If you’re an avid Notion user, you’ve likely come across Notion’s pre-made templates. However, there is a way to create your own templates. Using a template can help you save time by eliminating the need to copy content several times.
Whether you rely on Notion for work, school, or personal use, templates are a helpful tool to boost your all-around productivity. Here’s how you can create a custom page template in Notion.
1. Create a Template Button
Notion templates are undoubtedly convenient, offering a range of ready-to-use structures for various tasks and projects. Although there are plenty of free Notion templates, the one you require might be paid. A custom template is tailored to your distinct needs and preferences and is free to create and use.
To create a custom template in Notion, you’ll first need to create a template button. This will serve as a trigger to activate the template when clicked. There are many uses for buttons, but in this guide, we’ll use buttons for managing templates.
To create a new template button:
- Type the command /button on a new line
- Click Insert Blocks from the list of options.
- Assign the template a name.
2. Add Content to the Template
Now, it’s time to add content to the template. There are multiple ways to achieve this. The method you choose depends on whether you have an existing page to use or whether you want to add content from scratch. Here are three ways to add content to your page template.
A. Building the Template From Scratch
The first way to build a template is to create it inside the button’s editing window. This method is best for working with simple or smaller templates.
Click the box beneath the Insert Blocks heading to activate the editing window. Now, you can create and customize your template however you wish. Conveniently, you’ll have access to all the commands and Notion shortcuts available in the standard editor. While the editing space is small, you can easily expand it by hitting the Enter key several times.
B. Add Existing Blocks to the Template
Another method to build the template is to add existing blocks from your workspace. Instead of starting from scratch, this method relies on dragging content inside the editing window.
Moving content is easy thanks to Notion’s efficient block-based editor. For content located on the same page as the template button, highlight the blocks and then click and drag the six dots icon to move the block inside the template button.
If the block is in another location, highlight the block, and then use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + P. This shortcut allows you to move the block straight to the template page.
C. Adding an Existing Page to the Template
If you already have a page to use as a Notion template, you can quickly convert it. All you need to know is what page your template button is on and where the existing page is.
To turn a Notion page into a template:
- Navigate to the sidebar and locate the page in your workspace.
- Hit the three dots to the right of the tab and select Move to.
- Type the name of the page where the button is located.
Once the page is in the right place, all that’s left is to paste its contents into the template. Drag the six dots to move the page into the button’s editing window. Then, click the three dots beside the page title and select Turn Into. Pick Text from the list of options to paste the page into the editing window.
3. Using the Template
After following any of the three methods above, click Done inside the editing window. Now, you can generate your custom page template with the click of a button.
To apply the template to a new page, you’ll need to create a copy of the button. Thanks to Notion’s shortcuts, you can easily generate and apply multiple copies of your template. First, lock the sidebar by pressing Ctrl + \ on your keyboard. Then, hold Alt and drag the button to copy it to another page.
Save Time and Create Your Own Templates in Notion
While Notion has many pre-made templates, you can expand your creativity by creating your own template. Using a custom template gives you the freedom to design something that best suits you.
Following the steps outlined in this guide can save time and streamline your Notion workflow. Don’t waste time writing the same material over and over—be efficient and use a page template.