Conditional Formatting Strikethrough in Excel

Yes. In Excel for Microsoft 365 on Windows, you can use conditional formatting to strike through an entire row when a cell meets a condition. Select the rows, create a formula rule such as =$E2="Complete", then choose Format > Font > Strikethrough; the formatting updates automatically as the cell values change.

What conditional strikethrough does

Strikethrough is a font effect: it draws a line through the text in a cell. A conditional formatting rule applies that effect only while a specified test is true. For example, a task list can show completed work with a line through every cell in its row, while leaving unfinished tasks unchanged. If a task changes back to an unfinished status, Excel removes the conditional effect.

This is visual formatting, not deletion or archival. The row remains in the worksheet, its values are still available to formulas, and it is not automatically moved or hidden. That makes strikethrough useful for indicating completion without losing the record. It is also important not to confuse the effect with a checkbox, a filter, or a command that permanently changes cell formatting: the rule determines whether the effect is shown.

Set up a rule for an entire row

Suppose a task table occupies A2:G100 and the status is in column E. The following rule strikes through A:G in any row where the status is Complete. On Windows, use these steps:

Select the range to format: A2:G100. Include the whole row portion you want crossed out, not just the status cells.
Go to Home > Conditional Formatting > New Rule.
Choose Use a formula to determine which cells to format.
In the formula box, enter =$E2="Complete".
Select Format, open the Font tab, and select the Strikethrough effect.
Choose OK to close the format dialog, then choose OK again to create the rule.

Check that the rule applies to =$A$2:$G$100 (Excel may show the range without the leading equals sign). Enter Complete in E2 and the formatting should appear across A2:G2. Change the status to In progress and the conditional strikethrough should disappear. The status text must match the condition; capitalization is generally not significant in this comparison, but extra spaces or different wording can prevent a match.

Why the formula uses a dollar sign

The dollar sign in =$E2="Complete" fixes the status column while allowing the row number to adjust. When Excel evaluates the rule for cells in row 2, it checks E2; for row 3, it checks E3; and so on. This is what lets one rule respond to each row separately.

The reference $E2 is mixed: the column is absolute, and the row is relative. If you wrote =$E$2="Complete", every formatted row would look only at E2. If you wrote =E2="Complete", the column reference could shift as Excel applies the rule across the selected range. That may work if the formula is deliberately aligned to the first column, but it is easier to make mistakes. For a status in E, fixing the column is the clear choice.

The formula is written for the first row in the selected range. If the selection starts at row 5, use =$E5="Complete" instead. The row number in the formula should correspond to the top row of the range, not the worksheet heading row.

Choose the right condition

The condition should describe the data as it is actually stored. For a simple status label, an equality test is straightforward. Other common situations call for a different test:

Any nonblank status: With status values in E and formatting applied to rows beginning at row 2, use =$E2<>"". This strikes a row when E is not blank, regardless of the wording.
A checkbox result: If a linked checkbox value is in H, use =$H2=TRUE to format rows whose checkbox value is TRUE. Make sure the checkbox actually writes its value to the cell referenced by the rule.
A date that has passed: If due dates are in F and you want to strike rows only when the date is before today and the task is complete, use =AND($F2<TODAY(),$E2="Complete"). This assumes F contains real Excel dates, not date-looking text.
Several status values: If either Complete or Cancelled should trigger the effect, use =OR($E2="Complete",$E2="Cancelled").

These examples assume the formatting range begins on row 2 and the relevant columns match the examples. Use a real test value in a sample row to confirm the logic before applying a rule to a large table. If a condition depends on several cells, test each part of the logic separately when troubleshooting.

Set and check the Applies to range

A correct formula can still produce a surprising result if the rule applies to the wrong cells. Open Home > Conditional Formatting > Manage Rules to review the rule and its Applies to range. For the task example, the range should cover the intended row cells, such as =$A$2:$G$100. If it covers only E2:E100, only the status cells will receive the font effect.

For a table that grows over time, a fixed range ending at row 100 will not necessarily include new rows added below it. You can extend the Applies to range when needed, or use an Excel table so new records are included as the table expands. Check the rule after inserting or pasting data, because copied formatting and table changes can affect which cells a rule covers. Avoid selecting entire worksheet columns unless that is genuinely useful; applying a rule to a very large range can make the workbook harder to manage.

Rule conflicts and formatting limits

Conditional formatting can have multiple rules for the same cells. If another rule sets a font style or uses a different format, the visible result may not be what you expect. In Manage Rules, inspect the rules for the selected cells, their order, and whether Stop If True is enabled. Rule priority matters when formats conflict; move or revise rules as appropriate rather than creating several overlapping rules without checking them.

A conditional format changes only the attributes included in its format. If you choose only Strikethrough, it should not intentionally change the cell fill or font color. However, a second rule may affect those attributes. Also, strikethrough can be difficult to see in small text, so consider using a complementary cue, such as a muted font color, if the status needs to be obvious. Keep accessibility in mind: do not make the line the sole way users can tell that a task is complete; retain a clear status value or another non-color indicator.

Windows, Mac, and Excel for the web

The instructions above use Excel for Microsoft 365 on Windows. Excel for Microsoft 365 on Mac has conditional formatting and a formula-based rule workflow as well, though dialog layouts and labels can differ slightly. Look for the new rule option that uses a formula, then open its format settings and check whether the Font controls offer Strikethrough.

Excel for the web has conditional formatting, but the available formatting controls can differ from the desktop application. If its rule editor does not offer the strikethrough effect, open the workbook in the desktop Excel application to create or adjust the rule. When a workbook is shared, confirm the result in the version your collaborators use; do not assume every editing interface exposes identical formatting options.

Common problems and practical alternatives

If the entire row is crossed out when only one row should be, first check for an absolute row reference such as $E$2. If no rows change, verify the status spelling, the top-row reference, and the Applies to range. If only the status column changes, expand the range to include the rest of the row. If the line appears but other formatting is unexpected, review overlapping rules in Manage Rules.

There are alternatives, but they serve different needs. You can select cells and apply strikethrough manually with the Font dialog, or use the Windows shortcut Ctrl+5 for selected cells. Manual formatting does not automatically respond to a status change, so it is less suitable when rows are updated often. Filtering the table to show only active tasks can reduce visual clutter without changing text formatting. Hiding or archiving completed rows is another option when readers should focus on unfinished work, but it changes what is visible and can make records less immediately accessible. Choose conditional strikethrough when the goal is to keep completed items visible while marking them as finished.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can conditional formatting strike through a whole row in Excel?
Yes. Select the full row range you want formatted, create a formula-based rule that checks a cell in that row, and choose Strikethrough in the rule’s Font format settings.

What formula strikes through a row when its status says Complete?
If the status is in column E and the selected range starts on row 2, use =$E2="Complete". Adjust the column and row to match your worksheet.

Does conditional strikethrough delete or hide a row?
No. It changes how the cell text looks while the rule is true. The row remains present and can still be sorted, filtered, referenced, and edited.

Why is only one cell struck through?
The rule’s Applies to range probably covers only one column or cell. Edit it in Home > Conditional Formatting > Manage Rules so it covers all the columns you want formatted.

Will the strikethrough disappear if I change the status?
Yes, if the new value no longer meets the rule’s condition. For example, changing Complete to In progress makes the formula false, so the conditional effect is removed.

Try it: the Date Difference Calculator: days, months, years and weekdays between two dates, with the DATEDIF formulas.

More in How-to basics

Sources: Function behaviour and menu paths: Microsoft Support documentation for Excel. Method & sources

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