary depending on the type of asset; however, in general, you need the following:

• Index number
• Item description
• Quantity
• Location
• Date purchased
• Model number
• Serial number
• Approximate value
• Date sold or removed from the list

In addition to being organized and having a list of everything you own, asset lists are handy to have for insurance claims. Your list eliminates guessing about what you had when it was purchased and the value. Many consumers keep their asset list in a safe place where it cannot be damaged by fire or floods.

Attendance List Template

Attendance list templates are useful to keep track of who is attending, their contact information, and whether you have reached out to them after your event. The simplest one is the school attendance list template, where you check attendance each morning to keep track of who is in attendance each morning.

Attendance lists are also used at seminars, meetings, and any group activity that involves keeping track of who is participating. Headings for this type of attendance list may include:

• ID number
• Full name
• Company
• Phone number
• Email
• Contact permission
• (Other as dictated by the type of meeting, seminar, etc.)

Catering List Template

Several catering list templates may be required depending on your business and the services offered. A contract catering list template lists all of the services offered by your company with a location for the customer to check off those services needed, the price, and a location for their signature.

From the contract catering list, some companies will create catering delivery checklist templates to capture all of the items that must be completed and delivered to the venue. If multiple groups are involved, there may be several lists, e.g., furniture, food, decoration, etc.; your list may also include who is assigned to each task and when each item needs to be completed.

Checklist Template

The checklist template can be a generic template to list anything that must be kept track of. It can be specialized and focused on a particular activity. For example, a checklist for travel would include all of the things you may need to bring with you on every trip, things to do when leaving the house, e.g., adjusting the thermometer, locking doors and windows, turning the water off, setting automatic lights and setting the alarm system to name a few. This list would be used every time you left on a trip and updated as new items were identified that needed to be added.

Contact List Template

Contact list templates are often used by individuals and companies to keep track of their contacts or generate new contacts. You may have seen a signup sheet at a conference where you can request more information. These contact list templates request basic info such as:

• Name
• Email
• Phone number
• Company
• Product interest

There may be additional columns to check off that you have contacted or followed up with the person regarding their interest area.

A contact list can also have additional information that is gathered and maintained by sales teams. In addition to the above, they may add some or all of the following:

• Contact category
• Date of the last contact
• Date to Follow-up
• Hot or cold prospect

And more depending on the business and use of the contact list.

Donation List Template

Donation list templates help you keep track of donations made to your organization, who donated them, and how they are distributed. Keep a master donation list template handy and use multiple pages whenever you need them. The headings on your template should include:

• Counter or serial number
• Category
• Item description
• Donated from
• Donate to
• Notes

Grocery List Template

A grocery list template can be a simple list of groceries routinely purchased for the family. While the list contains all of the items normally purchased, not every trip to the grocery store requires each item to be purchased. The list can be used as a reminder of those items to confirm they are needed with a checkmark or a separate grocery list for the day’s shopping.

A grocery list can be used to compare prices to ensure the consumer is getting the best price. Adding columns to include multiple stores and the price at each store for comparison can save money for the consumer, even though it does take additional work.

The grocery list template might contain the following columns:

• Grocery item
• Quantity needed
• Store name #1 (the price at the store for each grocery item is provided in this column)
• Total Cost
• Store name #2
• Total Cost

Stores are added based on how many will be used in comparison shopping. The total cost can be used to help decide which store will be selected for purchasing various items.

Guest List Template

Guestlist templates are much like attendance lists; however, they can be divided into two separate lists. The first is a list you might prepare listing all of the people you intend to invite to an event, e.g., party, wedding, meeting, etc.

Titles might include:

• Full name
• Address
• Email
• Phone number

The second type of guest list template is even closer to an attendance list. Perhaps you would make it available for people to add their names and contact information as they enter the event. This is useful to keep track of who attended and for later follow-up.

Titles may include:

• Full name
• Address
• Phone number
• Email
• Other as needed depending on the event

Inventory List Template

Much like an asset list, the inventory list template is often used by business people while taking inventory of all of their finished and unfinished goods along with equipment, etc. each is customized to fit the business the inventory list will be used for; however, some of the essential headings included in an inventory list template are:

• Index number
• Item description
• Quantity
• Location
• Date purchased
• Model number
• Serial number
• Approximate value
• Date sold or removed from the list

Packing List Template

Packing list templates are used during the shipping process to indicate what is being shipped and to who. Company information is already included on the packing list. The packing list will also include:

• Sold to
• Sent from
• Date
• Account No
• Contract No
• Shipping date
• Shipping Company

The details of what is being shipped will be included with multiple lines for multiple items shipped as part of the same shipment.

• Item description
• Quantity
• Shipping number
• Total weight
• Product number
• Shipping instructions
• Signature

Price List Template

Primarily used by businesses to keep track of the prices they have assigned to each item in their inventory, the price list template must contain four essential elements:

• Product number
• Product name
• Description
• Price

This list will be the master list used by employees and may be updated from time to time to add new products, change the price, or remove the item from the price list if it is no longer offered.

Reference List Template

A reference list template helps you to organize those people you would like to ask to be referenced for a job application or a personal application, e.g., colleges and universities. Always ask your intended reference if it is ok to submit their name as a reference to avoid any embarrassing moments.

The following headings are common for a reference list template:

• Name
• Job title
• Full contact information
• Workplace
• Your relationship
• Company or organization you provided their name to
• The date you provided their name

Shopping List Template

The shopping list template is a straightforward template providing space to list all of the items on your shopping list for the day or whatever time period you choose. Items missed or not found can be transferred to a new shopping list for the next time.

Many consumers will place their shopping list in a convenient place, often the kitchen, so they can quickly jot down items they may need to pick up on their next shopping excursion.

To-Do List Template

The To-Do list template can be a simple list of things that need to be completed, or it can be very sophisticated and include:

• Title
• Description
• Start date
• Due date
• Resources needed
• And much more

The To-Do list is a very useful tool to keep track of all of the tasks that must be attended to during busy schedules. Completed items can be crossed off, providing a sense of accomplishment. Uncompleted items can either be rescheduled to another day or left as uncompleted, requiring attention and focus.

How to Create a List Template?

Setting up a list template is quite straightforward, and you can modify it as you gain experience with it. There are several steps to consider, which will make it easier to set up and provide you with great results.

Plan your list – take a moment to think about the objectives for the list and how you will use it.

Add Columns and rows – add titles for each column, rearrange them as needed, and leave space to add additional columns. Add rows for data entry. Typically, the first column will be an id number or serial number for reference purposes.

Test your list – add a few data points to confirm that it will meet your needs. Adjust the titles or add more columns as needed.

Finalize and Save – once you are satisfied with your list template, make copies or save it electronically. Always title the copy when it is being saved as a master list, type, serial number, and date. In the future, if you decide to update the list, the new list can be saved with the same name with a new date and serial number to help you keep track of your lists.

FAQs

The following are a few of the typical frequently asked questions about creating and using various list templates.