Apply, create, or remove a cell style

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.

Newer versions Office 2011

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Apply a cell style

1. Select the cells that you want to format.

2. 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.

1. On the Home tab, click Cell Styles, and then click New Cell Style.

   

2. Click New Cell Style.

3. In the Style name box, type a name for the new style.

4. Click Format.

5. Click each tab, select the formatting that you want, and then click OK.

6. 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

1. On the Home tab, click Cell Styles.

   

2. Hold down CONTROL , click the style that you want, and then click Duplicate.

3. In the Style name box, type a name for the new style.

4. Click Format.

5. Click each tab, select the formatting that you want, and then click OK.

6. 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.

1. On the Home tab, click Cell Styles.

   

2. Hold down CONTROL , click the style that you want to change, and then click Modify.

3. Click Format.

4. Click each tab, select the formatting that you want, and then click OK.

5. 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

1. Select a cell that is formatted with the style that you want to remove.

2. 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.

1. On the Home tab, select Cell Styles.

   

2. Hold down CONTROL , click the style, and then click Delete.

   Note: You can't remove the Normal style.

Apply a cell style

1. Select the cells that you want to format.

2. On the Home tab, under Format, click the style that you want.

   

   To see more styles, point to a style, and then click .

Create a custom cell style

The built-in styles in Excel cannot 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.

1. On the Home tab, under Format, point to any style, and then click .

   

2. Click New Cell Style.

3. In the Style name box, type a name for the new style.

4. Click Format.

5. Click each tab, select the formatting that you want, and then click OK.

6. 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

1. On the Home tab, under Format, point to any style, and then click .

   

2. Hold down CONTROL , click the style that you want, and then click Duplicate.

3. In the Style name box, type a name for the new style.

4. Click Format.

5. Click each tab, select the formatting that you want, and then click OK.

6. 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.

1. On the Home tab, under Format, point to any style, and then click .

   

2. Hold down CONTROL , click the style that you want to change, and then click Modify.

3. Click Format.

4. Click each tab, select the formatting that you want, and then click OK.

5. 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

1. Select a cell that is formatted with the style that you want to remove.

2. On the Home tab, under Format, click 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.

1. On the Home tab, under Format, click the style that you want.

2. Hold down CONTROL , click the style, and then click Delete.

   Note: You cannot remove the Normal style.