How to apply shading to odd or even (alternative) rows/columns in Excel?

While designing a worksheet, many people tend to apply shading to odd or even (alternative) rows or columns in order to make the worksheet more visual. This article will show you two methods to apply shading to odd or even rows/columns in Excel.

Apply shading to odd or even (alternative) rows/columns with Conditional Formatting
Apply shading to odd or even (alternative) rows/columns with Kutools for Excel

Apply shading to odd or even (alternative) rows/columns with Conditional Formatting

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You can create a Conditional Formatting rule to apply shading to odd or even rows/columns in a worksheet. Please do as follows.

1. Select the range which you want to apply shading to, then click Conditional Formatting > New Rule under the Home tab. See screenshot:

2. In the New Formatting Rule dialog box, you need finish the following configuration:

2.1 Select Use a formula to determine which cells to format option in the Select a Rule Type box;

2.2 For shading odd or even rows, please enter formula =MOD(ROW(),2) into the Format values where this formula is true box;

Tips: For shading odd or even columns, please change the formula to =MOD(Column(),2);

2.3 Click the Format button to specify a shading color for the odd or even rows/colums.

2.4 Click the OK button in this New Formatting Rule dialog box to finish the Conditional Formatting rule. See screenshot:

Then you can see specified shading is applied to alternative rows/columns in selected range as below screenshot shown.

Apply shading to odd or even (alternative) rows/columns with Kutools for Excel

The Alternate Row / Column Shading utility of Kutools for Excel can help you to easily apply shading to odd or even (alternative) rows/columns in Excel.

Before applying Kutools for Excel, please download and install it firstly.

1. Select the range which you want to apply shading to, then click Kutools > Format > Alternate Row / Column Shading. See screenshot:

2. In the Alternate Row / Column Shading dialog box, please do as follows:

A: Specify a shading color from the Shade color drop-down list;

B: Select Rows or Columns option in the Apply shading to section based on your needs;

C: In the Shading method section, select Conditional formatting or Standard formatting option as you need;

D: Specify the alternate row or column number you will shade in the Shade every box;

E: Click the OK button. See screenshot:

Then you can see the specified shading is applied to alternative rows/columns in selected range as below screenshot shown.

If you want to have a free trial (30-day) of this utility, please click to download it, and then go to apply the operation according above steps.

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