Add details to Trello cards

15 min

Beginner

By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to:

Add a cover to a card
Use labels to categorize cards
Add attachments to a card
Use checklists to break down large tasks into smaller tasks
Add a start date, due date, and reminders to a card
Mark a task as complete

Add context to cards with covers, labels, and attachments

Add covers to cards

Like the cover of a book, card covers appear on the outside of a card. They help categorize different types of tasks and add visual interest to your Trello board. You can use colors or images as covers.

👇 Here’s a board with card covers.

Screenshot of a Trello board showing images as the covers for cards

To add a cover:

Click a card to open it.
On the right side of the card, select Cover.
Select a size and a color or image for the card cover. You can upload images or choose from a gallery.

Add labels to cards

Labels are colored dashes that quickly show a piece of information about a card from the board view.

👉 For example: You can create a green label that means that work is on track, a yellow label that means you’re waiting for someone or have questions, and a red label that means the work is at risk or past a deadline.

When you add a label to a card, you’ll select a color and enter some text. You won’t see the text from the board view, but you’ll see it if you open the card.

👇 Here's what labels look like on each card.

Screenshot of Trello highlighting the labels on Trello cards

To add a label:

Click a card to open it.
On the right side of the card, select Labels.
Select an existing label or create your own.

You can use colorblind-friendly mode, which adds a unique design to each label.

Add attachments to cards

You can attach documents to cards to provide relevant files. You can attach files from your computer, Trello, Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, or OneDrive. You can also attach links by pasting the URL into the text box. There are two ways to add attachments to a card.

👇 Click the tabs below to learn how to add attachments.

Click the card to open it.
On the right side of the card, select Attachment.
Choose a file to upload or paste a link.

Anyone looking at the card will be able to access the attachment or link.

Track tasks with checklists, dates, and other tools

Add checklists to cards

If you want to track smaller work items related to a card, you can add a checklist to the card. You can check each small task as you complete it.

👇 Here's what a checklist looks like in Trello.

Screenshot of a Trello card back showing a checklist

To add a checklist:

Click a card to open it.
On the right side of the card, select Checklist.
Name your checklist and select Add.
Click Add an item.
Type a name for the item, then press Return or Enter on your keyboard, or select Add.

You can mention your team members in checklists by typing @ and then their name. If you have a Trello premium subscription, you can assign items to yourself and other users and add due dates.

You can choose to hide checked items by selecting Hide checked items.

Add start dates and due dates to cards

You can add dates to Trello cards to show when the work starts and when it’s due. If you set a due date reminder, Trello will notify all members and watchers of that card at the time you choose.

To add dates to cards:

Click a card to open it.
On the right side of the card, select Dates.
Select a start date, due date, or both by checking the box, selecting a date on the calendar, and entering a time.
Optionally, select when to send a reminder notification relative to the due date.
Click Save.

👇 Here's where to add a start date, due date, and reminder in Trello.

Screenshot of a Trello card back showing the Start date and Due date configuration area

Track your completed work

In Trello there are several ways to indicate a task as done. Choose whatever method works best for you!

👇 Click the boxes below to learn some ways to show your task is complete.

Let's explore an example

Takashi is working closely with a client on a project. He decides the best way to manage the work is to add a few card details. He selects one of the cards on his board so he can start adding details.

👇 Click the tabs below to see how Takashi adds details to his cards.

Takashi is currently in his Project Management Trello board. He wants to add details to one of his cards in the To Do list. He selects one of the cards in this list. The card opens to reveal the card back where he can start adding details.

Screenshot of the back of a Trello card titled "Curate customer list"

Now, Takashi wants a way that he can easily identify cards that have client tasks.

👉 Which card details can Takashi add to achieve this? Select the next tab to find out.

Let's review!

Review these questions and see if you understood the key concepts in this lesson.

How would you explain card details, covers, labels, and checklists to a coworker?
Select and view a template from the Trello template library. Can you identify card covers, labels, and checklists?
Consider how you’d like to mark items as complete on your Trello board. Which of the methods presented in this lesson would best serve your needs?

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Create custom fields in Trello

What are custom fields?
Create a custom field
Use custom fields
Try it yourself
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