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.

 

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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.

 

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

 

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As a result, the cell color is pasted.

 

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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).

 

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

 

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

 

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As a result, the cell color is pasted.

 

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Note: Using this method, it is not possible to copy only the color. All cell formatting is pasted (color of text, font, 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.

 

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Copy Cell Color in Google Sheets

 

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  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).

 

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  1. 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.

 

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As a result, the cell color is pasted.

 

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