Google Sheets - Conditional Formatting of Columns
Creation date: 4/4/2026 12:05 PM
Updated: 5/7/2026 10:35 PM
Cells, rows, or columns can be formatted to change text or background color if they meet certain conditions. For example, if they contain a certain word or a number.
- On your computer, open a spreadsheet in Google Sheets.
- Select the cells you want to apply format rules to.
- Click Format
Conditional formatting. A toolbar will open to the right.
- Create a rule.
- Single color: Under "Format cells if," choose the condition that you want to trigger the rule. Under "Formatting style, choose what the cell will look like when conditions are met.
- Color scale: Under "Preview," select the color scale. Then, choose a minimum and maximum value, and an optional midpoint value. To choose the value category, click the Down arrow
.
- Click Done.