Determine a Cell's Color with this UDF - Outputs as Text or the Index Number in Excel

Add to Favorites
Author:

This free Excel UDF allows you to output the color of a cell in text format or as that color's index number. Also note that this refers to the fill color of a cell. For instance, if you point the function to a cell that is red, the function will ouput "Red" or the index number "3." The range argument for this function just points to the cell that has color that you want to identify. By defualt, the function outputs the color's name as text. If you set the true/false argument to true, the function outputs the color as an index number.

This UDF function will not display all of the colors in Excel since Excel 2007 has a very large amount of available colors. If a color cannot be identified by this UDF, it will output default text that let's you know that it cannot identify the color.

Where to install the macro:  Module

UDF to Determine a Cell's Color and Output that Color as Text or an Index Number in Excel

Function CELLCOLOR(rCell As Range, Optional ColorName As Boolean)
Dim strColor As String
 Dim iIndexNum As Integer
Select Case rCell.Interior.ColorIndex
Case 1
strColor = "Black"
iIndexNum = 1
Case 53
strColor = "Brown"
iIndexNum = 53
Case 52
strColor = "Olive Green"
iIndexNum = 52
Case 51
strColor = "Dark Green"
iIndexNum = 51
Case 49
strColor = "Dark Teal"
iIndexNum = 49
Case 11
strColor = "Dark Blue"
iIndexNum = 11
Case 55
strColor = "Indigo"
iIndexNum = 55
Case 56
strColor = "Gray-80%"
iIndexNum = 56
Case 9
strColor = "Dark Red"
iIndexNum = 9
Case 46
strColor = "Orange"
iIndexNum = 46
Case 12
strColor = "Dark Yellow"
iIndexNum = 12
Case 10
strColor = "Green"
iIndexNum = 10
Case 14
strColor = "Teal"
iIndexNum = 14
Case 5
strColor = "Blue"
iIndexNum = 5
Case 47
strColor = "Blue-Gray"
iIndexNum = 47
Case 16
strColor = "Gray-50%"
iIndexNum = 16
Case 3
strColor = "Red"
iIndexNum = 3
Case 45
strColor = "Light Orange"
iIndexNum = 45
Case 43
strColor = "Lime"
iIndexNum = 43
Case 50
strColor = "Sea Green"
iIndexNum = 50
Case 42
strColor = "Aqua"
iIndexNum = 42
Case 41
strColor = "Light Blue"
iIndexNum = 41
Case 13
strColor = "Violet"
iIndexNum = 13
Case 48
strColor = "Gray-40%"
iIndexNum = 48
Case 7
strColor = "Pink"
iIndexNum = 7
Case 44
strColor = "Gold"
iIndexNum = 44
Case 6
strColor = "Yellow"
iIndexNum = 6
Case 4
strColor = "Bright Green"
iIndexNum = 4
Case 8
strColor = "Turqoise"
iIndexNum = 8
Case 33
strColor = "Sky Blue"
iIndexNum = 33
Case 54
strColor = "Plum"
iIndexNum = 54
Case 15
strColor = "Gray-25%"
iIndexNum = 15
Case 38
strColor = "Rose"
iIndexNum = 38
Case 40
strColor = "Tan"
iIndexNum = 40
Case 36
strColor = "Light Yellow"
iIndexNum = 36
Case 35
strColor = "Light Green"
iIndexNum = 35
Case 34
strColor = "Light Turqoise"
iIndexNum = 34
Case 37
strColor = "Pale Blue"
iIndexNum = 37
Case 39
strColor = "Lavendar"
iIndexNum = 39
Case 2
strColor = "White"
iIndexNum = 2
Case Else
strColor = "Custom color or no fill"
End Select

If ColorName = False Or strColor = "Custom color or no fill" Then
CELLCOLOR = strColor
Else
CELLCOLOR = iIndexNum
End If

End Function





Excel VBA Course
Excel VBA Course - From Beginner to Expert

200+ Video Lessons 50+ Hours of Instruction 200+ Excel Guides

Become a master of VBA and Macros in Excel and learn how to automate all of your tasks in Excel with this online course. (No VBA experience required.)

View Course



How to Install the Macro
  1. Select and copy the text from within the grey box above.

  2. Open the Microsoft Excel file in which you would like the Macro to function.

  3. Press "Alt + F11" - This will open the Visual Basic Editor - Works for all Excel Versions.  Or For other ways to get there, Click Here.

  4. On the new window that opens up, go to the left side where the vertical pane is located. Locate your Excel file; it will be called VBAProject (YOUR FILE'S NAME HERE) and click this.

  5. If the Macro goes in a Module, Click Here, otherwise continue to Step 8.

  6. If the Macro goes in the Workbook or ThisWorkbook, Click Here, otherwise continue to Step 8.

  7. If the Macro goes in the Worksheet Code, Click Here, otherwise continue to Step 8.

  8. Close the Microsoft Visual Basic Editor window and save the Excel file. When you close the Visual Basic Editor window, the regular Excel window will not close.

  9. You are now ready to run the macro.

Tutorial Details
Excel VBA Course
Excel VBA Course - From Beginner to Expert

200+ Video Lessons
50+ Hours of Video
200+ Excel Guides

Become a master of VBA and Macros in Excel and learn how to automate all of your tasks in Excel with this online course. (No VBA experience required.)

View Course