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 to fill color in the cell using formulas 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. Using Excel AVERAGE Function with Conditional Formatting to Fill Cell Color
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 the 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$15)
- Now, from Fill section, select the color of your choice to use in a cell.
Here, the AVERAGE function will calculate the average of the selected cell range C5:C15 and then will compare the average value with values of cell range C5:C15. Next, it will fill color where the cell value is less than average.
- Finally, click OK.
- Thus, it will show the cell filled with a selected format where the selected cell range is less than average.
Read More: Excel Formula Based on Cell Color
2. Applying ISFORMULA Function with Conditional Formatting to Fill Cell Color
You can use the ISFORMULA function to fill color in a cell if you have a formula in your cells.
- First, select the cell range where you want to fill the color using the formula.
- Second, open the Home tab > go to Conditional Formatting > select the New Rule.
- Third, a dialog box will pop up.
- Here, choose Use a formula to determine which cells to format as Select a Rule Type.
- After that, in the Edit the Rule Description type the following formula.
=ISFORMULA($D$5:$E$15)
- Along with this, from the Format tab choose the color of your choice to fill color in a cell.
- In the end, click OK.
- As a result, it will show the cell filled with the selected format where the formula is used.
3. Fill Cell Color in Excel Using the OR Function with Conditional Formatting
You can use the OR function to fill color in a cell using a formula. To get the output, go through the steps below.
- First, select the cell range where you want to apply this function to fill the color.
- Then, open the Home tab > go to Conditional Formatting > select New Rule.
- After that, a dialog box will pop up.
- Now, from Select a Rule Type: select Use a formula to determine which cells to format rules.
- There, in Edit the Rule Description type the following formula.
=OR($C5<30, $D5=180)
- Afterward, select the Format of your choice to fill the color in a cell.
- Finally, click OK.
- Hence, it will show the cell filled with the selected fill color where one of the conditions is fulfilled.
Read More: How to Fill Cell with Color Based on Percentage in Excel
4. Using AND Function with Conditional Formatting to Fill Cell Color in Excel
You also can use the AND function to fill color in a cell using a formula.
- First, select the cell range to apply the AND function to fill the color.
- Next, open the Home tab > go to Conditional Formatting > select New Rule.
- Now, a dialog box will pop up.
- From the Select a Rule Type window, select Use a formula to determine which cells to format rules.
- Then, in Edit the Rule Description type the following formula.
=AND($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. Highlighting Cells Based on Conditions (Greater than, Less Than, Equal to or Not Equal to)
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 the 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 the 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 the 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 a 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.
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.
Download Practice Workbook
Get this sample file and practice the methods by yourself.
Conclusion
In this article, we discussed several methods fill color in Excel cells using formulas. 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.
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