How to Make a Cell Color Gradient in Google Sheets [3 Methods]

Hello everyone. In this article we will learn how to make a cell two color gradient in Google Sheets, I have some people who are looking to have multiple colors (not gradient) inside a cell, so I bring this article for you with three methods to make a call two colors in Google Sheets, we will learn all simple and basic methods without any extension or add-on. All the methods are directly available within Sheets and do not require any additional third-party add-on.

We sometimes need to have multiple colors in one cell to be more design-oriented. It’s a designing feature that is not possible in Google sheets using a direct color box but using some tricks we can do it and can add multiple colors in one cell also with text or without text. Are you thinking about how we do it? Don’t think further let’s learn it today.

Why Cell color gradient is useful in Google Sheets?

As I have told you that having two colors in a single cell is directly not possible in Google Sheets even though we don’t have a gradient option for fill color when coloring a cell, but here are three possible methods to do this in Google sheets with some tricks. So, if you don’t need anything to get started simply follow this guide. When you work on a template that is mainly for design purposes you or users may want to have multiple colors within a cell. If the users are kids, then it’s more genuine and logical.

For example, you are a school teacher and you have given some kind of template to your students to make them learn with the help of design to make that sheet attractive and colorful for them. Also, when we are working with some special data like we are teaching color theory on sheets then it can be a handy feature to make a cell two colors in Google sheets. It’s not commonly used and for the organizational sheets this is not recommended, it’s only used in special cases. So, therefore for special and mostly designing purposes, we need to learn how to make a cell two colors in Google Sheets.

How to Make a Cell Color Gradient in Google Sheets

Firstly, we will see the simplest method, then we will see another built-in method that uses an internet connection, and then a similar method that allows us to add text as well on the two-colored cells. Excited? Let’s to our method to start learning how to make a cell with two colors in Google Sheets.

How to Make a Cell two Colors in Google Sheets – Using Solid Color Images

In this section we will learn how to make a cell two colors in Google Sheets using images, we need to have two or more solid color images (which can be easily downloaded from the internet), then we will insert them in Sheets with some special settings we will make them within a single cell by joining them together to make them look like two colors of a single cell. This method is a little critical and required attention so be attentive.

Step 1

Download solid color images from the internet

Step 2

Go to sheets and select a cell in which you want to make two colors.

Step 3

Go to Insert > Image

Step 4

Select “Insert an image over the cells” (means that the image will float over cells and would not be inside the cells, because we cannot insert two images inside a single cell)

Step 5

Now resize both images to the same height and width

Step 6

Select both images by holding the Ctrl key and then resize any of the images and both will be resized

Step 7

Now put those images over the first cell (zooming in is recommended while positioning the images)

Step 8

This is how it looks like after being perfectly placed over the cell

So, you see how easy using a simple trick we have a cell two colors in Google Sheets.

But this method is very tedious, takes much time, and has a high chance of error because we have to manually match the image size and make them exactly half from the cell and place them in the exact position manually.

So, we have a more sophisticated method that solves this problem, we don’t have to worry about sizes and also not much about the position. Let’s see what is the solution for this in the next section.

How to Make a Cell two Colors in Google Sheets – Using Drawing Tool

In this section, we will solve the size and placement problem by using the built-in drawing tool inside Google Sheets. we will learn how to make a cell two colors in Google sheets using a drawing tool. It’s pretty easy, and very perfect when it comes to sizing, resizing, and placement. So, let’s learn how we use the drawing tool to make a cell two colors in Google Sheets.

Step 1

Go to Insert > Drawing

Step 2

Now select the Shape from the toolbar and then select the rectangle shape

Step 3

Draw a free-size rectangular shape

Step 4

Copy the rectangle and paste it into the same position

Step 5

Now hold the rectangle, and place it next to the first one perfectly, guides will help you tell your position

Step 6

Now you have made two rectangles which look like one rectangular shape with a line in between

Step 7

Now select the first shape > Go to fill color in the toolbar and choose your desired color for the left side

Step 8

Now select the second shape > Go to fill color and choose your second desired color for the right side

Step 9

Now you have made a sharp rectangular shape with a central line and both sides have different colors now you simply need to place it over the cell which you want to make of two colors and click on the save and close button on the top right.

Step 10

Placed over the cell, it looks like below

This is how you avoid the sizing problem, now it’s a free-to-move shape that is looking like a cell with two colors in Google Sheets. But since the cell have a floating drawing image over it so we cannot write anything in the cell.

But what if you want to have some text as well in the two colors cell, we have a solution for that. In the next section, we will little modify this method and will add text to this cell.

How to Make a Cell two Colors in Google Sheets – Adding Text to Two colors Cell

In this section, we will solve another problem, we will enable text inside two colors cell in Google Sheets. But how do we do that? You have tested that text writing is not possible when a cell has a drawing shape over it, but using a trick we will add text. To learn this method keep reading and see the below steps without skipping any of them.

Step 1

Edit the previous shape we have made using the drawing tool

Step 2

Within the drawing tool, Click on the textbox in the toolbar

Step 3

Drag to make a text box and write your desired text in it, for example, Hello Sheets is my text

Step 4

Now hold this text box and place it over your two-colored rectangular shape

Step 5

Adjust the size and increase the font size of the text (click on three dots after selecting the text and then you will have a font size control box to increase/decrease font size)

Tip: You can also change font family, and font color, even you can use all the text formatting options within the drawing tool.

Step 6

For better design aesthetics, you can keep the shaped border of transparent color, select the shapes go to border color, and select the transparent option from the color box.

Step 7

Your drawing is ready click on Save and Close

Step 8

Now adjust this drawing over the cell, and you’re done

This is how can have text in the cell that is of two colors in Google Sheets.

Using these three methods you can make a cell two colors in Google Sheets, and also you can add text if required.

Note that the drawing is free to resize and free to move over cells, for instance, if you need to adjust the cell size (increase or decrease) then you can similarly adjust the shape size over the cell to make it look like a cell.

I hope you find the above methods useful and that you have learned how to make a cell two colors in Google Sheets.

Important Notes

Conclusion

This was all about how to make a cell two colors in Google Sheets, I found, tested, and brought these easy methods for you to make a cell two colors in Google sheets. Note that the drawing tool uses an internet connection, and adding an image to the sheet also requires an internet connection, so don’t worry if you are having trouble using these features without the internet, they will work fine when your internet connection is restored. I am hoping I have cleared all your doubts regarding how to make a cell two colors in Google Sheets. For more learning tutorials keep learning with Office Demy