Excel: Copy Formatting from One Cell or Range to Another

Contributed by shamanstears August 30, 2006  
Tagged: Microsoft Excel

To copy formatting from one cell or a range of cells to another cell or range of cells, use the Format Painter feature.

1. Select the cell or range that has the formatting you want to copy.
2. Click the Format Painter button on the Formatting toolbar. Excel will change the cursor to a brush and display an outline around the cell or range that
contains the copied formatting.
3. Select the cell or range, to which you want to apply the formatting.

After applying the formatting, Excel restores the normal cursor. If you need to
apply the formatting to multiple cells or ranges, double-click the Format Painter button to lock it, when finished click the Format Painter button again to unlock it.