How to create colored drop down list in Excel and Google Sheets

The article shows how to add colors to your data validation lists to make them more visually appealing and user-friendly.

You don't have to be an expert to make a drop-down menu in Excel or Google Sheets. But let's be honest - staring at a long list of values can be pretty boring. If you're looking to add some excitement to your spreadsheets, why not try highlighting a drop-down list with color? Whether you're organizing a list of products, categorizing expenses, or tracking sales data, a colored dropdown will make your data easier to read and understand. In this article, we'll show you how to do just that.

• Create colored drop down list in Excel
• Make drop down list with color in Google Sheets
• Create color-coded dropdown list without text
  • Excel color coded dropdown
  • Google Sheets color coded dropdown

How to create Excel colored drop down list

If you use Excel for data entry, you've likely used the Data Validation feature to create drop-down lists. But did you know that you can also add colors to these lists? This section will guide you through the steps to colorize your drop-down list for a more eye-catching look.

Step 1. Create drop-down list

To add color to your Excel picklist, you first need to create the list itself. If you're unfamiliar with this process, refer to our separate article on creating a drop-down list that describes all possible methods in detail.

For this example, let's assume you have the source list of items in A3:A10 and you've created a drop-down menu with those items. To do that, simply select the range of cells where you want the dropdown to appear (D3:D12 in our case) and click the Data Validation button on the Data tab. In the Data Validation dialog box that appears, choose List from the Allow drop-down menu and, in the Source field, enter the reference to the range of cells containing your items.

Once you've created your drop-down list, you can move on to adding colors.

Step 2. Add colors to drop-down menu

To highlight your picklist with some color, we will be using Excel conditional formatting. The steps are:

1. Select the cell(s) with your drop-down menu.
2. On the Home tab, in the Styles group, click Conditional Formatting > New Rule… .
3. In the New Formatting Rule dialog window, choose the Format only cells that contain option.
4. Choose Specific Text from the first drop-down box and containing from the second drop-down box. In the third box, enter the reference to the cell containing the value that you want to format with a certain color like shown in the screenshot below. Alternatively, you can type the value enclosed in double quotes directly in the box, e.g. "Blue".

   

5. Click the Format button.
6. In the Format Cells dialog box, switch to the Fill tab, choose the color you like for that particular item, and click OK.

   

7. Back in the New Formatting Rule dialog window, review the settings, and if everything looks good, click OK to save the changes.

   

Step 3. Test your colored drop-down list

To test your colored drop down menu, click on the arrow next to the cell. You should see the list of items you entered, with the first item highlighted in the chosen color:

Repeat the above steps for other selections and you will get a cohesive color scheme that makes it easy to visually distinguish between different selections.

Tips:

• If you've chosen dark fill colors for your drop-down list, selecting the white font color will make your options more readable. Similarly, if you've chosen light fill colors, using a dark font color will provide better contrast and readability.
• Don't be afraid to experiment with different color combinations to find the one that works best for your data!
• In Excel 365, you can use the brand new IMAGE function to create dropdown with pictures.

How to make Google Sheets drop down list with color

Google Sheets has become a go-to tool for many people. Like its Microsoft Excel counterpart, it offers the ability to create drop-down menus for easier data entry. With the latest version of Google spreadsheets, you no longer need to rely on conditional formatting tricks. Now, you can add colors to your data validation lists directly as you create them!

To create a colored drop-down list in Google Sheets, follow these steps:

1. Select one or more cells where we want the dropdown list to appear.
2. From the top toolbar, select Data and click Data validation.

   

3. On the Data Validation rules pane, click Add rule.

   

4. In the Criteria drop down menu, pick either the Dropdown or Dropdown from a range option.

   

5. If you choose Dropdown, type your values in the Option 1 and Option 2 boxes, clicking the Add another item button as needed.

   If you choose Dropdown from a range, type the range reference in the text field or use the Select Data Range button to pick the range. Either way, be sure to use absolute references with the $ sign to lock cell addresses such as e.g. =$D$4:$D$8.

   

6. Once you've entered your options, it's time to add some color! Simply select the color you want for each item. If you need more tints than shown in the predefined palette, click Customize, and then choose a custom color.

   

7. When you're finished, click the Done button.

There you have it - a colored drop-down menu that not only looks great, but also helps you organize and analyze your data more effectively.

How to create color-coded drop down list

In the first part of this tutorial, you learned how to create dropdown with colored text values. But what if you want to create a color-coded dropdown where only colors are visible, without any text values? This section will show you how to achieve that outcome. By selecting the same color for both the fill and font, you can create a monochromatic effect that is ideal for organizing data in a clear and concise way. Let's dive in and learn how to create a color coded dropdown list with hidden text values.

Color coded dropdown list in Excel

To make a color-coded dropdown in Excel worksheets, you set up conditional formatting rule as described in Adding colors to drop-down menu. When choosing the format, switch between the Fill and Font tabs and pick the same color on both.

Choosing the fill color:

Choosing the font color:

As a result, you will have a color-coded drop down list where each option is represented by a colored cell. This visual representation can be especially useful for data sets with a large number of categories or where color is a significant factor.

Color coded dropdown list in Google Sheets

To color code drop down list in Google Sheets, follow these steps. After adding background colors (Step 6), do the following:

1. Click on the color you've added to a certain item, and then click Customize.

   

2. On the Background tab, copy the Hex color code:

   

3. On the Text tab, paste the copied hex code:

   

That's it! After following the steps outlined above, you'll have a color-coded dropdown menu effectively hiding the text values and leaving only the color swatches visible.

Note. Please remember that the purpose of visual communication is to enhance understanding, and different situations may require different visual cues to achieve that goal. Color codes are useful for representing data where the color is the primary indicator of meaning. However, if you need to provide additional context for each item, using different fill and font colors can be a more effective way to communicate this information visually.

In conclusion, adding color to drop-down lists in Excel and Google Sheets is a great way to enhance the visual appeal of your spreadsheets while also making them more functional and comprehensible. So go ahead and try it out, and see how color can transform your spreadsheets today!

Practice workbook for download

Excel color drop down list (.xlsx file) Google Sheets drop down list with color (online sheet)

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