How to Add Cell Borders and Fill Colors in Excel 2016

Formatting cells in Excel 2016 helps make your spreadsheet more readable and visually appealing. Two basic formatting techniques are adding cell borders and fill colors. This guide explains both in simple steps for beginners.

Step 1: Selecting Cells

Before adding borders or fill colors, you need to select the cells you want to format.

• Click and drag to highlight a single cell or a range of cells.
• Ensure the correct area is selected; formatting will only apply to these cells.

Step 2: Adding Cell Borders

Cell borders help define areas and separate sections of your spreadsheet. Here’s how to add them:

• Go to the Home tab on the Ribbon.
• Click the drop-down arrow next to the Borders icon.
• Choose a preset style like All Borders or Thick Outside Borders.
• For custom borders, select More Borders... at the bottom of the menu.
• In the Format Cells dialog box, pick a line style, color, and thickness on the Border tab.
• Click on the diagram to apply borders to the top, bottom, inside, or outside.
• Click OK to apply your changes.
• You can also use Draw Borders to manually draw borders anywhere on the selected cells.

Step 3: Adding Fill Colors

Fill colors make your spreadsheet more attractive and highlight important cells. Follow these steps:

• Select the cell(s) you want to color.
• Click the drop-down arrow next to the Fill Color icon (paint bucket) on the Home tab.
• Hover over colors to preview them in your selected cells.
• Click the color you like to apply it. The selected cells will now have a colored background.
• For better visibility, consider adjusting the font color to contrast with the fill color.

Benefits of Using Borders and Fill Colors

• Makes spreadsheets easier to read.
• Highlights important information quickly.
• Helps separate data sections clearly.
• Improves the visual appeal of your reports.

5 FAQs of Excel Cell Borders and Fill Colors

How do I remove cell borders?

Select the cells, click the Borders drop-down, and choose No Border.

Can I apply different fill colors to multiple cells at once?

Yes, simply select all the cells and choose your desired fill color. Each cell will update simultaneously.

Can I use patterns for fill color?

Yes, click More Colors or Fill Effects in the Fill Color menu for patterns and gradients.

Is it possible to customize border thickness?

Yes, use the More Borders option to set line thickness, style, and color.

Do these steps work in Excel 2019 or 365?

Yes, the process is almost the same in Excel 2019 and Microsoft 365.

Conclusion

Adding cell borders and fill colors in Excel 2016 is simple but powerful. It makes your data organized, readable, and visually appealing. Start experimenting with colors and borders to create professional-looking spreadsheets quickly.