How to Copy Cell Color in Excel & Google Sheets

This tutorial demonstrates how to copy the color of a cell in Excel and Google Sheets.

 

 

Copy Cell Color

Color With Format Painter

1. To copy the cell color, select the cell with the color. Then in the Ribbon, go to Home, and choose Format Painter.

 

 

2. Then, select the cell where you want to copy the color.

 

 

As a result, the cell color is pasted.

 

 

To use Format Painter within a macro, see VBA – Format Painter.

Copy With Paste Special

1. Right-click on the cell with the color you want to copy and, from the drop-down menu, choose Copy (or use the CTRL + C shortcut).

 

 

2. Then select the cell where you want to paste the color, right-click on it and from the drop-down menu, choose Paste Special.

 

 

3. The Paste Special window appears. Under the Paste section, click on Formats. Then click on OK to finish.

 

 

As a result, the cell color is pasted.

 

 

Note: Using this method, it is not possible to copy only the color. All cell formatting is pasted (text font and color, bolding, etc.). Therefore, if you want to copy only a color, you shouldn’t have any other formatting in that cell apart from the color.

 

 

Copy Cell Color in Google Sheets

 

 

1. To copy the cell color, select the cell with the color, right-click on it and from the drop-down menu, choose Copy (or use the CTRL + C shortcut).

 

 

2. Right-click on the cell where you want to paste the color. In the drop-down menu, click on Paste special, then choose Paste format only.

 

 

As a result, the cell color is pasted.