Learn Excel Conditional Formatting: Greater Than Rule

Excel's Conditional Formatting feature allows you to apply specific formatting to cells based on their content. One of the most commonly used formatting options is the Greater Than rule, which helps you quickly identify values that exceed a certain threshold.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Select the range of cells you want to format. For example, if you're working with sales data, you might choose cells A1:A10.
A1: 100
A2: 250
A3: 320
A4: 400
A5: 500
A6: 180
A7: 260
A8: 310
A9: 150
A10: 600
2. Go to the Home tab in the Excel ribbon and click on Conditional FormattingA feature in Excel that automatically applies formatting based on conditions..


3. From the dropdown menu, choose Highlight Cells RulesA set of rules for highlighting cells based on their values. and then select Greater Than.


4. In the dialog box, enter the threshold value. For instance, you might input 300 to highlight all cells with values greater than 300.


5. Next, select a formatting style, such as filling the cells with a certain color. You can either use the default formatting or choose your own color.


6. Click OK to apply the formatting rule.

Result Explanation

Once you've applied the Greater Than rule with the value set at 300, Excel will automatically highlight any cells with values greater than 300. Based on the example data above, the cells that will be highlighted are:

Customizing the Rule

If you want to adjust the rule, you can simply change the number in the Greater ThanThis rule highlights cells with values greater than a number you specify. dialog box. For example, if you set the value to 200, it will highlight a different set of cells.

Understanding Key Terms

Hover over the following terms for more information:

• Conditional FormattingAutomatically formats cells based on conditions you define.


• Highlight Cells RulesRules to highlight specific cells based on their content.


• Formatting StyleThe visual style applied to cells that meet the condition (e.g., color fill).

Now, you've learned how to use the Greater Than conditional formatting rule in Excel to make your data stand out and become more insightful!