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How to add icon sets with conditional formatting in Excel and Google Sheets
Excel & Google Sheets
=A2✓
Verified example
Computed by a real spreadsheet engine on the sample data below.
| Sales | Profit |
| 100 | 50 |
| 200 | -25 |
| 150 | 75 |
| 300 | 100 |
=A2→100
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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., A2:B3).
- 2Go to the Home tab, click Conditional Formatting, then choose Icon Sets.
- 3Choose an icon set style from the dropdown menu.
- 4Adjust the criteria for each icon by clicking on the icon and setting the type (Number, Percent, Formula), value, and operator as needed.
- 5Click OK to apply the icon set formatting.
Tips
- Ensure your data range does not include headers unless you exclude them from the selection.
- Customize the icon set further by right-clicking on any cell within the formatted range and selecting Manage Rules.
- Different locales may display icons differently; ensure your settings align with your regional preferences.
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Frequently asked
Can I use custom icons instead of the default ones?
No, both Excel and Google Sheets offer predefined icon sets only.
How do I remove icon sets once applied?
Select the formatted cells, go to Conditional Formatting, and choose Clear Rules.
What happens if my data changes after applying icon sets?
The icon sets will automatically update based on the new data values.