This article explains how to create, copy, and modify custom cell styles in Excel. Instructions apply to Excel for Microsoft 365, Excel 2019, Excel 2016, Excel 2013, Excel 2010, and Excel 2007.

What to Know

  • To apply a built-in cell style, select range of cells > Home > Styles > More > Style Gallery > select a cell style.For custom cell style, Home > Styles > More > New Cell Style > Style name > Format > OK > Style > Style Includes (By Example) > OK.For existing cell style, Home > Styles > More > Modify > Style name > Format > Format Cells > OK > Style > Style Includes > OK.

How to Apply a Built-In Cell Style

It’s important to understand how to apply a built-in cell style in Excel before you learn how to create and apply a custom or modified cell style.

  • Select the range of cells you want to format.
  • On the Home tab, in the Styles group, select the More dropdown arrow in the Style Gallery.
  • In Excel versions 2007-2013, select Styles, followed by the More button next to the cell styles box.
  • Select the cell style you want to apply.
  • Cell styles are based on the document theme that’s applied to an entire workbook. Different themes contain different formatting options, so if a document’s theme is changed, the cell styles for that document also change.

Creating a Custom Cell Style

Here’s how to create a custom cell style by choosing your desired formatting options:

Select the range of cells you want to format.

On the Home tab, in the Styles group, select the More dropdown arrow in the Style Gallery.

In Excel versions 2007-2013, select Styles, followed by the More button next to the cell styles box.

Select the cell style you want to apply.

Cell styles are based on the document theme that’s applied to an entire workbook. Different themes contain different formatting options, so if a document’s theme is changed, the cell styles for that document also change.

  • On the Home tab, in the Styles group, select the More dropdown arrow in the style gallery.
  • In Excel versions 2007-2013, on the Home tab, in the Styles group, select Cell Styles.
  • Select New Cell Style.
  • In the Style name box, type a name for the new cell style.
  • Select Format.
  • On the different tabs in the Format Cells dialog box, choose the formatting that you want, and then select OK.
  • Back in the Style dialog box, under Style Includes (By Example), clear the checkboxes of any formatting you don’t want to include in the cell style.
  • Select OK. Your new custom cell style has been created.

Create a Cell Style by Modifying an Existing Cell Style

If you want to tweak a few formatting options on an existing cell style to create your own version of it, here’s how:

On the Home tab, in the Styles group, select the More dropdown arrow in the style gallery.

In Excel versions 2007-2013, on the Home tab, in the Styles group, select Cell Styles.

Select New Cell Style.

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

Select Format.

On the different tabs in the Format Cells dialog box, choose the formatting that you want, and then select OK.

Back in the Style dialog box, under Style Includes (By Example), clear the checkboxes of any formatting you don’t want to include in the cell style.

Select OK. Your new custom cell style has been created.

  • On the Home tab, in the Styles group, select the More dropdown arrow in the style gallery.
  • In Excel versions 2007-2013, on the Home tab, in the Styles group, select Cell Styles.
  • Right-click on a cell style to open the context menu, and then choose Modify.
  • In the Style name box, type a name for the new cell style.
  • If you don’t type in a new name, the built-in cell style will be updated with any changes that you make.
  • Select Format.
  • On the various tabs in the Format Cells dialog box, select the formatting you want, and then select OK.
  • In the Style dialog box, under Style Includes, select or clear the checkboxes for any formatting you don’t want to include in the cell style.
  • Select OK. The modified cell style will be updated to reflect the changes.

Duplicating an Existing Cell Style

Create a duplicate of a built-in style or a custom style using the following steps:

Right-click on a cell style to open the context menu, and then choose Modify.

If you don’t type in a new name, the built-in cell style will be updated with any changes that you make.

Select Format.

On the various tabs in the Format Cells dialog box, select the formatting you want, and then select OK.

In the Style dialog box, under Style Includes, select or clear the checkboxes for any formatting you don’t want to include in the cell style.

Select OK. The modified cell style will be updated to reflect the changes.

  • On the Home tab, in the Styles group, select the More dropdown arrow in the style gallery.
  • In Excel versions 2007-2013, on the Home tab, in the Styles group, select Cell Styles.
  • Right-click on a cell style to open the context menu, and then choose Duplicate.
  • In the Style dialog box, type in a name for the new style.
  • Select OK to close the dialog box and return to the worksheet. The duplicated cell style will be updated to reflect the changes.

Removing Cell Style Formatting From Worksheet Cells

Here’s how to remove a cell style’s formatting from cells of data without deleting the cell style.

It’s best to modify a duplicate of a built-in style rather than the style itself.

Right-click on a cell style to open the context menu, and then choose Duplicate.

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

Select OK to close the dialog box and return to the worksheet. The duplicated cell style will be updated to reflect the changes.

  • Select the cells formatted with the cell style you want to remove.
  • On the Home tab, in the Styles group, click the More dropdown arrow in the style gallery.
  • Under Good, Bad, and Neutral, select the Normal option to remove all applied formatting.
  • Use these steps to remove formatting that has been applied manually to worksheet cells, as well.

Deleting a Cell Style

Except for the Normal style, which can’t be removed, it’s possible to delete all other built-in and custom cell styles.

Select the cells formatted with the cell style you want to remove.

On the Home tab, in the Styles group, click the More dropdown arrow in the style gallery.

Under Good, Bad, and Neutral, select the Normal option to remove all applied formatting.

Use these steps to remove formatting that has been applied manually to worksheet cells, as well.

  • On the Home tab, in the Styles group, select the More dropdown arrow in the style gallery.
  • In Excel versions 2007-2013, on the Home tab, in the Styles group, select Cell Styles.
  • Right-click on a cell style to open the context menu.
  • Choose Delete. The cell style is immediately removed from the gallery.
  • To delete a cell style in Excel 2007-2013, on the Home tab, in the Styles group, select Cell Styles. Then, under Good, Bad, and Neutral, select Normal.

Right-click on a cell style to open the context menu.

Choose Delete. The cell style is immediately removed from the gallery.

To delete a cell style in Excel 2007-2013, on the Home tab, in the Styles group, select Cell Styles. Then, under Good, Bad, and Neutral, select Normal.

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