Formatting Worksheets

If your workbook contains multiple worksheets, it is a good idea to rename your worksheets from the default Sheet1, Sheet2, Sheet3 names to something more descriptive. Giving your worksheets descriptive names can help organize multiple worksheets, making it easier for you to find and use information. Another way to distinguish one worksheet from another is to assign a color to the sheet tab.



To rename a worksheet:

  1. Double-click the sheet tab of the worksheet you want to rename.
  2. Type a descriptive name for the worksheet.
  3. Press Enter on the keyboard to accept the name.



To change the tab color of a worksheet:

  1. Select the sheet tab whose color you want to change.
  2. Click the Format menu, point to Sheet, and select Tab Color...
  3. In the Format Tab Color dialog box, click a color to select it.
  4. Click OK.


  • When naming your worksheets, give each sheet a unique, descriptive name, but try to keep the name succinct.
  • If you have sheets which contain related data, color them using different shades of the same color.

When you select a colored tab, the tab will turn white with the text underlined with the assigned color.

To rename a worksheet, you can also:

  • Right-click the sheet tab and select Rename from the menu.
  • Select the sheet tab, point to Sheet on the Format menu, and click Rename on the submenu.

To change the tab color of a worksheet, you can also right-click the sheet tab and select Tab Color... from the menu.