How to Apply Formatting Across Multiple Cells in Excel

1. Open the Excel 2010 file that contains the cells where you want to change the formatting. Right-click one of the cells you want to change and choose 'Format cells' from the pop-up menu.
2. Select the tab at the top of the 'Format Cells' window that corresponds to the type of formatting you want to do. You can choose from 'Number,' 'Alignment,' 'Font,' 'Border,' 'Fill' and 'Protection.' Once you select a tab, change the options in the window to get the cell formatted as you like it. Once all of your formatting changes are done, click 'OK.' You will see the cell change according to your formatting.
3. Click the cell you just changed, then click the 'Home' tab at the top of the screen. Locate the 'Clipboard' area on the left end of the ribbon. Double-click the 'Format Painter' button and a small paintbrush will appear next to the cursor. Double-clicking, instead of single-clicking, will let you change the format of multiple cells.
4. Select the cells to which you want to copy the formatting of the original cell. Select multiple cells at once by clicking and dragging the mouse or select each cell one by one. When all the desired cells have the same format, click the 'Format Painter' button again to return the cursor to normal.