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In an Excel worksheet, you may need to fill color in different cells depending on the formula used in the sheets based on certain conditions. I’m going to explain 5 easy ways how to fill color in cell using formula in Excel.
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5 Easy Ways to Fill Color in Cell Using Formula in Excel
Here, I’m using a sample datasheet to show you the steps of the explained ways. It’s a Pay Sheet of several employees. There are 4 columns that represent the weekly, monthly, and yearly pay of an employee. These columns’ names are Name, Weekly Pay, Monthly Pay, and Yearly Pay.
Now, let us follow the methods below to fill color in cells using several formulas.
1. Use AVERAGE Function to Fill Cell Color in Excel
If you have numeric values, you can use the AVERAGE function to fill color in a cell using a formula. To use this function, follow the steps below.
- First, select the cell or the cell range where you want to apply this function to fill color.
- Then, open the Home tab > Go to Conditional Formatting > Finally select New Rule.
- Now, a dialog box will pop up.
- Here, you need to select Use a formula to determine which cells to format from Select a Rule Type.
- Then, in Edit the Rule Description type the following formula.
=$C5:$C15<=AVERAGE($C$5:$C$15)
- Now, from Format select the color of your choice to use in a cell.
Here, the AVERAGE function will calculate the average of the selected cell range C5:C15 and then will compare the average value with values of cell range C5:C15. Next, it will fill color where the cell value is less than average.
- Finally, click OK.
- Thus, it will show the cell filled with a selected format where the selected cell range is less than average.
Read More: Excel Formula Based on Cell Color (5 Examples)
2. Apply ISFORMULA Function Using Formula in Cell to Fill Color
You can use the ISFORMULA function to fill color in a cell if you have a formula in your cells.
- First, select the cell range where you want to fill color using the formula.
- Second, open the Home tab > go to Conditional Formatting > select the New Rule.
- Third, a dialog box will pop up.
- Here, choose Use a formula to determine which cells to format as Select a Rule Type.
- After that, in the Edit the Rule Description type the following formula.
=ISFORMULA($D$5:$E$15) - Along with this, from the Format choose the color of your choice to fill color in a cell.
- In the end, click OK.
- As a result, it will show the cell filled with the selected format where the formula is used.
Read More: How to Highlight Cell Using the If Statement in Excel (7 Ways)
3. Fill Color Using Formula in Excel Cell with OR Function
You can use the OR function to fill color in a cell using a formula. To get the output, go through the steps below.
- First, select the cell range where you want to apply this function to fill color.
- Then, open the Home tab > go to Conditional Formatting > select New Rule.
- After that, a dialog box will pop up.
- Now, from Select a Rule Type: select Use a formula to determine which cells to format rules.
- There, in Edit the Rule Description type the following formula.
=OR($C5<30, $D5=180) - Afterward, select the Format of your choice to fill color in a cell.
- Finally, click OK.
- Hence, it will show the cell filled with the selected fill color where one of the conditions is fulfilled.
Read More: How to Fill Cell with Color Based on Percentage in Excel (6 Methods)
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4. Insert AND Function to Fill Cell Color in Excel
You also can use the AND function to fill color in a cell using a formula.
- First, select the cell range to apply the AND function to fill color.
- Next, open the Home tab > go to Conditional Formatting > select New Rule.
- Now, a dialog box will pop up.
- From Select a Rule Type window, select Use a formula to determine which cells to format rules.
- Then, in Edit the Rule Description type the following formula.
=AND($C5<50, $D5=180) - Also, you can select the Format of your choice to fill color in a cell.
- Finally, click OK.
- Therefore, it will show the cell filled with the selected format where two of the conditions are fulfilled.
Related Content: How to Change Cell Color Based on a Value in Excel (5 Ways)
5. Use Excel Operators in Cell to Fill Color
You also can use the various Operators in Excel to fill color in any cell using a formula.
5.1. Greater Than (>)
Here, I am going to use the Greater Than operator to fill color in the cell using the formula.
- First, select the cell or cell range to apply the formula.
- Now, open the Home tab > go to Conditional Formatting > select New Rule.
- Then, a dialog box will pop up. From Select a Rule Type you can select Use a formula to determine which cells to format rules.
- Now, in Edit the Rule Description type the following formula.
=D5 *12 > 1800 - Next, select the Format of your choice to fill color in a cell.
- In the end, click OK.
- Then, it will show the cell filled with the selected format where D5*12 is greater than 1800.
5.2. Not Equal (<>)
To fill color in the cell using the formula here I am going to use the Not Equal operator.
- First, select the cell or cell range to apply the formula.
- Then, open the Home tab > go to Conditional Formatting > select New Rule.
- Then, a dialog box will pop up.
- Now, from Select a Rule Type you need to select the Use a formula to determine which cells to format.
- Next, in Edit the Rule Description type the following formula.
=C5*4 <> 180 - From the Format option, you can select the format of your choice to fill color in a cell.
- Finally, click OK.
- Here, it will show the cell filled with the selected format color where C5*4 is not equal to 180.
5.3. Equal (=)
By using the Equal operator, I will fill color in the cell.
- First, select the cell or cell range to apply the formula.
- Then, open the Home tab > go to Conditional Formatting >select New Rule.
- Now, a dialog box will pop up.
- In the dialog box from Select a Rule Type, you can select Use a formula to determine which cells to format rules.
- Then, in Edit the Rule Description type the following formula.
=C5*4 = 180 - Next, from the Format options select the format of your choice to fill color in a cell.
- Finally, click OK.
- On the whole, it will show the cell filled with the selected format color where C5*4 is equal to 180.
5.4. Less Than (<)
You also can use the Less Than operator to fill color in Excel cells using formula.
- First and foremost, select the cell or cell range to apply the Less than operator.
- After that, open the Home tab > go to Conditional Formatting > select New Rule.
- Then, a dialog box will pop up.
- In the dialog box, from the Select a Rule Type you need to select Use a formula to determine which cells to format rules.
- Next, in Edit the Rule Description type the following formula.
=$D5:$D15<180 - Along with this, select the fill color of your choice from the Format options.
- Finally, click OK.
- Hence, I applied this formula in the range B5:E15 so it will fill color in those rows where the value of Monthly Pay is less than 180.
Related Content: How to Highlight Selected Cells in Excel (5 Easy Ways)
Things to Remember
- It is better to avoid using keyboard buttons to prevent cell references into any other value.
- You must carefully select the cells where you want to apply Fill Color.
Conclusion
In this article, you will find 5 easy ways how to fill color in Excel cell using formula. These methods will be useful for you whenever you want to fill color in a cell using a formula. In case you have any confusion or question regarding these methods you may comment down below. Follow ExcelDemy for more tutorials.
I have Purchased spread sheet templates and cant find where or if they have been downloaded to access
Best wishes,
Barry
Hello, Barry! You can check your default path folder for browser downloads. And if you need any assistance with the Excel problems you can mail us!