Quickly Apply Fill Color in Excel Using This Handy Shortcut

Did you know that Excel users spend an average of 5 hours per week working on spreadsheets? Imagine how much time is wasted on repetitive tasks like applying fill color to cells. Lucky for you, there’s a shortcut that can revolutionize your Excel experience!

Applying fill color to your Excel spreadsheets doesn’t have to be a tedious process. In this article, we’ll introduce you to a game-changing shortcut that will help you quickly and efficiently enhance your spreadsheets with vibrant fill colors.

The Conventional Way of Filling Color in Excel

To fill color in Excel cells using the conventional method, you need to follow these steps:

1. Select the cell or range of cells where you want to apply the fill color.
2. Navigate to the Home tab in the Excel ribbon.
3. Click on the Fill Color icon, represented by a paint bucket, to open the color options.
4. Choose a color from the available options by clicking on it.
5. Apply the selected color to the cell(s) by clicking on the cell or pressing Enter.

This method of filling color in Excel cells is straightforward but not the fastest. It requires multiple clicks and navigation through the ribbon to apply the desired color. This can be time-consuming, especially when working with a large number of cells or applying color to multiple ranges in a spreadsheet.

6 Best Color Fill Shortcuts To Master in Excel

When it comes to filling color in Excel, there are several efficient shortcuts that can save you time and enhance your productivity. Whether you prefer using hotkey combinations or customizing your toolbar, these shortcuts will streamline the process of applying fill color to your spreadsheets. Below are six of the best color fill shortcuts to master in Excel:

1. ALT + H + H

This hotkey combination opens the color selection box, allowing you to navigate and select a color using the arrow keys. It is a quick and convenient way to choose your desired fill color without the need to navigate through multiple menus.

2. Add Fill Color Icon to Quick Access Toolbar

By adding the fill color icon to your Quick Access Toolbar, you can access it directly with a single click. This eliminates the need to navigate to the Ribbon and significantly speeds up the process of filling color in Excel. Simply right-click on the fill color icon in the Ribbon and select “Add to Quick Access Toolbar”.

3. AutoFill Feature

The AutoFill feature in Excel allows you to quickly fill a series of cells with a specific fill color. Simply select the cell with the desired fill color, hover the cursor over the square in the bottom right corner of the cell until it turns into a plus sign, then click and drag to fill the desired range of cells.

4. Right-Click Menu

The right-click menu in Excel provides easy access to various formatting options, including fill color. Simply right-click on the cell or range of cells you want to fill, navigate to the “Fill” option in the menu, and choose the desired fill color.

5. Copy/Paste Formatting

If you have already formatted a cell with the desired fill color, you can easily copy and paste the formatting to other cells. Select the cell with the desired fill color, press CTRL + C to copy, select the range of cells you want to fill, right-click and choose “Paste Special” from the menu, then select “Formats”. This will apply the fill color to the selected cells.

6. F4 Key

The F4 key in Excel is a powerful shortcut that repeats the last action. If you have previously filled a cell with a specific fill color, you can press the F4 key to instantly apply the same fill color to another cell or range of cells.

By mastering these color fill shortcuts, you can significantly improve your efficiency when working with Excel. Whether you prefer using hotkeys, customizing your toolbar, or leveraging built-in features, these shortcuts will help you save time and accomplish more in less time.

Next, we will explore how you can utilize formulas and add-ins to further enhance your fill color capabilities in Excel.

Formula for Fill Color Shortcut in Excel

When it comes to applying fill color to cells in Excel, you might be wondering if there is a formula that can automate this process. Unfortunately, Excel does not offer any built-in formulas specifically for filling the color of a cell. However, there is a workaround using Conditional Formatting along with a custom formula that allows you to fill colors based on specific criteria.

Conditional Formatting in Excel is a powerful feature that allows you to format cells based on certain conditions or rules. By combining Conditional Formatting with a custom formula, you can automate the fill color of cells based on specific data values or formulas.

To use this workaround, follow these steps:

1. Select the range of cells or the cell where you want to apply the fill color.
2. Navigate to the Home tab and click on the “Conditional Formatting” button.
3. Choose “New Rule” from the drop-down menu.
4. In the “New Formatting Rule” dialog box, select the “Use a formula to determine which cells to format” option.
5. Enter your custom formula in the “Format values where this formula is true” field.
6. Click on the “Format” button to choose the fill color you want to apply.
7. Click “OK” to apply the conditional formatting rule.

Once you have set up the conditional formatting rule with your custom formula and fill color, Excel will automatically apply the fill color to the cells that meet the specified criteria.

This method can be particularly useful when you need to highlight certain cells or ranges based on specific conditions, such as values above or below a certain threshold, dates within a certain range, or cells containing specific text.

Keep in mind that the formula used in the conditional formatting rule will determine when the fill color is applied. You can experiment with different formulas and conditions to achieve the desired effect.

Example:

Let’s say you have a range of cells with numeric values, and you want to fill the cells with a certain color if the value is greater than 100. You can use the following custom formula in the conditional formatting rule:

In this example, the fill color will only be applied to cells where the value in column A is greater than 100.

By leveraging Conditional Formatting and custom formulas, you can achieve automated fill color in Excel based on your specific criteria, saving time and streamlining your workflow.

Using Add-Ins for Excel Fill Color Shortcuts

In addition to built-in shortcuts, you can enhance your Excel workflow by utilizing third-party add-ins that offer custom keyboard shortcuts for font and fill colors. One popular add-in is “Formatting Shortcuts,” which provides a range of features to streamline your formatting tasks, including fill color shortcuts.

With “Formatting Shortcuts,” you can create personalized keyboard shortcuts for various cell formatting properties, including fill color. This add-in offers a user-friendly interface, allowing you to assign your preferred shortcuts quickly and conveniently. By eliminating the need to navigate through multiple menus and tabs, you can apply fill colors with just a few keystrokes, saving valuable time and effort.

Another advantage of “Formatting Shortcuts” is its ability to undo formatting actions. If you accidentally apply an incorrect fill color, you can effortlessly revert it by utilizing the add-in’s undo feature. This functionality ensures that your Excel spreadsheets maintain a consistent and professional aesthetic.

Creating Shortcut Lists

As an additional benefit, “Formatting Shortcuts” allows you to create shortcut lists. These lists serve as handy references, displaying all the custom shortcuts you have defined for various formatting tasks, including fill color. Having a visual guide of your shortcuts simplifies the learning process and helps you become proficient in utilizing them efficiently.

Table:

By taking advantage of add-ins like “Formatting Shortcuts,” you can unlock the full potential of Excel fill color shortcuts and significantly boost your productivity. With customizable keyboard shortcuts and the ability to undo actions, these add-ins revolutionize the way you apply fill colors in Excel, making your workflow faster, smoother, and more efficient.

Vaishvi Desai

Vaishvi Desai is the founder of Excelsamurai and a passionate Excel enthusiast with years of experience in data analysis and spreadsheet management. With a mission to help others harness the power of Excel, Vaishvi shares her expertise through concise, easy-to-follow tutorials on shortcuts, formulas, Pivot Tables, and VBA.