Google Sheets offers best-in-class tools for bookkeeping. It can be used to record and report transactions for both personal and business purposes. Thereby helping individuals and business owners track expenses and profits.
Keeping track of money paid and received can be frustrating without proper tools at your disposal.
If you are looking to stay organized with your transactions, then you have come to the right place.
In this article, we will discuss the top 5 FREE Google Sheets Ledger Template of 2024. Ultimately, I will guide you through a step-by-step process of creating a Ledger spreadsheet template from scratch.
Why are Ledger Templates created using Google Sheets a must-try?
Gone are the days when you had to maintain a ledger in the form of registers.
Google Sheets is an online spreadsheet program that makes your life easier when organizing transactions and calculating profits.
Here are a few of the benefits of using Google Sheets:
- Real-time Collaboration – As an online spreadsheet program, Google Sheets can be shared with unlimited users. You can assign a specific role to each user. Depending upon their role, users can either view, edit, or comment. Multiple users can collaborate simultaneously, and all the changes can be viewed through a built-in feature called Version history within the Google Sheets.
- Budget-friendly – Google Sheets is a free-to-use program for individuals. All they need is a free Google account. Further, they can add any feature to their Ledger template without limiting the usage of tools or built-in functions.
- Accessibility – You can access Google Sheets from anywhere in the world as long as you have an internet connection. It is compatible with all types of devices, including desktop and mobile.
- Ease of Use – Google Sheets has a short learning curve compared to its rivals. It comes with an easy-to-use and intuitive user interface. It may hardly take a few hours for you to add and edit information. Simply put, you don’t need any prior experience to use this spreadsheet software.
- Robust Reporting – It boasts a massive collection of functions and tools that lets users create comprehensive reports. You can summarize a huge table using various built-in charts and graphs. Moreover, finding monthly expenses and profits is a breeze with Google Sheets.
Apart from the above, you can customize the Google Sheets template per your requirements. Add your brand logo, change the font type and colors, adjust the cell background color, and more.
Top 5 FREE Google Sheets Ledger Template
There are numerous Google Sheets Ledger Template available online. Few of them are helpful, and the rest require expert knowledge to keep track of expenses.
We understand you can’t test every template and find the perfect fit.
In the following section, I have compiled a list of 5 FREE Google Sheets Ledger templates for you.
1. General Ledger Template by SoftwareAccountant

Click Here To Use The Template!
This template by SoftwareAccountant is the right fit for individuals and small business owners.
It allows you to categorize expenses and automatically calculate the remaining balance at the top of the spreadsheet.
You can enter the details such as date of transaction, account type, description, amount credited or debited, etc. The template uses built-in functions to calculate the balance remaining.
Don’t forget to add your business name or logo to the template’s header.
It is pretty straightforward, and anyone can download and use it for free.
2. General Ledger (GI) Reconciliation Template by Template.net

Click Here To Use The Template!
This is another easy-to-use General Ledger Template on this list, mainly aimed at small business owners.
It allows you to add your business details, including the name, logo, address, and email.
You need to start by adding the date of transitions followed by the description. Then, enter the amount in the DEBIT or CREDIT column, depending upon the transaction type.
Finally, the Balance column of the table uses built-in functions to calculate the remaining amount automatically.
It can also be used to track individual transactions with some modifications.
3. Ledger Template by Spreadsheetpoint

Click Here To Use The Template!
This template by Spreadsheetpoint is pretty straightforward. It is helpful for small businesses to track transactions.
The template includes sample data for your reference. You can delete it and start entering your transaction details.
Similar to the other two templates discussed above, it automatically calculates the closing balance using a simple formula. So, adding Opening Balance in cell B4 is crucial as the template performs various calculations based on that information.
It is a simple template with a huge table spread across the screen. You don’t need any expert knowledge to use this template. Simply click the above link, make a copy, and start recording money paid and received.
4. Simple General Ledger Template by Smartsheet

Click Here To Use The Template!
This beautifully designed Ledger Template by Smartsheet allows users to track financial transactions over a month.
It can be used for various purposes, including individual, household, and business.
At the top of the template, you can add bank details such as name, contact, and account number. The template automatically calculates the ending balance for the month using built-in functions.
The template contains a huge table where you need to add the transaction date, description, post reference, and amount depending upon the type of transaction.
Note that all the values in the TOTAL DEBIT and TOTAL CREDIT columns are calculated automatically. So, avoid editing them, or the template won’t be able to calculate the ending balance for the month.
5. General Ledger by FreshBooks

Click Here To Use The Template!
This is our last pick on this list. It is designed for small and medium-sized business owners.
The template is divided into various tables for recording owner investments, client sales, and general transactions. For each transaction, you must start by adding the date, account type, account name, client/vendor name, and amount.
The template is simple to use once you understand each table. You can add more rows easily to record your transactions.
Note that the template uses formulas to calculate the total amount at the end of each table. When you add a row, the second task will be to expand the range for the respective formula at the end of the table.
How to create a Ledger Template using Google Sheets
Now, let us learn to create a Ledger Template from scratch using built-in Google Sheets tools and functions.

It is a step-by-step guide for the beginners.
STEP #1 – Creating The Template Header
The header is the crucial element of a template. It will make your template more personalized with your business name or logo.
Let’s begin,
- Open a new Google Sheet by clicking here
- Select the entire first row
- Increase the height as shown in the following image
- Select all the cells from B1 to I1
- Hover to the toolbar section
- Click on the Merge cells icon
- Type “SoftwareAccountant – General Ledger“
(Make sure to replace the name SoftwareAccountant with your company name) - Increase the font size to 18
- Change the font alignment to the middle
- Change the font style to “Lexend
- Adjust the cell background color to green (HEX Code – #00ac46)
- Change the font color to white
Here’s how our header looks,

STEP #2 – Creating The Summary Tables
We need the following three tables,

Let us start by creating tables for duration and bank account details.
Note that we are creating a Ledger template to track our transactions over a month. If you want, then you can use it to track transactions on a weekly or yearly basis as well.
- Select the cell “B3“
- Type “Month“
- Next, select the cell “B4” and type “Bank“
- Repeat the above 3 steps and create a table as shown below
- Select all the cells from B3 to B6
- Change the cell background color to green (HEX Code – #00ac46)
- Change the font color to white
- Adjust the font alignment to the middle
- Change the font type to “Lexend“
- Now, select the range “B3:C6” as shown below
- Hover to the toolbar section and click on the Borders icon
- Change the border color to light gray, as shown in the following image
- Click on the Borders icon again and select the option “All borders“
Our bank details table is done, and it looks as follows.

Now, let us create the opening balance table.
- Select the cell “E3“
- Type “Opening Balance“
- Change the cell background color to green (HEX Code – #00ac46)
- Change the font color to white
- Adjust the font alignment to the middle
- Change the font type of “Lexend“
- Now, select the E3 and F3
- Hover to the toolbar section and click on the Borders icon
- Select “All borders“
Next, we will repeat the same process for the Closing Balance table.
Here’s how both of them look after following the above steps.

STEP #3 – Formatting The Summary Tables
We have already changed the cell background color, font styles, and borders.
Now, let us make sure when you select the month for your Ledger, a small calendar popup will appear.
- Select the cell “C3“
- Hover to the main menu and click on the “Data” tab
- Select “Data validation” from the popup
- A new dialog box will appear on the right side of the screen. Refer to the following image
- Click on the “Add rule” button
- Click the dropdown below the “Criteria” option
- Choose “Is valid date” from the list
- Press the “Done” button
- Next, go to the main menu and click on the “Format” tab
- Select the “Number” option from the popup
- Choose “Custom date and time“
- A new dialog box will open
- Select the date format as “5 August 1903
- Now, in the editor bar, click on the “Day (5)” button
- Select “Delete” from the popup
- Similarly, click on the “Year (1930)” button
- Select “Delete” from the popup
- Press the “Apply” button
Now, if you double-click on the cell C3, a calendar popup will appear.

Also, if you select any date of the desired month, only the month name will be displayed, as shown below.

Let us change the Opening and Closing Balance format as well. We need to make sure whenever a value is entered within these cells, a dollar symbol appears at the beginning.
- Select the cell “F3“
- Hover to the main menu and click on the “Format” tab
- Choose “Number” from the popup
- Click on “Accounting“
- Repeat the above three steps by selecting the cell “I3“
So, if you enter any number within the cell F3 and I3, it will appear as shown below.
STEP #4 – Creating A Table to Record Transactions
This is the main step where we will create a table to record the transactions.
Let’s begin,
- Select the cell “B8“
- Type “Date“
- Select the cell “C8” and type “Account“
- Repeat the above steps and complete the table header as shown below
- Now, select all the cells from B8 to I8
- Change the cell background color to green (HEX Code – #00ac46)
- Change the font color to white
- Adjust the font alignment to the middle
- Change the font type to “Lexend“
- Select the table range as “B8:I20“. Refer to the following image
- Hover to the toolbar section and click on the Borders icon
- Select the first option, “All borders“
Our table is ready.

STEP #5 – Formatting the Table that Tracks the Transactions
We need to make sure that while selecting the date of the transaction, a calendar popup appears.
- Select all the cells from B9 to B20
- Hover to the main menu and click on the “Data” tab
- Choose “Data validation” from the popup
- A new dialog box will appear on the right side of the screen
- Click on the “Add rule” button
- Click the dropdown below the “Criteria” option
- Select “Is valid date” from the list
- Press the “Done” button at the bottom
Now, if you click on any cell between B9 and B20, a calendar popup will appear, as shown in the following image.

Similarly, let’s make sure that whenever we type a number in the CREDIT, DEBIT, or Balance column, a dollar symbol appears at the beginning.
- Select the table range (F9:H20) as shown in the following image
- Go to the main menu and click on the “Format” tab
- Click on the “Number” option
- Choose “Accounting” from the list
Finally, let’s color code the CREDIT and DEBIT columns with light green and orange colors, respectively.
- Select all the cells from F9 to F20
- Change the cell background color to light green
- Now, select all the cells from G9 to G20
- Change the cell background color to light orange
That’s it!
Our table is ready with all the formatting.
STEP #6 – Calculating the Remaining Balance after each transaction using Google Sheets Functions
This is the crucial step that requires knowledge of the Google Sheets functions.
If you are new to Google Sheets, then don’t worry. You can directly copy and paste the formulas provided by us.
We will start with cell H9, where we need to calculate the balance based on the Opening Balance and the amount credited or debited during the first transaction. The formula is as follows,
=IF(AND(F9="",G9=""),"",F3+F9-G9)
Here are the steps,
- Select the cell “H9“
- Type the formula “=IF(AND(F9=””,G9=””),””,F3+F9-G9)”
- Press “Enter” key
Now, in the H10 column, the balance will be calculated based on the remaining amount after the first transaction and the amount credited or debited during the second transaction. The formula will be as follows,
=IF(AND(F10="",G10=""),"",H9+F10-G10)
Here are the steps,
- Select the cell “H10“
- Type the formula “=IF(AND(F10=””,G10=””),””,H9+F10-G10)”
- Press the “Enter” key
Let us copy this formula for the rest of the cells of the Balance column.
All you need to do is select cell H10 and hover over the Fill Handle that appears on the lower-rightmost corner of the cell.

You will see a “+” icon. Click on it and drag it to the end of the table.
STEP #7 – Calculating the Monthly Closing Balance using Google Sheets Functions
For the monthly overview, we need the closing balance. It will also be our remaining balance after each transaction.
We will use the following formula in the cell I3,
=F3+SUM(F9:F20)-SUM(G9:G20)
Here are the steps,
- Select the cell “I3“
- Type the formula “=F3+SUM(F9:F20)-SUM(G9:G20)”
- Press “Enter” key
Instead of manually typing the formula, which may lead to errors, copy and paste the above formula into cell I3.
STEP #8 – Disable the Gridlines
To improve the aesthetics of our Ledger Template, we will turn off the gridlines.
- Hover to the main menu
- Click on the “View” tab
- Select “Show” from the popup
- Click on “Gridlines“
Here’s how our template looks after turning off the gridlines.

You can download a copy of the template I created using the following link.