Changing the Color Inside a Shape

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated December 30, 2023)
This tip applies to Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, Excel in Microsoft 365, and 2021

When you have created a drawing object, you can fill it with a color of your choosing. This is easy to do by following these steps:

  1. Select the shape you want to fill.
  2. Make sure the Format tab of the ribbon is selected.
  3. In the Shape Styles group, click the Shape Fill tool. Excel displays a color menu.
  4. From the color menu, select the color you want to use.
  5. If you do not see your desired color displayed, click on More Fill Colors to display a wider selection of choices.

Once you select a color, Excel removes the color menu and fills the interior of the shape with the color selected. To remove a color you previously used, you can repeat the same steps, but in step 4 choose No Fill.

ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (6611) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, Excel in Microsoft 365, and 2021.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

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