
The Format Painter is a command in Excel that allows users to quickly and easily copy the formatting of one cell and apply it to another. It can be used to copy formatting to single cells or ranges of cells, and can also be used to copy formatting from pictures. This feature is useful for keeping things consistent and saving time when formatting Excel sheets.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Function | Copy formatting from one cell to another |
| Time-saving | Yes |
| Copy to | Single cells or ranges |
| Copy from | Single cells or ranges |
| Copy formatting | Number format (General, Percentage, Currency, etc.), colors, font characteristics (e.g. bold, italic, underline), font style and size |
| Works best with | Drawing objects, such as AutoShapes |
| Copy from pictures | Yes, including picture borders |
| Ways to use | Single-click to copy formatting from one cell to another; double-click to copy formatting to several non-adjacent cells |
| Location | Home tab, in the Clipboard group, next to the Paste button |
| Button | Paintbrush icon |
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What You'll Learn

Format Painter copies formatting from one cell to another
The Format Painter in Excel is a command that allows you to copy formatting from one cell and apply it to another cell or a range of cells. It is a useful tool that saves time and helps maintain consistency in your Excel worksheets.
To use the Format Painter, start by locating the cell with the formatting you want to copy. Click on the "Format Painter" button in the "Clipboard" group on the "Home" tab. The pointer will change to a paintbrush icon, indicating that it is ready to paste. Next, select 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 the selected cell or cells.
For example, let's say you want to copy the red colour from cell A1 to cell B1. Simply select cell A1, click the "Format Painter" button, and then click on cell B1. The red colour will be applied to cell B1. You can also use the Format Painter to copy font characteristics such as bold, italic, and underline.
The Format Painter can be used to copy formatting to non-contiguous cells as well. To do this, double-click the "Format Painter" button to "lock" it on. Then, click or select the cells you want to apply the formatting to. To turn off the Format Painter, press "Esc" or click the "Format Painter" button again.
Additionally, the Format Painter can be used to quickly copy the format of an entire column or row. To copy a column format, select the heading of the column with the desired formatting, click "Format Painter", and then click the heading of the target column. The new formatting will be applied to each row in the target column, including the column width. Similarly, you can copy the format of an entire row by selecting the sample row heading and following the same steps.
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It can be used on single cells or ranges
The Format Painter in Excel is a command that allows you to copy the formatting of one cell and apply it to another. It can be used on single cells or ranges of cells, making it a versatile tool for maintaining consistency in your spreadsheet.
To use the Format Painter on a single cell, simply click on the cell with the formatting you want to copy, select the Format Painter button (usually found on the Home tab or Ribbon), and then click on the cell you want to apply the formatting to. This will copy over the formatting, including colour, font characteristics (such as bold, italic, and underline), and number format.
The Format Painter can also be used on ranges of cells. For example, if you want to copy the formatting of one cell to a range of two cells, you can follow a similar process. Click on the cell with the desired formatting, select the Format Painter, and then drag your mouse over the range of cells you want to format. Release the mouse button, and the new formatting will be applied to the selected cells.
Additionally, if you want to copy formatting to non-contiguous cells or ranges, you can double-click the Format Painter button. This will "lock" the Format Painter, allowing you to select multiple individual cells or ranges that may not be adjacent to each other. To exit this mode, simply press Esc or click on the Format Painter button again.
The Format Painter is a powerful tool in Excel that saves you time and effort in formatting your spreadsheets. By using it on single cells or ranges, you can easily maintain a consistent and professional look throughout your workbook.
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It can be used to copy formatting to non-contiguous cells
The Format Painter in Excel is a command that allows users to quickly and easily copy formatting from one cell and apply it to another. This includes formatting such as colour, font style, size, and number format. It is a useful tool that saves time and helps keep things consistent across a spreadsheet.
While the Format Painter is typically used to copy formatting to single cells or ranges, it can also be used to copy formatting to non-contiguous cells. This means that you can apply the same formatting to multiple cells that are not next to each other, without having to manually format each cell individually.
To copy formatting to non-contiguous cells, instead of single-clicking the Format Painter button, you need to double-click it. This will "lock" the Format Painter, and the copied formatting will be applied to all cells and ranges that you click or select. You can continue to apply the formatting until you press Esc or click on the Format Painter button again to turn it off.
For example, let's say you want to copy the formatting of a cell in column A and apply it to multiple non-contiguous cells in columns B, C, and D. By double-clicking the Format Painter button, you can select the cell in column A, then click or select the desired cells in columns B, C, and D, and the formatting will be applied to all of them.
The Format Painter is a simple and efficient way to copy formatting in Excel, and by double-clicking the button, you can easily apply formatting to non-contiguous cells without having to manually format each cell individually.
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Format Painter works with graphics and drawing objects
The Format Painter in Excel is a command that allows users to quickly apply the same formatting, such as colour, font style, and size, to a range of cells. It is a useful tool for saving time when working with data sets that require the same formatting.
When using Format Painter with graphics and drawing objects, it is important to note that it works best with AutoShapes and other similar objects. If you are working with pictures, you can copy and paste the formatting of specific elements, such as borders, but it may not work in the same way as with drawing objects.
Format Painter is a versatile tool in Excel that allows users to easily copy and paste formatting between cells, ranges, and even graphics. When working with graphics and drawing objects, it is a simple process of selecting the source object, activating Format Painter, and then selecting the target object to apply the formatting.
Overall, Format Painter is a valuable feature in Excel that helps users maintain consistency and quickly format their worksheets, workbooks, and even graphical elements. By utilising this tool, users can improve the visual appeal and clarity of their Excel documents with ease.
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It can be used to copy formatting down a column until the first empty cell
The Format Painter in Excel is a command that allows users to copy formatting from one cell and apply it to another. It is a useful tool that saves time and effort in formatting multiple cells individually.
While Format Painter is typically used to copy formatting to a single cell or a range of cells, it can also be used to copy formatting down an entire column until the first empty cell. This can be achieved by using the Fill Handle option in conjunction with Format Painter.
Here's how you can do it:
- Select the cell with the formatting you want to copy.
- Press Ctrl+C to copy its contents and formats. Alternatively, you can use the Format Painter command by clicking its button on the Ribbon in the Clipboard group, or by going to the Home tab and selecting Format Painter.
- Select the entire column that you want to format by clicking on its heading.
- Right-click on the selected column and choose "Paste Special."
- In the Paste Special dialog box, select "Formats" and then click "OK." This will fill the entire column with the formatting of the originally selected cell.
- If there are any empty cells in the column, you can fill them with the formatting by double-clicking the fill handle at the bottom-right corner of the selected range. Then, click "AutoFill Options" and select "Fill Formatting Only." This will ensure that the formatting is applied to all cells in the column, including any empty ones.
By following these steps, you can use Format Painter to efficiently copy formatting down a column until the first empty cell, maintaining consistency and saving time in your Excel worksheets.
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Frequently asked questions
The Format Painter in Excel is used to copy formatting from one cell and apply it to another.
First, select the cell with the formatting you want to copy. Then, click on the Format Painter button (it looks like a paintbrush) in the Ribbon or on the Home tab. Next, click on the cell where you want to paste the formatting.
Yes, you can. Single-click the Format Painter button to copy the formatting to one cell at a time. Double-click the button to "lock" it and apply the copied formatting to multiple non-adjacent cells until you press Esc or click the Format Painter button again.
Yes. To copy formatting to an entire column or row, including blank cells, use the Excel Paste Special option.
Yes, Format Painter works best with drawing objects such as AutoShapes. You can also copy formatting from a picture, such as its border.











































