I have a drop-down list and I want the cell to be formatted to a specific color depending on the selected value.
Numerous Excel users
From time to time, I get this questions from my followers on Instagram.
They want the cell to change colour when certain value is selected from the drop-down list.
This sounds a bit complicated but it’s actually quite simple.
In this article, I will show you how to auto change colour of the cell based on the selected value from drop down list.
Example
There are 3 financial situations, which are Profit, break-even and loss respectively.
![Create Drop Down List with Color Example](https://dollarexcel.com/wp-content/uploads/image-111.png)
Sample Workbook
Download the workbook to practice it by yourself!
![](https://dollarexcel.com/wp-content/uploads/Download-the-sample-workbook-button-1024x65.png)
Expected Outcome
In this article, I will show you how to make a drop down list with colours.
Indeed, we will be using data validation and conditional formatting.
![Create Drop Down List With Colour Expected Outcome](https://dollarexcel.com/wp-content/uploads/Create-Drop-Down-List-with-Color-Expected-outcome.gif)
Step 1: Select cells to validate
![Select cell to validate](https://dollarexcel.com/wp-content/uploads/Select-cell-to-validate.png)
Step 2-3: In Data tab, select data validation
![In Data tab, select data validation](https://dollarexcel.com/wp-content/uploads/In-Data-tab-select-data-validation-1024x197.png)
Step 4-5: Press the small triangle, select List
![](https://dollarexcel.com/wp-content/uploads/Press-the-small-triangle-select-List-1024x703.png)
Step 6: Press the small triangle, select List
![Select the small triangle](https://dollarexcel.com/wp-content/uploads/Select-the-small-triangle-1024x723.png)
Step 7-8: Select the source for data validation and press OK
![Select the source for data validation and press OK](https://dollarexcel.com/wp-content/uploads/Select-the-source-for-data-validation-and-press-OK-1024x495.png)
Step 9-10: In home tab, select Conditional Formatting
![In home tab, select Conditional Formatting](https://dollarexcel.com/wp-content/uploads/In-home-tab-select-Conditional-Formatting-1-1024x200.png)
Step 11-12: Select “Highlight Cells Rules” and “Text that Contains…”
![](https://dollarexcel.com/wp-content/uploads/Select-Highlight-Cells-Rules-and-Text-that-Contains-1024x988.png)
Step 13-14: Select “Highlight Cells Rules” and “Text that Contains…”
![Format cells that contain the text Profit and press OK](https://dollarexcel.com/wp-content/uploads/Format-cells-that-contain-the-text-Profit-and-press-OK-1024x526.png)
Step 15: Repeat step 13-14 for the “Breakeven” and “Loss”
Step 16: Done
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