Format Painter in Excel 2016

Do you ever spend time trying to make your Excel cells look the same? Good news — you don’t have to redo formatting again and again! The Format Painter in Microsoft Excel 2016 helps you copy formatting from one cell and apply it to others in seconds.

It’s quick, simple, and perfect for keeping your spreadsheet clean and professional. Let’s see how it works.

What is Format Painter?

The Format Painter is a built-in Excel tool that copies the look of one cell (like font, color, borders, and alignment) and applies it to another cell. It saves time and keeps your formatting consistent across your worksheet.

Tip: Think of it as a “copy-paste” feature — but for formatting only!

Where to Find Format Painter

You can find the Format Painter button on the Home tab in the Clipboard group. It looks like a small paintbrush icon.

Steps to Use Format Painter in Excel 2016

  • Step 1: Select the cell that has the formatting you want to copy.
  • Step 2: Go to the Home tab and click the Format Painter button. Your cursor will change into a paintbrush symbol.
  • Step 3: Click or drag over the cells where you want to apply the formatting.

And that’s it! Excel instantly applies the same style to your chosen cells.

For Single Use

If you just click the Format Painter once, it will copy the format to one area only. After you apply it, the paintbrush icon disappears automatically.

For Multiple Cells or Ranges

If you want to apply the same format to several areas, double-click the Format Painter button instead. This locks the tool. You can then click or drag over multiple cells one by one.

When you’re done, press the Esc key or click the Format Painter icon again to turn it off.

Pro Tip: Format Painter works across different sheets too! Just double-click it and switch tabs to apply your format anywhere.

Why Use Format Painter?

Here are a few reasons why Format Painter is a must-use tool in Excel:

  • It saves time when formatting multiple cells or tables.
  • It keeps your spreadsheets looking neat and uniform.
  • It helps avoid mistakes from manually applying styles.
  • It works with text, borders, background colors, and even number formats.

Example:

Suppose you format one cell with bold text, yellow fill color, and centered alignment. Using Format Painter, you can apply that exact style to dozens of other cells with just a few clicks — no need to do each step again.

Quick Reminder: Format Painter copies only the formatting, not the actual data or formulas.

5 FAQs About Using Format Painter in Excel 2016

1. What does Format Painter actually copy?

It copies font style, size, color, borders, cell fill color, and text alignment — basically all formatting elements.

2. Can I use Format Painter between different Excel sheets?

Yes! Just double-click the Format Painter to keep it active and move between sheets before applying the format.

3. Does Format Painter work for charts or shapes?

Yes, it also works for charts, shapes, and text boxes. Select one item, click Format Painter, and then click another to apply the same style.

4. How do I stop the Format Painter?

Press the Esc key or click the Format Painter button again to turn it off.

5. Is Format Painter available in newer Excel versions?

Yes, you’ll find it in Excel 2019, 2021, and Microsoft 365 as well — it works almost the same way.

Conclusion

Using the Format Painter in Excel 2016 is one of the easiest ways to make your spreadsheet look clean and consistent. Once you try it, you’ll never want to format each cell manually again. So, next time you prepare a report or data sheet, give the Format Painter a try — it’s a real time-saver!

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