Google Sheets progress bar method comparisons
Pick the right progress bar method for your sheet. Each guide compares REPT text bars (copy-paste formulas with live preview) against a common alternative in Google Sheets.
Comparisons
Progress Bar in Google Sheets: REPT Formula vs SPARKLINE
SPARKLINE draws a mini chart inside the cell. REPT builds a plain text bar you can copy, drag down, and share in templates. Use SPARKLINE when you want chart styling; use REPT when you want portable text that prints cleanly.
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Progress Bar in Google Sheets: REPT Formula vs Conditional Formatting
Conditional formatting paints the cell background based on value rules. REPT puts the bar inside the cell as text. Use CF when the bar is decorative color on existing numbers; use REPT when the bar itself is the readable output.
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Progress Bar in Google Sheets: REPT vs Excel CHAR
Excel CHAR only returns characters with codes 1 through 255. Google Sheets CHAR supports the full Unicode range. For progress bars with shade blocks, emoji, or stars, Sheets REPT formulas are simpler and more portable inside the Better Sheets playground library.
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Browse the full formula library
Every comparison links back to copy-paste REPT progress bars with live preview.
Progress bar formulas