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How to keep borders while sorting in Excel?

Author Sun Last modified

Sometimes, you may add borders around cells containing specific contents to make them stand out in an Excel sheet. However, when you sort the data, the borders will stay in the same position instead of sorting with the cell contents, as shown in the screenshot below. How can you keep the borders with cell contents while sorting in Excel?

A screenshot showing cells with borders in Excel before sorting Arrow right A screenshot showing Excel cells after sorting, where borders have stayed with the data

Keep borders while sorting by using Conditional Formatting

Keep borders while sorting by using Conditional Formatting

To keep borders or other formatting with cell contents when sorting, you can add the formatting using the Conditional Formatting function.

1. Select the data range, then click Home > Conditional Formatting > New Rule.
A screenshot of the Conditional Formatting menu in Excel

2. In the New Formatting Rule dialog, select Use a formula to determine which cells to format from Select a Rule Type section, then type this formula =$C1>250000 to the Format values where this formula is true. Then click Format to open the Format Cells dialog, under Border tab, select Outline choice.
A screenshot of the New Formatting Rule dialog for adding borders with Conditional Formatting

You can change the formula to meet your own need. For example, to format the cells in column A that contain the word "apple," you can use this formula: =$A1="apple".

3. Click OK > OK to close dialogs. Now borders are added to the cells in column C which are larger than 250000.
A screenshot showing Excel cells with borders added by Conditional Formatting

From now on, borders will be moved with cells while sorting.

A screenshot showing cells with borders in Excel before sorting Arrow right A screenshot showing the result of sorting cells with Conditional Formatting borders

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