
Format Painter is a handy tool that allows you to quickly copy and paste formatting, such as font style, size, and border style, to text or graphics in your document. It is available in popular software applications like Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and can be a real time-saver when it comes to formatting. With just a few clicks or keyboard shortcuts, you can easily replicate formatting settings and apply them to multiple objects or cells. In this paragraph, we will explore the steps to use Format Painter and unlock its efficiency-boosting capabilities.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Use | To copy and paste the format of text and table cells |
| How to use | Single-click to copy the formatting from the selected cell, then click a different cell to paste the formatting; double-click it if you want to copy the formatting to several non-adjacent cells |
| Where to find | In all Excel versions, the Format Painter button is located on the Home tab, in the Clipboard group, right next to the Paste button |
| Keyboard shortcuts | Alt+Ctrl+C to copy a format, and Alt+Ctrl+V to paste a format |
| Other ways to copy formatting | Use the Fill Handle and Paste Special options |
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What You'll Learn

Using Format Painter in Excel
Excel's Format Painter is a useful tool that allows you to copy formatting from one cell or range of cells and apply it to another cell or range of cells. This feature is especially handy when you want to maintain a consistent look and feel throughout your workbook.
Here's a step-by-step guide on how to use Format Painter in Excel:
- Select the cell or range of cells with the formatting you want to copy.
- Click on the "Format Painter" button located on the "Home" tab in the "Clipboard" group. Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut "Alt + H + F + P" to access the Format Painter.
- Once the Format Painter is activated, your cursor will turn into a paintbrush icon.
- Move to the cell or range of cells where you want to apply the formatting and click on it.
- The new formatting will now be copied to your target cell(s).
You can also use Format Painter to copy formatting from shapes and paste it onto other shapes. Simply select the shape you want to copy the formatting from, click on the Format Painter, and then click on the shape where you want to apply the formatting.
Format Painter is a quick and efficient way to reproduce formatting settings, including number formats (General, Percentage, Currency, etc.), font styles, colours, and more. It saves you time and ensures a consistent look throughout your Excel worksheets and workbooks.
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Copying and pasting text formatting
To use Format Painter in Microsoft Excel, first, select the cell with the formatting that you want to copy. Next, on the Home tab, in the Clipboard group, click the Format Painter button. Your pointer will then change to a paintbrush. Finally, move to the cell where you want to apply the formatting and click on it.
If you want to copy formatting to several adjacent cells, you can select the sample cell with the desired format, click the Format Painter button, and then drag the brush cursor over the cells you want to apply the formatting to. Alternatively, you can double-click the Format Painter button, which will lock it, and then click on each cell individually to apply the formatting.
You can also use keyboard shortcuts to use Format Painter in Excel. To do this, select the cell containing the required format and press Alt, H, F, and P one by one. Then, click the target cell where you want to apply the formatting. Another keyboard shortcut you can use is Ctrl + C to copy the selected cell to the clipboard, followed by Shift + F10, R, and then Enter.
Format Painter can also be used in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint. In these programs, you can use the Object Format Painter, which can be found on the Home tab, or the Text Format Painter, which pops up when you select text using your mouse. Both options can be used as a single-use or locked Format Painter, depending on how much formatting you want to copy and paste.
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Applying formatting to multiple cells
To use the Format Painter, first, select the cell with the formatting that you want to copy. The cell should have a dotted border to indicate that the format has been copied and is ready for pasting. Next, click on the Format Painter button located on the Home tab in the Clipboard group. Your cursor will now change to a paintbrush.
Now, to apply the formatting to multiple cells, simply click on each cell that you want to format. Alternatively, you can select a range of cells by clicking and dragging your mouse over them, and then clicking on one of the selected cells to apply the formatting.
If you need to format a large number of cells, a quicker method is to double-click the Format Painter button. This will keep the formatting "copied" and allow you to apply it to multiple cells or ranges without needing to re-click the Format Painter button each time. Simply click on each cell or range of cells that you want to format. To stop applying the formatting, click the Format Painter button again or press the Esc key.
Another method for applying formatting to multiple cells is to use the "Paste Special" option. First, select the cell with the desired format and press Ctrl + C to copy its contents and formats. Then, select the entire row or column that you want to format by clicking on its heading. Right-click on the selection and choose "Paste Special". In the dialog box that appears, click on "'Formats'" and then "OK".
With these methods, you can quickly and easily apply formatting to multiple cells in Excel, saving you time and effort in creating uniform and presentable documents.
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Using keyboard shortcuts
To use the Format Painter tool with keyboard shortcuts, follow the steps below. Note that these instructions are specifically for Microsoft Excel and Word.
First, select the cell(s) with the formatting you want to copy. You can do this with your mouse or your keyboard. If you are using Excel, you can then use the Paste Special function by pressing Shift + F10, R, and then Enter. Alternatively, you can press Ctrl + C to copy the selected cell(s) to the clipboard, select the cell(s) you want to format, and then press Ctrl + Alt + V to paste the formatting.
If you are using Microsoft Word, you can use the keyboard shortcut Alt + Ctrl + C to copy the format, and Alt + Ctrl + V to paste it. To stop formatting, press Esc.
You can also customize your keyboard shortcuts for Format Painter in Excel and Word. For Excel, go to "Customize Ribbon" -> Keyboard Shortcuts -> All Commands, and set the shortcut key separately for "CopyFormat" and "PasteFormat". For Word, select the Customize button for Keyboard Shortcuts, select All Commands under "Categories", select "CopyFormat", and then select and remove the current keys (Alt + Ctrl + C). Then, select "Normal" to save the changes, select "Assign", and repeat the process for "PasteFormat".
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Copying and pasting table formatting
To use the Format Painter tool, first, select the table with the formatting you want to copy. Then, click on the Format Painter button, which is located in the Clipboard group on the Home tab. Your pointer will now be a paintbrush, and you can click on the table where you want to apply the formatting. The new table will now have the same formatting as the original.
If you want to copy and paste formatting to multiple tables, there is no need to re-copy the format each time. Simply select the next table and paste the formatting again. To stop copying formatting, press the Esc key.
The Format Painter tool can also be used to copy and paste specific attributes of a table's formatting. For example, in PowerPoint, you can use the Table Format Painter feature to copy and paste the fill colour, line colour, font size, style, and boldness of a table. You can also copy and paste the column width and row height of a table.
In Excel, the Format Painter tool can be used to copy and paste the formatting of a single cell to an entire column or row. To do this, select the cell with the desired format and press Ctrl + C to copy its contents and formats. Then, select the entire column or row you want to format and right-click, choosing 'Paste Special'. In the dialog box that appears, select 'Formats' and click 'Ok'.
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Frequently asked questions
Format Painter is a tool that allows you to quickly copy and paste the formatting, such as colour, font style, size, or border style, from one object to another.
First, select the text or object with the formatting that you want to copy. Then, click on the Format Painter icon (it looks like a paintbrush) in the Clipboard group. Finally, select the text or object where you want to apply the formatting.
Yes, you can. Simply double-click on the Format Painter icon to lock it, and then click on each object individually to apply the formatting. To stop formatting, press Esc.
Yes, you can use Alt+Ctrl+C to copy a format, and Alt+Ctrl+V to paste a format. To lock the Format Painter, press Alt, H, F, and P one by one.
Yes, Format Painter works with all versions of Excel. You can find the Format Painter button on the Home tab, in the Clipboard group, next to the Paste button.











































