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Overview

The Fill class controls cell background colors and fill patterns, including solid colors, gradients, and various pattern fills.

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Namespace

PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Style\Fill

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Getting a Fill Object

// Via Style object
$fill = $spreadsheet->getActiveSheet()->getStyle('A1')->getFill();

// Via chaining
$spreadsheet->getActiveSheet()->getStyle('A1')
    ->getFill()
    ->setFillType(Fill::FILL_SOLID)
    ->getStartColor()->setARGB('FFFF0000');

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Constants

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Fill Types

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FILL_NONE
string
default:"'none'"
No fill
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FILL_SOLID
string
default:"'solid'"
Solid color fill
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FILL_GRADIENT_LINEAR
string
default:"'linear'"
Linear gradient fill
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FILL_GRADIENT_PATH
string
default:"'path'"
Path gradient fill

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Pattern Fill Types

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FILL_PATTERN_DARKDOWN
string
default:"'darkDown'"
Dark diagonal lines going down
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FILL_PATTERN_DARKGRAY
string
default:"'darkGray'"
Dark gray pattern
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FILL_PATTERN_DARKGRID
string
default:"'darkGrid'"
Dark grid pattern
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FILL_PATTERN_DARKHORIZONTAL
string
default:"'darkHorizontal'"
Dark horizontal lines
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FILL_PATTERN_DARKTRELLIS
string
default:"'darkTrellis'"
Dark trellis pattern
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FILL_PATTERN_DARKUP
string
default:"'darkUp'"
Dark diagonal lines going up
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FILL_PATTERN_DARKVERTICAL
string
default:"'darkVertical'"
Dark vertical lines
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FILL_PATTERN_GRAY0625
string
default:"'gray0625'"
6.25% gray pattern
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FILL_PATTERN_GRAY125
string
default:"'gray125'"
12.5% gray pattern
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FILL_PATTERN_LIGHTDOWN
string
default:"'lightDown'"
Light diagonal lines going down
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FILL_PATTERN_LIGHTGRAY
string
default:"'lightGray'"
Light gray pattern
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FILL_PATTERN_LIGHTGRID
string
default:"'lightGrid'"
Light grid pattern
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FILL_PATTERN_LIGHTHORIZONTAL
string
default:"'lightHorizontal'"
Light horizontal lines
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FILL_PATTERN_LIGHTTRELLIS
string
default:"'lightTrellis'"
Light trellis pattern
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FILL_PATTERN_LIGHTUP
string
default:"'lightUp'"
Light diagonal lines going up
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FILL_PATTERN_LIGHTVERTICAL
string
default:"'lightVertical'"
Light vertical lines
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FILL_PATTERN_MEDIUMGRAY
string
default:"'mediumGray'"
Medium gray pattern

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Properties

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fillType
string
default:"'none'"
Fill type (use FILL_* constants)
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rotation
float
default:"0.0"
Rotation angle in degrees (for gradient fills)
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startColor
Color
Start color (for solid fills, this is the main color)
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endColor
Color
End color (for gradient fills)

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Methods

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getFillType()

Get the fill type. 
public function getFillType(): ?string

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setFillType()

Set the fill type. 
public function setFillType(string $fillType): static
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fillType
string
required
Fill type (use FILL_* constants)
Example: 
$fill->setFillType(Fill::FILL_SOLID);
$fill->setFillType(Fill::FILL_GRADIENT_LINEAR);
$fill->setFillType(Fill::FILL_PATTERN_DARKGRAY);

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getRotation()

Get gradient rotation angle. 
public function getRotation(): float

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setRotation()

Set gradient rotation angle in degrees. 
public function setRotation(float $angleInDegrees): static
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angleInDegrees
float
required
Rotation angle in degrees
Example: 
$fill->setRotation(45.0);  // 45 degree angle
$fill->setRotation(90.0);  // 90 degree angle

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getStartColor()

Get the start color (or main color for solid fills). 
public function getStartColor(): Color

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setStartColor()

Set the start color. 
public function setStartColor(Color $color): static
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color
Color
required
Color object
Example: 
use PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Style\Color;

$color = new Color('FFFF0000');
$fill->setStartColor($color);

// Or use the existing color object
$fill->getStartColor()->setARGB('FFFF0000');

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getEndColor()

Get the end color (for gradient fills). 
public function getEndColor(): Color

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setEndColor()

Set the end color. 
public function setEndColor(Color $color): static
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color
Color
required
Color object
Example: 
$fill->getEndColor()->setARGB('FF0000FF');

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applyFromArray()

Apply multiple fill settings at once. 
public function applyFromArray(array $styleArray): static
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styleArray
array
required
Array containing fill style information
Example: 
$fill->applyFromArray([
    'fillType' => Fill::FILL_GRADIENT_LINEAR,
    'rotation' => 90.0,
    'startColor' => [
        'rgb' => '000000'
    ],
    'endColor' => [
        'argb' => 'FFFFFFFF'
    ]
]);

// For solid fills, you can use 'color' as shorthand
$fill->applyFromArray([
    'fillType' => Fill::FILL_SOLID,
    'color' => [
        'rgb' => 'FFFF00'
    ]
]);

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Complete Examples

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Solid Color Fills

use PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Spreadsheet;
use PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Style\Fill;
use PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Style\Color;

$spreadsheet = new Spreadsheet();
$sheet = $spreadsheet->getActiveSheet();

// Method 1: Using setters
$fill = $sheet->getStyle('A1')->getFill();
$fill->setFillType(Fill::FILL_SOLID)
     ->getStartColor()->setARGB('FFFF0000'); // Red background

// Method 2: Using applyFromArray
$sheet->getStyle('B1')->getFill()->applyFromArray([
    'fillType' => Fill::FILL_SOLID,
    'startColor' => [
        'argb' => 'FF00FF00' // Green background
    ]
]);

// Method 3: Using 'color' shorthand
$sheet->getStyle('C1')->getFill()->applyFromArray([
    'fillType' => Fill::FILL_SOLID,
    'color' => [
        'rgb' => '0000FF' // Blue background
    ]
]);

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Gradient Fills

// Linear gradient from red to blue
$sheet->getStyle('A2')->getFill()->applyFromArray([
    'fillType' => Fill::FILL_GRADIENT_LINEAR,
    'rotation' => 90.0,
    'startColor' => [
        'argb' => 'FFFF0000' // Red
    ],
    'endColor' => [
        'argb' => 'FF0000FF' // Blue
    ]
]);

// Path gradient
$sheet->getStyle('A3')->getFill()->applyFromArray([
    'fillType' => Fill::FILL_GRADIENT_PATH,
    'startColor' => ['rgb' => 'FFFF00'],
    'endColor' => ['rgb' => 'FF00FF']
]);

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Pattern Fills

// Dark gray pattern
$sheet->getStyle('A4')->getFill()->applyFromArray([
    'fillType' => Fill::FILL_PATTERN_DARKGRAY
]);

// Light grid pattern
$sheet->getStyle('A5')->getFill()->applyFromArray([
    'fillType' => Fill::FILL_PATTERN_LIGHTGRID,
    'startColor' => ['rgb' => '000000'],
    'endColor' => ['rgb' => 'FFFFFF']
]);

// Diagonal lines
$sheet->getStyle('A6')->getFill()->applyFromArray([
    'fillType' => Fill::FILL_PATTERN_DARKDOWN
]);

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Header Row with Background

// Create header with colored background
$headerStyle = [
    'font' => [
        'bold' => true,
        'color' => ['rgb' => 'FFFFFF']
    ],
    'fill' => [
        'fillType' => Fill::FILL_SOLID,
        'startColor' => ['rgb' => '4472C4']
    ]
];

$sheet->getStyle('A1:E1')->applyFromArray($headerStyle);

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Alternating Row Colors

// Zebra striping for better readability
for ($row = 2; $row <= 20; $row++) {
    if ($row % 2 == 0) {
        $sheet->getStyle("A{$row}:E{$row}")->getFill()->applyFromArray([
            'fillType' => Fill::FILL_SOLID,
            'startColor' => ['rgb' => 'F2F2F2'] // Light gray
        ]);
    }
}

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Highlight Cells Based on Condition

// Highlight negative values with red background
for ($row = 2; $row <= 10; $row++) {
    $value = $sheet->getCell("C{$row}")->getValue();
    if ($value < 0) {
        $sheet->getStyle("C{$row}")->getFill()->applyFromArray([
            'fillType' => Fill::FILL_SOLID,
            'startColor' => ['rgb' => 'FFC7CE'] // Light red
        ]);
    }
}

​
Traffic Light Colors

// Red
$sheet->getStyle('A1')->getFill()->applyFromArray([
    'fillType' => Fill::FILL_SOLID,
    'color' => ['rgb' => 'FF0000']
]);

// Yellow
$sheet->getStyle('A2')->getFill()->applyFromArray([
    'fillType' => Fill::FILL_SOLID,
    'color' => ['rgb' => 'FFFF00']
]);

// Green
$sheet->getStyle('A3')->getFill()->applyFromArray([
    'fillType' => Fill::FILL_SOLID,
    'color' => ['rgb' => '00FF00']
]);

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Remove Fill

// Set fill to none
$sheet->getStyle('A1')->getFill()->setFillType(Fill::FILL_NONE);

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Common Use Cases

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Table Header

$sheet->getStyle('A1:D1')->applyFromArray([
    'fill' => [
        'fillType' => Fill::FILL_SOLID,
        'color' => ['rgb' => '366092']
    ],
    'font' => [
        'bold' => true,
        'color' => ['rgb' => 'FFFFFF']
    ]
]);

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Warning Cell

$sheet->getStyle('A1')->applyFromArray([
    'fill' => [
        'fillType' => Fill::FILL_SOLID,
        'color' => ['rgb' => 'FFF2CC'] // Light yellow
    ]
]);

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Error Cell

$sheet->getStyle('A1')->applyFromArray([
    'fill' => [
        'fillType' => Fill::FILL_SOLID,
        'color' => ['rgb' => 'FFC7CE'] // Light red
    ]
]);

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Success Cell

$sheet->getStyle('A1')->applyFromArray([
    'fill' => [
        'fillType' => Fill::FILL_SOLID,
        'color' => ['rgb' => 'C6EFCE'] // Light green
    ]
]);

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See Also

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