A style is a set of formatting characteristics, such as font name, size, color, alignment, and spacing. When you want to apply more than one format at a time to a cell or range of cells, it is easiest to apply a style. Styles also help you keep formatting consistent throughout a workbook.
Excel includes several built-in styles that you can apply or change. You can also create your own custom styles.
Apply a cell style
- Select the cells that you want to format.
- On the Home tab, click Cell Styles, and then select the style that you want.
Create a custom cell style
The built-in styles in Excel can't cover every formatting need, but it is easy to create a special dramatic style that is appropriate for a total that is past due, or a friendly one for a household chore list.
- On the Home tab, click Cell Styles, and then click New Cell Style.
- Click New Cell Style.
- In the Style name box, type a name for the new style.
- Click Format.
- Click each tab, select the formatting that you want, and then click OK.
- In the New Cell Style dialog box, under Style Property, select or clear the check boxes to choose the style formatting, and then click OK.
Create a custom cell style based on an existing style
- On the Home tab, click Cell Styles.
- Hold down CONTROL , click the style that you want, and then click Duplicate.
- In the Style name box, type a name for the new style.
- Click Format.
- Click each tab, select the formatting that you want, and then click OK.
- In the Modify Cell Style dialog box, under Style Property, select or clear the check boxes to choose the style formatting, and then click OK.
Change an existing cell style
Changing a cell style affects all cells that have that style and are in the workbook where you change the style. There is no undo command for changing a cell style. However, you can change it back to the original formatting.
- On the Home tab, click Cell Styles.
- Hold down CONTROL , click the style that you want to change, and then click Modify.
- Click Format.
- Click each tab, select the formatting that you want, and then click OK.
- In the Modify Cell Style dialog box, under Style Property, select or clear the check boxes to choose the style formatting, and then click OK.
Remove a cell style from a cell
- Select a cell that is formatted with the style that you want to remove.
- On the Home tab, select Cell Styles, and then select Normal.
Delete a cell style
You can delete built-in and custom styles from the list of available styles for a specific workbook.
Important
When you delete a style, that style is removed from all cells that are formatted with it.
On the Home tab, select Cell Styles.
Hold down CONTROL , click the style, and then click Delete.
Note
You can't remove the Normal style.