How to format cells in Google Sheets

Google Sheets not only allows us to store data, but it offers tools to make it look presentable. Probably many of us are aware of the fact that we can format the entire cell contents. But Google Sheets also lets us use multiple formats in a single cell. This article shows you the different possibilities of how you can format cells in Google Sheets.

Format cells in Google Sheets

For the purposes of illustration, please consider the text in the cell B2 as shown in the screenshot below.

Within the entire string of text, we will format the word ‘bold’ to ‘bold‘, ‘italics’ to ‘italics‘, ‘strikethrough’ to ‘strike through‘. And similarly, convert the sub-text ‘red’ to ‘red‘, ‘different font’ to ‘different font‘, and ‘different-sized font’ to ‘different-sized font‘.

In order to be able to do that, we need to double-click on the cell. Then we need to select individual sub-texts using either the keyboard or mouse. To start with, we will select the text ‘bold’. Now click on the Bold formatting option as highlighted in the image below. Or alternatively, press the Ctrl + B (Cmd + B for Mac).

Similarly, select the ‘italics’ sub-text and click on the Italic formatting option as highlighted in the snapshot below. Or alternatively, we can use the keyboard combination Ctrl + I (Cmd + I for Mac).

Moving on, select the sub-string ‘strike through’, and click on the Strikethroughformatting option as highlighted in the image. An alternative approach is that we can use the key combination Alt + Shift + 5 (Option + Shift + 5 in Mac).

To change the text color, we select the sub-text ‘red’. Then we click on the Text color formatting option. It will show us a palette of color options which we can choose from. We were planning on the red color, so we will us select that.

Similarly, to change the font for the sub-text ‘different font’, we select it. Then click on the Font drop-down. We will see the list of supported fonts, from which we choose Courier New font.

Finally, to change the font size of the sub-text ‘different-sized font’, we select it. Then click on the Font size drop-down, and choose the size 14.

Now that we are done with all formatting within the cell, we hit Enter (Return in Mac). The cell B2 now looks as shown in the snapshot below.

Congratulations! We’ve just learned how to format cells in Google Sheets!

If you want to expand this possibility even more, and export your Google Sheets data whilst maintaining the formatting, take a look at this blog post on How to Automatically Transfer Data and Formats From one Google Sheets File to Another.

If a cell holds more text than fits, you can also wrap text in Google Sheets so it runs over several lines.