You can use the command Home | Format painter to instantly transfer the cell format from one cell to other cells.
To do so, proceed as follows:
| 1. | First, click on the cell whose format you want to transfer to other cells. |
| 2. | Click on the Format painter icon  on the ribbon tab Home| group Edit. |
The mouse cursor will now change into crosshairs with a little brush:  |
| 3. | Drag the mouse (with the mouse button held down) over the cell ranges to which the format is to be transferred. You can apply this function to any number of cell ranges or individual cells (simply click on individual cells). |
| 4. | When you are finished, click on the Format painter icon again or simply press the Esc key. |
Both the character format (font, text styles, etc.) and the cell format (number format, alignment, etc.) will be applied to the selected cells.
Transferring the format of entire cell ranges
You can also transfer the format of entire cell ranges to other cells. To do so, proceed as described above, but in step 1., select the cell range whose format you want to transfer.
If, for example, you select three cells that are formatted with red, green and blue backgrounds and transfer their formatting to another cell range, that range will be formatted alternately with red, green, and blue backgrounds.
Shortcut keys
You can also use the keyboard to perform the Format painter function:
Command |
|
Windows/Linux |
|
Mac |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Format painter (copying step) |
|
Ctrl+Shift+C |
|
Cmd+Shift+C |
Format painter (pasting step) |
|
Ctrl+Shift+V |
|
Cmd+Shift+V |