Alternate Fill Color in Excel (Easiest Way in 2025)
In this article, we will learn how to apply alternating fill colors in Excel by using a pre-defined table style, customizing a table style, and using conditional formatting. Simply follow the steps below.
Method 1: Alternate Fill Colors in Excel Using a Pre-Defined Table Style
Follow the steps below to alternate fill colors in Excel by applying a pre-defined table style.
1. Select the Data Range
Let us use this sample dataset with fruit and vegetable products. Click and drag from cell A1 to E9 to select the entire range of your data.

2. Convert Data to Table
Go to the Insert tab on the Ribbon. Click on the Table button to open the Create Table dialog box. Ensure that My table has headers is checked and click OK.

3. Access Pre-defined Table Styles
With the table still selected, a new Table Design tab will appear on the Ribbon. In the Table Styles group, click the drop-down arrow to see more styles.

4. Choose and Apply
Choose a style that alternates row colors. For example, you might select a style with light and dark shading for every other row.

Method 2: Alternate Fill Colors in Excel Using a Customized Table Style
Follow the steps below to alternate fill colors in Excel by customizing a table style.
1. Select the Data Range
Click and drag from cell A1 to E9 to select the entire range of your data.

2. Convert Data to Table
Go to the Insert tab on the Ribbon. Click on the Table button to open the Create Table dialog box. Ensure that My table has headers is checked and click OK.

3. Customize Table Style
With the table still selected, a new Table Design tab will appear on the Ribbon. In the Table Style Options group, the Banded Rows checkbox is checked by default. If you want to alternate the fill colors on columns instead of rows, uncheck this and check the Banded Columns box.

4. Manually Band Rows
Go to the Home tab. In the Styles group, click the Format as Table drop-down arrow and select a style that alternates colors manually. Your table will now have alternating colors based on the style you selected.

Method 3: Alternate Fill Colors in Excel Using Conditional Formatting
Follow the steps below to alternate fill colors in Excel by creating a new formatting rule.
1. Select the Data Range
Click and drag from cell A1 to E9 to select the entire range of your data.

2. Open Conditional Formatting
Go to the Home tab on the Ribbon. In the Styles group, click on Conditional Formatting. From the drop-down menu, select New Rule.

3. Set the Rule
In the New Formatting Rule dialog box, select Use a formula to determine which cells to format. In the Format values where this formula is true box, enter the following formula: =MOD(ROW(),2)=0. This formula will apply the formatting to every other row.

4. Choose a Format
Click the Format button to open the Format Cells dialog box. Go to the Fill tab and choose a fill color for the alternating rows. For example, select green. Click OK to close the Format Cells dialog box.

5. Apply the Rule
Click OK again to close the New Formatting Rule dialog box. The alternate rows in your selected range should now be filled with the chosen color.

We hope that you now have a better understanding of how to alternate fill colors in Excel. If you enjoyed this article, you might also like our article on how to fill a whole column in excel and how to count filled cells in excel.