Change the default font and style for shapes in Excel

Excel 365
When you create a shape in your spreadsheet, it is created with the default style and any text that you type has the default font.

In Excel 2016:

  • the default style is defined by the default theme - blue shape with blue borders and white font;
  • default font for shapes is called Calibri, at a font size of 11 points.

To change the default style and/or font for shapes, follow the next steps:

   1.   Create a new shape in your spreadsheet:

On the Insert tab, in the Illustrations group, click on the Shapes drop-down list and then select any shape you prefer:

Shapes in Excel 2016

Excel will add the shape with the default style:

Basic Shape in Excel 2016

   2.   Apply any formatting. You can change the fill color or add an effect, change the text color, style, or weight of a line, or make any other changes.

For example:

Formatted shape in Excel 2016

   3.   Select the shape, right-click the border, and then click Set as Default Shape on the popup menu:

Default shape in Excel 2016

Next time you add a new shape, Excel will use the formatting you applied:

New shape in Excel 2016

See also this tip in French: Comment changer la police et le style par défaut des formes dans Excel.

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