How to change the color palette for workbooks in Excel

This step-by-step article explains how to change the color palette so that you can use custom colors for elements of the workbooks in Microsoft Excel. You can modify colors for many workbook elements, including the following elements:

• Worksheet Tabs
• Fonts
• Charts and chart elements
• Cells (fills and borders)

This article explains how to change the color palette so that you can use custom colors for these elements.

How to modify the color palette

Excel workbooks have a standard color palette for workbook elements. To modify the color palette for a workbook, follow these steps, as appropriate for the version of Excel that you are running.

Microsoft Office Excel 2007

1. Start Excel, and then open the workbook.
2. Click the Microsoft Office Button, and then click Excel Options.
3. Click Save.
4. Next to Choose what colors will be seen in previous versions of Excel, click Colors.
5. Click the color that you want to change, and then click Modify.
6. Use one or more of the following procedures:
   • To replace the selected color on the palette with a different standard color, click the Standard tab, and then click the color that you want.
   • To change the hue or another aspect of the selected color, click the Custom tab, and then change the options.
7. Click OK.
8. Repeat steps 5 through 7 as needed, and then click OK.
9. Click OK to close the Color dialog box.
10. Click OK to close the Excel Options dialog box.

Microsoft Office Excel 2003 and earlier versions of Excel

1. Start Excel, and then open the workbook.
2. On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the Color tab.
3. Click the color that you want to change, and then click Modify.
4. Use one or more of the following procedures:
   • To replace the selected color on the palette with a different standard color, click the Standard tab, and then click the color that you want.
   • To change the hue or another aspect of the selected color, click the Custom tab, and then change the options.
5. Click OK.
6. Repeat steps 3 through 5 as needed, and then click OK.