Excel functions / References & tools
Format Painter
Copy the formatting of one cell onto others in two clicks.
How it works
Format Painter copies the look of a cell, such as its font, colour, borders and number format, without copying its contents.
Select the cell whose formatting you like, click the paintbrush on the Home tab, then click or drag across the cells you want to change.
Double-click the paintbrush to keep it switched on, so you can paint several areas in turn. Press Esc when you are done.
Tips
- To copy formatting with the keyboard, copy the cell, then use Paste Special (Ctrl + Alt + V) and choose Formats.
Practise Format Painter
Try it yourself in a real spreadsheet, with instant feedback on every answer.