To learn how to shade every other row in excel —use a simple conditional formatting formula, or, apply a predefined Excel table for your data.

Technique 1: Use conditional formatting

  1. On the worksheet: 
  • Select the cells you want to format or to shade the entire worksheet, click the Select All button.
  1. Under the Home tab, Styles group, click the arrow next to Conditional Formatting, and click New Rule.
  2. In the New Formatting Rule dialog box, under Select a Rule Type, click Use a formula. 
  3. In the Format values where this formula is true box, enter =MOD(ROW(),2)=0. 
  4. Click Format.
  5. In the Format Cells dialog box, click the Fill tab.
  6. Select the background or pattern color that you want for the shaded rows, click OK. Colour will appear in the Preview window in the New Formatting Rule dialog box.
  7. To apply the formatting, click OK. 

Technique 2 : Use a predefined Excel table style to your data.

  1. Select the range of cells. 
  2. On the Home tab, in the Styles group, click Format as Table.
  3. Under Light, Medium, or Dark, click the table style. 
  4. In the Format as Table dialog box, click OK.