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How to highlight cells greater than average in Excel and Google Sheets
Topic:Conditional formattingExcel & Google Sheets
=AVERAGE($B$2:$B$7)✓
Verified example
Computed by a real spreadsheet engine on the sample data below.
| ID | Value |
| 1 | 10 |
| 2 | 20 |
| 3 | 30 |
| 4 | 40 |
| 5 | 50 |
| 6 | 60 |
=AVERAGE($B$2:$B$7)→35
Try it with your data
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Sample data — click any cell to edit
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Step by step
- 1Select the range of cells you want to format (e.g., B2:B7).
- 2Go to the Home tab, click Conditional Formatting, then select New Rule.
- 3Choose 'Format only cells that contain'. Set the rule to 'Greater Than' and enter the formula =AVERAGE($B$2:$B$7) in the box.
- 4Click Format to choose your formatting style, then OK to apply.
Tips
- Ensure your range references are absolute ($ signs) if you're copying rules across different columns or rows.
- Check for hidden rows or columns that might affect the average calculation.
- In Google Sheets, the formula syntax is similar but ensure your cell references match the selected range.
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Frequently asked
What if my data range changes?
Update the formula in the conditional formatting rule to reflect the new range.
Can I use this method for text data?
No, this method works only with numerical data.
How do I remove the conditional formatting once applied?
Select the formatted cells, go to Home > Conditional Formatting, and choose Clear Rules.
More on Conditional formatting
See all →How-to
How to highlight duplicate values
Highlight duplicate cells automatically with Conditional Formatting using a COUNTIF rule — no formulas to copy manually.
How-toHow to highlight cells greater than a value
Use Conditional Formatting with a simple greater-than rule to automatically color cells that exceed a threshold value.
How-toHow to highlight the highest value in a range
Color the maximum value in a range automatically using a Conditional Formatting rule based on the MAX function.
How-toHow to highlight the lowest value in a range
Color the minimum value in a range using a Conditional Formatting rule built on the MIN function.
How-toHow to highlight blank cells
Use conditional formatting with ISBLANK to automatically highlight empty cells in your spreadsheet for easy visual identification.
How-toHow to highlight cells that contain specific text
Use conditional formatting with SEARCH or ISNUMBER(SEARCH()) to highlight any cell containing a specific word or phrase automatically.