The fastest way to change color in Excel
To change the color of a cell or text in Excel, select what you want to color, then use the fill color or font color button in the toolbar. The fill color button (looks like a paint bucket) changes the background of the cell. The font color button (looks like an "A" with a colored line) changes the text itself. Click the small arrow next to either button to pick a color from the palette.
Both buttons sit in the Home tab at the top of the screen. If you are using Excel on a phone or tablet, the buttons appear in the formatting menu after you select your cells.
Key Takeaways
- Select the cell or cells you want to color, then click the fill color or font color button in the Home tab toolbar.
- The fill color button (paint bucket icon) colors the cell background; the font color button (letter A icon) colors the text.
- Click the small arrow next to either button to open a color palette with standard colors and custom color options.
- You can color multiple cells at once by selecting them all before clicking the color button.
- Excel remembers the last color you used, so clicking the button itself (not the arrow) will reuse that color on new selections.
Selecting cells before you color them
You must select the cell or cells first. Click on a single cell to select it, or click and drag across multiple cells to select a range. You can also click on a cell, hold Shift, and click on another cell to select everything between them.
If you want to select cells that are not next to each other, click on the first cell, then hold Ctrl (or Cmd on a Mac) and click on each additional cell you want to color. All of them will turn blue to show they are selected, and any color you explore will affect all of them at once.
Using the fill color button for cell backgrounds
The fill color button is the paint bucket icon in the Home tab. After you select your cells, click the small arrow next to the paint bucket to open the color palette. A grid of standard colors appears — pick any one and it will fill the background of your selected cells.
If you want a color that is not in the standard palette, click "More Colors" at the bottom of the palette. A larger window opens where you can pick from thousands of colors or enter a specific color code if you know it. This is useful when you are trying to match a color from another document or follow a company color scheme.
The paint bucket button itself (not the arrow) remembers the last color you used. If you click it directly without opening the palette, Excel will fill your new selection with that same color. This saves time when you are coloring many cells the same shade.
Using the font color button for text
The font color button is the "A" with a colored line underneath it, also in the Home tab. Select your cells first, then click the arrow next to it to open the color palette. Pick a color and the text inside those cells will change to that color.
Font color works the same way as fill color: the standard palette appears first, "More Colors" opens a larger picker, and clicking the button itself reuses the last color you chose. You can combine font color and fill color on the same cells — for example, white text on a dark blue background.
Coloring entire rows or columns
To color a whole row, click on the row number on the left side of the screen (the numbers 1, 2, 3, and so on). The entire row turns blue. Then click the fill color button to color all cells in that row at once.
To color a whole column, click on the column letter at the top (A, B, C, and so on). The entire column turns blue. Then use the fill color button as usual. This is faster than selecting individual cells when you want to color a large section of your sheet.
Removing or changing color you have already applied
To remove fill color from cells, select them and click the arrow next to the fill color button. At the top of the palette, you will see "No Color" — click it and the background will return to white.
To change a color you have already applied, straightforward select the cells and pick a new color from the palette. The new color replaces the old one. If you want to remove font color, select the cells, click the arrow next to the font color button, and choose "Automatic" at the top of the palette.
Using conditional formatting for automatic coloring
If you want cells to change color automatically based on their values — for example, turning red when a number is below a certain amount — use conditional formatting instead of manual coloring. Click on the cells you want to format, then go to the Home tab and click "Conditional Formatting." A menu appears with preset rules like "Highlight Cell Rules" or "Color Scales."
Conditional formatting is useful when your data changes often and you want the colors to update on their own. For most everyday coloring tasks, though, the fill color and font color buttons are faster and simpler.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I color cells in Excel on my phone or tablet?
Yes. Open your spreadsheet in the Excel app, select the cells you want to color, then tap the formatting icon (usually three dots or lines). A menu appears with color options. Tap "Fill" or "Font Color" and pick your shade. The process is the same as on a computer, just with touch controls instead of a mouse.
Why does my color look different on someone else's computer?
Monitor settings and display quality affect how colors appear. If you need an exact color match, use the "More Colors" option and enter the specific color code (RGB or hex) instead of picking from the palette. That way, anyone opening the file will see the same code, even if their screen displays it slightly differently.
Can I color cells based on text content, like all cells that say "urgent"?
Yes, use conditional formatting for this. Go to Home > Conditional Formatting > Highlight Cell Rules > Text That Contains. Type the word you want to find, pick a color, and Excel will automatically color every cell containing that text. The color updates if you change the cell content later.
What is the difference between fill color and font color?
Fill color changes the background of the cell (the space behind the text). Font color changes the text itself. You can use both on the same cell — for example, red text on a yellow background. Most people use fill color to highlight important rows or sections, and font color to make text stand out or follow a color scheme.
How do I color alternating rows to make my spreadsheet easier to read?
Select all the cells you want to format, go to Home > Format as Table, and pick a table style. Excel will automatically color alternating rows for you. If you want more control, use conditional formatting with a formula instead. This is faster than coloring rows one at a time by hand.