How to Link Airtable Bases with Make.com

Linking Airtable bases with Make.com and native Airtable automations lets you sync records, keep data clean, and reduce manual updates across multiple workspaces and bases.

This guide walks you step by step through creating linked bases in Airtable, configuring automations, and using clear naming conventions so your data stays organized and reliable.

Why Link Airtable Bases with Make.com

When teams grow, one base is rarely enough. You might split data by department, client, or environment (test vs. production). By linking Airtable bases and combining them with Make.com scenarios or Airtable automations, you can:

Keep a single source of truth while exposing only the data each team needs
Automate record updates instead of copying and pasting information
Reduce errors caused by duplicate or out-of-date records
Scale your Airtable setup across multiple workspaces

The method below focuses on Airtable’s native capabilities, which you can later extend with Make.com if you need more complex cross-base logic.

Plan and Prepare Your Airtable Bases

Before you configure anything, decide exactly how data should flow between your bases.

Define the source and destination bases

First, decide which base is the source of truth and which bases will receive or mirror that data.

Source base: the base where records are originally created and maintained.
Destination base: the base that receives synced or copied records from the source.

Make sure every primary table in your source base has a clear purpose, such as projects, tasks, contacts, or assets.

Use clear and durable record identifiers

When linking bases, a stable identifier is essential. Airtable’s record ID is ideal because it does not change. In your source base:

Add a formula field to expose the record ID.
- Use the formula RECORD_ID().
Give this field a clear name such as Source Record ID or Master Record ID.
Ensure this field is included in any synced views or automation steps.

This ID will help you reliably match records across bases when building automations or when extending logic with Make.com.

Set Up a Synced Table Between Airtable Bases

Airtable’s synced tables allow one base to receive read-only data from another base. This is the foundation for linking bases.

Create a synced table from the source base

Open the destination base where you want the data to appear.
Click + Add or import a table.
Choose Sync data from.
Select Airtable base as the source.
Pick the source base and the table you want to sync.
Choose an appropriate view (e.g., an “All Records for Sync” view).
Confirm and create the synced table.

The synced table in the destination base is now read-only and will update automatically when records change in the source base.

Include the record ID in the sync

To make cross-base automations work smoothly, ensure the Source Record ID field is part of the synced view. If needed:

Return to the source base.
Edit the view used for syncing.
Show the Source Record ID field in that view.

After saving, Airtable will update the synced table with the new field.

Build Automations to Link Bases without Make.com

You can link records across bases based on the synced data by using Airtable’s built-in automations. This works well on its own and can later be combined with Make.com for advanced workflows.

Create an automation in the destination base

Open the destination base.
Click Automations in the top bar.
Select Create automation.
Give the automation a descriptive name, such as Link to Source Records.

Choose a trigger for the automation

Common triggers for cross-base linking include:

When a record is created in the synced table
When a record matches conditions based on specific filters
When a record is updated so that changes in the synced table propagate to related tables

Pick the trigger that aligns with your process. For example, use “When a record is created” to automatically create a related record in another table whenever a new item appears in the synced table.

Add actions to create or update linked records

Once the trigger is set, add one or more actions:

Create record in another table within the destination base.
- Map fields from the synced table to the new record (name, status, dates, etc.).
Update record when the synced data changes.
- Use the Source Record ID to find the correct record to update.
Link to another record using a linked-record field.
- Insert the target record’s ID or use a “Find record” action first, based on the identifier.

Test the automation, then turn it on once it behaves as expected.

Use Make.com for Advanced Cross-Base Sync

Although Airtable can handle linking bases natively, adding Make.com to your stack lets you extend your workflows across apps, workspaces, and even external services.

When to introduce Make.com

Consider using Make.com alongside your Airtable setup when you need to:

Sync data between multiple Airtable workspaces or accounts
Combine Airtable data with tools like CRMs, project managers, or support desks
Transform data (merge, split, filter, or enrich) before writing it into another base
Log changes, send notifications, or create reports in other systems

Make.com can watch changes in your Airtable bases and then push updates into other bases or tools, all while keeping your existing synced tables and automations in place.

Best practices for Make.com and Airtable

Always expose the Source Record ID field so Make.com can reliably match records.
Keep naming conventions consistent between Airtable and Make.com modules.
Use filters and routers in Make.com to avoid unnecessary operations on unchanged records.
Start with read-only scenarios first, then add write actions once you are confident in the logic.

Naming Conventions for Linked Bases and Make.com

Clean naming keeps your Airtable environment and Make.com scenarios understandable for every collaborator.

Name bases and tables clearly

Include the function and environment in the base name, for example:
- Client Projects – Master
- Client Projects – Ops View
Use similar table names across bases when they represent the same concept.

Name fields for cross-base workflows

Use Source Record ID or Master Record ID to mark IDs coming from the primary base.
Prefix fields that are managed by automations or Make.com, such as Auto: Last Synced.
Group related fields together using a shared prefix, e.g., Client – Name, Client – Status.

Monitor and Maintain Your Linked Bases

After your linked bases and Make.com workflows are live, regular checks will keep everything stable.

Monitor sync status and automations

Check the synced table settings for any sync errors.
Review automation run history for failures or unexpected behavior.
Use dedicated views for records that need attention (e.g., missing IDs or unmatched links).

Document your Airtable and Make.com setup

Create a simple documentation base or page that covers:

Which base is the source of truth
What each synced table represents
Which automations or Make.com scenarios touch each table
Who owns maintenance of each workflow

Clear documentation helps new team members understand your linked structure and prevents accidental changes.

Next Steps and Helpful Resources

Once you have your first linked bases running smoothly, you can expand the system with more advanced filters, views, and automation logic. For expert automation strategy and implementation across Airtable and Make.com, you can explore consulting resources at Consultevo.

To dive deeper into Airtable’s native capabilities for linking bases, review the official how-to guide at this external resource. Combine these practices with carefully designed Make.com scenarios and you will have a scalable, resilient system for managing data across all your Airtable bases.

Need Help With Make.com?

If you want expert help building, automating, or scaling your Make scenarios, work with ConsultEvo — certified workflow and automation specialists.

Get Help

Link Airtable bases with Make.com