Make Excel Charts Easy to Read Using Format Options

The conditional formatting tool in Excel allows users to apply many different formatting options to data. The benefit: sorting and recognizing data is much easier.

These Excel formatting options include background colors, borders and font formatting — all visual cues that make it easier for finance pros and even non-finance employees to understand the data.

6 Excel Format Rule Types to Choose From

In order to set a formatting condition, first select the cells to format. Then on the “Home” tab, click “Conditional Formatting” in the “Style” section. Doing so makes sorting and recognizing data easier.

Next choose “New Rule.” From there, select from the following rule types:

• Format all cells based on their values: You can choose a 2- or 3-color scale to show which category that value fits closest to (lowest value, percentage, formula, etc).
• Format only cells that contain: With this rule, you can pick a format for cells that are greater than, lesser than or equal to a certain value.
• Format only top or bottom ranked values
• Format only values that are above or below average
• Format only unique or duplicate values
• Use formula to determine which cells to format

After creating the rule, it will apply immediately. Any cell that fits the rule will take on the specified format. If none of the cells changed, that means that the rule you selected didn’t apply to any of them. But as soon as you enter a value that meets the rule, it will take on the specified format.

Need More Excel Help? We’re Here for You!

For more help with Excel, check out LearnExcelNow. And sign up for our exclusive webinar series, Excel Charting Like a Pro with Jon Peltier: Part 1, on Tuesday, August 13, 2024. You can choose what time you want to sit in and learn.

Excel expert Jon Peltier will guide you through hidden tricks and tips to boost your efficiency with Excel charts. Whether you’re a seasoned Excel user or just starting, this webinar is your gateway to becoming a master at it!