This guide shows you how to import data from Google Sheets into Airtable using the free Data Fetcher extension. You'll learn to connect Google Sheets to Airtable, import your spreadsheet rows as Airtable records, and set up automatic syncing for the Google Sheets Airtable integration.
Data Fetcher also works with Google Analytics, Google Ads, Google Maps and other applications.
Install Data Fetcher Extension
1. Install Data Fetcher from the Airtable extension marketplace.
2. Create your free account by entering your name, email address, and password, then click Sign up for free.
3. Alternatively, sign up using your Google account.
4. Already have an account? Sign in using the link at the bottom left of the screen.
How to Connect Google Sheets to Airtable
Create Your Integration Request
1. On the Data Fetcher extension home screen, click Create your first request.
2. For Application, select Google Sheets to use the Google Sheets Airtable integration.
3. Under Authorization, select + New Google Sheets Connection.
Authorize Google Account Access
1. On the new window that opens, select the Google Account which owns the Google Sheet that you want to import to Airtable.
2. On the next screen, Select all to give Data Fetcher all the permissions it needs.
3. Click Continue.
4. Give the request a name such as "Import Google Sheets Data" and click Save & Continue.
Select Your Google Sheet
1. On the next screen, click on the Spreadsheet input to open a new window on datafetcher.com.
2. Click the Select Google Drive Spreadsheet button.
3. Choose the Google Sheet you want to import into Airtable, and click Select.
4. The window will close automatically, and you will be taken back to Data Fetcher with the spreadsheet selected.
Configure Import Settings
1. Select the Sheet you want to import data from using the Airtable Google Sheets integration. The sheet is another name for the tab in your Google Sheet.
2. For Major Dimension, select whether your data is stored as rows or columns in your spreadsheet (rows is pre-selected by default.)
3. Optional: Enter a Range (e.g., 'A1:B20') to import only a particular range of data from the sheet. By default, Data Fetcher will import the entire sheet into Airtable, ignoring any empty rows or columns.
4. First row is field names is set as true by default.
Keep this option on if your sheet has column headers in the first row:
Toggle it off if your first row contains data instead of column headers:
5. Make sure Output Table & View are set to the Airtable table you want to import the Google Sheets data into.
6. Click Save & Run.
Map Your Data Fields
1. Data Fetcher will now connect Airtable to Google Sheets and the Response Field Mapping modal will open.
2. For each field, you can either import or filter it out, and you can either map data to a new field or to an existing field.
3. All fields from the Google spreadsheet will be pre-selected and mapped to new fields by default.
4. Set the "type" of the Airtable fields as needed. For example, you can set a "Unit Price" field to "Currency".
5. Once you're happy with the mapping, click Save & Run.
You'll now see all of your Google Sheets data in your Airtable table. New fields will have been created to match the name of your columns in Google Sheets.
Set Up Data Syncing (Important)
To ensure that Data Fetcher sync Airtable with Google Sheets, even when records are reordered:
1. Navigate to Advanced settings in Data Fetcher.
2. For Update Based on Field(s), select a unique field such as "Reference number", "ID", or "Order number". This keeps your Airtable records in sync with the rows in your Google Sheet.
Set up Automatic Google Sheets Airtable Integration
Currently, you need to manually click Run to import any updates to your Google Sheets data. It's possible to run the Google Sheets Airtable integration automatically at regular intervals, so any changes in the Google Sheet are synced in the Airtable.
This is a paid Data Fetcher feature, so if you haven't already, you will need to upgrade your account.
Upgrade Your Account
1. In Data Fetcher, scroll to Schedule and click Upgrade.
2. Choose a plan from the different options depending on your needs and enter your payment details.
Set Up Automatic Scheduling
1. Under Schedule, click + Authorize.
2. A window will now open, allowing you to authorize the Airtable bases you want Data Fetcher to have access to.
3. If you select + Add all resources this should avoid any issues with unauthorized bases in the future.
4. Click Grant access.
5. Schedule this request will now be switched on in Data Fetcher.
6. Select a schedule for the Google Sheets Airtable integration based on intervals of "Minutes", "Hours", "Days" or "Months".
7. Click Save, and any new data from your Google sheet will automatically import into your Airtable base on your chosen schedule.
Conclusion: Sync Google Sheets with Airtable Successfully
You've now successfully connected Google Sheets to Airtable and set up automatic data syncing. This integration lets you harness the strengths of both tools: Google Sheets for flexible data analysis and real-time collaboration, and Airtable for its database capabilities, automations, and customizable views.
Common Use Cases for Airtable Google Sheets Integration
This integration is particularly useful for:
- Sales teams tracking leads in Google Sheets while managing follow-ups in Airtable
- Event planners collecting registrations via Google Forms to Sheets, then managing attendees in Airtable
- Inventory management where product data is maintained in Sheets but tracked through Airtable's workflow features
- Project management syncing task lists from team spreadsheets into Airtable's kanban boards
- Customer data importing contact information from Sheets into Airtable's CRM features
Advanced Integration: Working with Linked Records
For more complex data relationships, you might want to connect records between different Airtable tables. Check out our detailed guide on Google Sheets to Airtable Sync with Linked Records to learn how to maintain relational data across your integration.
