Often you may want to alternate column colors in Excel.
For example, you might want to alternate the column colors in a sheet so that every other column has the same color:
The following example shows how to do so.
Example: How to Alternate Column Colors in Excel
Suppose we would like to alternate the background colors used in columns A through H in our Excel sheet.
To do so, we need to first highlight each of these columns:
Next, click the Conditional Formatting dropdown menu on the Home tab and then click New Rule:
In the new window that appears, click Use a formula to determine which cells to format, then type =MOD(COLUMN(),2)=0 in the box, then click the Format button and choose a fill color to use.
Once we press OK, the columns will alternate between a background color of light green and no background color:
Note: We chose to use a light green fill for the conditional formatting in this example, but you can choose any color and style you’d like for the conditional formatting.
Additional Resources
The following tutorials explain how to perform other common tasks in Excel:
Excel: How to Alternate Row Color Based on Group
Excel: Apply Conditional Formatting if Cell Contains Text
Excel: Apply Conditional Formatting with Multiple Conditions
Excel: Apply Conditional Formatting if Between Two Values
