Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here: Shortcut Key for Format Painter.
Fred loves to use the Format Painter, but doesn't like to use the mouse to use the tool. He would find it much easier to use if there were a shortcut key instead. Unfortunately, Excel doesn't provide a single shortcut key you can use for the Format Painter. You can, however, use the following steps:
In step 4 you could also press Shift+F10 rather than Alt+E. The first displays the Context menu for the cells and the other uses the regular menu system.
If you prefer a real shortcut key (only a single key press), then you will need to develop your own macro to paste only the format. The following is an example of such a macro.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here: 
Sub PasteSpecialFormats()
If Application.CutCopyMode = False Then
Beep
MsgBox "No formatting in Clipboard"
Else
Selection.PasteSpecial Paste:=xlFormats
End If
End Sub
To use the macro, follow steps 1 through 3 as previously outlined, and then run the macro. Since the macro can be assigned to a shortcut key, you end up with an easier shortcut than what has already been discussed.
Note:
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (3225) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Excel (Excel 2007 and later) here: Shortcut Key for Format Painter.
Comprehensive VBA Guide Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) is the language used for writing macros in all Office programs. This complete guide shows both professionals and novices how to master VBA in order to customize the entire Office suite for their needs. Check out Mastering VBA for Office 2010 today!
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2020-05-24 09:01:55
akif
thank you it is easier to use mouse.
2019-09-21 08:21:24
Forgotten Mario Brother Nario Mario
There's actually an alternative and *MUCH, MUCH* easier work-around:
Use the Quick-Access Toolbar.
First, some quick set-up. Open an Excel document, right-click the Format Painter icon, and select "Add to Quick-Access Toolbar." Now press Enter/Return. You've now added the Format Painter icon to the Quick-Access Toolbar.
You should now just need to press Alt and then 5. :-)
That's your shortcut key combo now for Format Painter.
But if not, press the Alt Key, and you'll see the number key on your keyboard that you need to press to use Format Painter. If you want to go nuts with Quick Access Toolbar icons, here's how this works with lots of Quick Access Toolbar icons. After 9 Quick-Access Toolbar icons, the numbers will be 09, 08, 07, and so on. For 09, press Alt, then 0, then 9. For 08, press Alt, then 0, then 8. And so on. If you have more Quick-Access Toolbar icons than what will fit, you will get a "More" icon. To access *any* Quick Access Toolbar icons, you need to press Alt, then 0, then 0, and then another 0, followed by a letter or number.
2018-05-14 04:46:46
srimahesh
thank you i was literally searching for it
2017-10-27 10:21:51
Tony
thank you for this. Really helpful.
2016-11-17 04:23:40
Hawk
For those who use a keyboard with a "right click" key, it becomes very simple:
- Select the cell to copy from
- Ctrl + C
- Select the target cell
- "Right click key" + R
2016-06-20 15:03:02
Alok
Alt+E, S == Ctrl+Alt+V
2016-06-03 03:42:15
Ajay
HELPFUL
2016-03-19 08:54:34
Kelvin
This really helps a lot, thank you for the generous sharing.
2016-03-06 09:06:18
Belle
Helpful, thank you!
2016-01-11 19:02:43
Will Long
Please disregard the forward slash at the end of my last message, it was supposed to be a period.
2016-01-11 18:59:59
Will Long
I don't think anyone would want to go through all those steps to avoid using a mouse when a combination of mouse and keyboard would be far more efficient.
Better yet, highlight the field you want to format paint using and then press Control+C, than right click the field you want to format paint and press "R"/
2015-10-26 14:32:59
Kevin
helpful, thank you
2015-10-15 04:50:41
AJAY JAIN
thanx
Got a version of Excel that uses the menu interface (Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, or Excel 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
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