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In this article, you will learn how to color rows with alternating patterns in Google Sheets. This Google Sheets function allows you to make your data table more visible and clear.

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How to use the “Alternating color” function in Google Sheets

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• Select an array you want to apply an alternating pattern.

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• Go to the “Format” tab → “Alternating colors”.

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• The pop-up menu shows up on the right side.

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• Determine if you apply a pattern to “Header” and “Footer”.

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• Choose a pattern you like out of default patterns, or customize your design.

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• Click the “Done” button at the bottom right.

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Steps 1 and 2

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Steps 3 to 5

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What is the alternative way of “Alternating colors”

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You can use Conditional Formatting instead of Alternating colors to alternate row colors. 

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• Select the range you want to apply a pattern.

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• Navigate to the “Format” tab → “Conditional formatting”.

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• Choose “Custom formula is” → Enter “=MOD(ROW(),2)=0”.

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• Click the “Done” button at the bottom right.

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You need to understand that you make the MOD function return 0 (where a row number is even) or 1 (when a row number is odd) by entering 2 as its divider and that the Conditional Formatting you define is applied where the MOD function returns 0. In the example, Conditional Formatting is effective for rows with even numbers.

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If you want to apply Conditional Formatting to rows with odd numbers, you can change the custom formula to “=MOD(ROW(), 2)=1”. You can see the outcome in the picture below.

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How to alternate column colors in Google Sheets

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Check this article: Alternate Column Colors in Google Sheets: Explained to learn how to add alternating colors to columns.

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