Airtable automation action: Delete record

Last updated: October 2, 2026

Plan availability	All plan types with varying limitations
Permissions	Owner / Creator - Create, delete, duplicate, configure, or rename an automation and edit an automation's description. Editor - View an automation's configuration or copy an automation's URL.
Platform(s)	Web/Browser, Mac app, and Windows app
Related reading	Airtable automation action: Find records - Find the records you want to delete in an earlier step. Repeating groups of Airtable automation actions - Delete every record in a list. Managing trash in Airtable - Restore a record that was deleted by mistake.

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Setting up an automation to delete a record

When building an automation, you can choose the "Delete record" action to delete a single record. When the automation runs successfully, one record is deleted from the table you specify. You no longer need a "Run a script" action or another workaround to remove records automatically.

The "Delete record" action needs a single record ID to know which record to delete.

To delete records dynamically, make sure the automation's trigger, or an earlier action step, returns the record you want to delete. Then insert that record's ID as a token in the "Delete record" step.
A static record ID points the action at the same record every time the automation runs, so it's rarely what you want.

To set up an automation to delete a record:

Open your Airtable home screen.
Open the base where you want to create an automation containing the delete record action.
1. Alternatively, find an existing automation where you'd like to add this action. Skip to step 7 if this is the case.
Click Automations.
Click + Create new.
Click + Create automation.
Click + Add trigger, then choose and test the trigger you want.
Click + Add advanced logic or action, then click Delete record.
Under "Configuration," select the table that contains the record you want to delete.
In the "Record ID" field, insert a token from an earlier step—usually the ID of the triggering record or of a record returned by a "Find records" action.
Test the action.
1. Choosing the "Generate a preview" option is the safest.
2. If you want a live test, then choose "Run as configured." We recommend using a test record you don't need, since testing a run this way will delete the actual record.
Turn on the automation. Find the red OFF toggle and click it so the automation shows ON in green.

Deleted records go to base trash, where you can restore them for 7 days. To recover a record deleted longer ago than that, use a base snapshot. Learn more in Managing trash in Airtable.

Deleting multiple records in an automation

The "Delete record" action deletes one record per step. To delete multiple records in a single run:

Add a find records step to your automation.
1. This action step should not be inside the repeating group you add next.
Add a repeating group.
Click + Select input list and choose the Find records action you just added, then click Use as list. Then, click Test input list.
Click + Add advanced logic and action and then click the Delete record action option.
In the properties panel ("Configuration"), choose the table where the records (found by record ID) will be deleted.
In the "Record ID" section, click the blue plus icon and choose the Airtable record ID option below the "Insert value from field" section.
1. The Current item option should be chosen by default in the "Use data from..." section. If it isn't, make sure to click that to reveal the option above.
Test the delete record step by clicking Generate a preview.

FAQs

Can the "Delete record" action delete records in another base?

No. An automation's trigger and actions can only reference tables in the base the automation lives in. Learn more in Getting started with Airtable automations.

Can I still use a script to delete records?

Yes. The Run a script action can still delete records, which can be useful for more complex logic. The "Run a script" action is unavailable on the Free plan.

My automation deleted the wrong record. How do I fix it?

First, restore the record from base trash. Then check the "Record ID" input in the "Delete record" step: a static record ID, or a "Find records" step whose conditions match more records than you expect, are the most common causes. The automation's run history shows exactly which record ID was used on each run.