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Overview

PhpSpreadsheet provides comprehensive styling capabilities through the Style class. Styles can be applied to individual cells or ranges of cells.

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The Style Class

The Style class is the main container for all style components: 
$style = $spreadsheet->getActiveSheet()->getStyle('A1');

// Access style components
$font = $style->getFont();
$fill = $style->getFill();
$borders = $style->getBorders();
$alignment = $style->getAlignment();
$numberFormat = $style->getNumberFormat();
$protection = $style->getProtection();

​
Applying Styles with Arrays

The most efficient way to apply multiple style properties is using applyFromArray(): 
$styleArray = [
    'font' => [
        'name' => 'Arial',
        'bold' => true,
        'italic' => false,
        'underline' => \PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Style\Font::UNDERLINE_DOUBLE,
        'strikethrough' => false,
        'color' => ['rgb' => '808080']
    ],
    'borders' => [
        'bottom' => [
            'borderStyle' => \PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Style\Border::BORDER_DASHDOT,
            'color' => ['rgb' => '808080']
        ],
        'top' => [
            'borderStyle' => \PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Style\Border::BORDER_DASHDOT,
            'color' => ['rgb' => '808080']
        ]
    ],
    'alignment' => [
        'horizontal' => \PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Style\Alignment::HORIZONTAL_CENTER,
        'vertical' => \PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Style\Alignment::VERTICAL_CENTER,
        'wrapText' => true,
    ],
    'fill' => [
        'fillType' => \PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Style\Fill::FILL_SOLID,
        'startColor' => ['rgb' => 'FFFF00']
    ]
];

$spreadsheet->getActiveSheet()->getStyle('B2')->applyFromArray($styleArray);

​
Font Styling

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Font Properties

use PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Style\Font;

$font = $spreadsheet->getActiveSheet()->getStyle('A1')->getFont();

// Font name and size
$font->setName('Arial');
$font->setSize(14);

// Font styles
$font->setBold(true);
$font->setItalic(true);
$font->setStrikethrough(true);

// Underline
$font->setUnderline(Font::UNDERLINE_SINGLE);
// Options: UNDERLINE_NONE, UNDERLINE_SINGLE, UNDERLINE_DOUBLE,
//          UNDERLINE_SINGLEACCOUNTING, UNDERLINE_DOUBLEACCOUNTING

// Superscript and subscript
$font->setSuperscript(true);
// OR
$font->setSubscript(true);

// Font color
$font->getColor()->setRGB('FF0000');
// OR
$font->getColor()->setARGB('FFFF0000');

​
Font Constants

use PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Style\Font;

Font::UNDERLINE_NONE
Font::UNDERLINE_SINGLE
Font::UNDERLINE_DOUBLE
Font::UNDERLINE_SINGLEACCOUNTING
Font::UNDERLINE_DOUBLEACCOUNTING
Font::DEFAULT_FONT_NAME  // 'Calibri'

​
Using Array Format

$spreadsheet->getActiveSheet()->getStyle('A1')->getFont()->applyFromArray([
    'name' => 'Arial',
    'bold' => true,
    'italic' => false,
    'underline' => Font::UNDERLINE_DOUBLE,
    'strikethrough' => false,
    'color' => ['rgb' => '808080']
]);

​
Colors

Colors can be specified in multiple ways: 
use PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Style\Color;

// RGB (without alpha)
$color->setRGB('FF0000');

// ARGB (with alpha/transparency)
$color->setARGB('FFFF0000');

// Predefined colors
$color->setARGB(Color::COLOR_RED);
$color->setARGB(Color::COLOR_BLUE);
$color->setARGB(Color::COLOR_GREEN);
$color->setARGB(Color::COLOR_BLACK);
$color->setARGB(Color::COLOR_WHITE);
$color->setARGB(Color::COLOR_YELLOW);
$color->setARGB(Color::COLOR_DARKRED);
$color->setARGB(Color::COLOR_DARKBLUE);
$color->setARGB(Color::COLOR_DARKGREEN);
$color->setARGB(Color::COLOR_DARKYELLOW);

// Array format
['color' => ['rgb' => 'FF0000']]
['color' => ['argb' => 'FFFF0000']]

​
Fill Patterns

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Solid Fill

use PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Style\Fill;

$fill = $spreadsheet->getActiveSheet()->getStyle('A1')->getFill();
$fill->setFillType(Fill::FILL_SOLID);
$fill->getStartColor()->setARGB('FFCCFFCC');

​
Gradient Fill

use PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Style\Fill;

$fill->setFillType(Fill::FILL_GRADIENT_LINEAR);
$fill->setRotation(90);
$fill->getStartColor()->setRGB('000000');
$fill->getEndColor()->setARGB('FFFFFFFF');

​
Pattern Fills

use PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Style\Fill;

// Available pattern types
Fill::FILL_NONE
Fill::FILL_SOLID
Fill::FILL_GRADIENT_LINEAR
Fill::FILL_GRADIENT_PATH
Fill::FILL_PATTERN_DARKDOWN
Fill::FILL_PATTERN_DARKGRAY
Fill::FILL_PATTERN_DARKGRID
Fill::FILL_PATTERN_DARKHORIZONTAL
Fill::FILL_PATTERN_DARKTRELLIS
Fill::FILL_PATTERN_DARKUP
Fill::FILL_PATTERN_DARKVERTICAL
Fill::FILL_PATTERN_GRAY0625
Fill::FILL_PATTERN_GRAY125
Fill::FILL_PATTERN_LIGHTDOWN
Fill::FILL_PATTERN_LIGHTGRAY
Fill::FILL_PATTERN_LIGHTGRID
Fill::FILL_PATTERN_LIGHTHORIZONTAL
Fill::FILL_PATTERN_LIGHTTRELLIS
Fill::FILL_PATTERN_LIGHTUP
Fill::FILL_PATTERN_LIGHTVERTICAL
Fill::FILL_PATTERN_MEDIUMGRAY

​
Using Array Format

$spreadsheet->getActiveSheet()->getStyle('A1')->applyFromArray([
    'fill' => [
        'fillType' => Fill::FILL_SOLID,
        'color' => ['argb' => 'FFCCFFCC']
    ]
]);

// Gradient fill
$spreadsheet->getActiveSheet()->getStyle('A1')->applyFromArray([
    'fill' => [
        'fillType' => Fill::FILL_GRADIENT_LINEAR,
        'rotation' => 0.0,
        'startColor' => ['rgb' => '000000'],
        'endColor' => ['argb' => 'FFFFFFFF']
    ]
]);

​
Borders

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Basic Borders

use PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Style\Border;

$borders = $spreadsheet->getActiveSheet()->getStyle('A1')->getBorders();

// Individual borders
$borders->getTop()->setBorderStyle(Border::BORDER_THIN);
$borders->getBottom()->setBorderStyle(Border::BORDER_THIN);
$borders->getLeft()->setBorderStyle(Border::BORDER_THIN);
$borders->getRight()->setBorderStyle(Border::BORDER_THIN);

// Border colors
$borders->getTop()->getColor()->setRGB('FF0000');

// Diagonal borders
$borders->getDiagonal()->setBorderStyle(Border::BORDER_THIN);
$borders->setDiagonalDirection(Border::DIAGONAL_UP);
// Options: DIAGONAL_NONE, DIAGONAL_UP, DIAGONAL_DOWN, DIAGONAL_BOTH

​
Border Styles

use PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Style\Border;

Border::BORDER_NONE
Border::BORDER_DASHDOT
Border::BORDER_DASHDOTDOT
Border::BORDER_DASHED
Border::BORDER_DOTTED
Border::BORDER_DOUBLE
Border::BORDER_HAIR
Border::BORDER_MEDIUM
Border::BORDER_MEDIUMDASHDOT
Border::BORDER_MEDIUMDASHDOTDOT
Border::BORDER_MEDIUMDASHED
Border::BORDER_SLANTDASHDOT
Border::BORDER_THICK
Border::BORDER_THIN

​
Border Shortcuts

Apply borders to ranges efficiently: 
// Apply outline border
$styleArray = [
    'borders' => [
        'outline' => [
            'borderStyle' => Border::BORDER_THICK,
            'color' => ['argb' => 'FFFF0000'],
        ],
    ],
];

$spreadsheet->getActiveSheet()->getStyle('B2:G8')->applyFromArray($styleArray);

// All borders
$styleArray = [
    'borders' => [
        'allBorders' => [
            'borderStyle' => Border::BORDER_THIN,
            'color' => ['argb' => 'FF000000'],
        ],
    ],
];

// Inside borders (vertical and horizontal)
$styleArray = [
    'borders' => [
        'inside' => [
            'borderStyle' => Border::BORDER_THIN,
            'color' => ['argb' => 'FF000000'],
        ],
    ],
];

// Vertical borders only
$styleArray = [
    'borders' => [
        'vertical' => [
            'borderStyle' => Border::BORDER_THIN,
        ],
    ],
];

// Horizontal borders only
$styleArray = [
    'borders' => [
        'horizontal' => [
            'borderStyle' => Border::BORDER_THIN,
        ],
    ],
];
Border hierarchy (weakest to strongest): allBorders, outline/inside, vertical/horizontal, left/right/top/bottom/diagonal

​
Advanced Border Mode

The second parameter $advancedBorders controls how borders are applied: 
// Advanced mode (default: true) - applies to range as a whole
$sheet->getStyle('B2:C3')->applyFromArray($styleArray, true);

// Simple mode (false) - applies to each cell individually
$sheet->getStyle('B5:C6')->applyFromArray($styleArray, false);

​
Alignment

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Horizontal Alignment

use PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Style\Alignment;

$alignment = $spreadsheet->getActiveSheet()->getStyle('A1')->getAlignment();

$alignment->setHorizontal(Alignment::HORIZONTAL_CENTER);

// Options:
Alignment::HORIZONTAL_GENERAL
Alignment::HORIZONTAL_LEFT
Alignment::HORIZONTAL_RIGHT
Alignment::HORIZONTAL_CENTER
Alignment::HORIZONTAL_CENTER_CONTINUOUS
Alignment::HORIZONTAL_JUSTIFY
Alignment::HORIZONTAL_FILL
Alignment::HORIZONTAL_DISTRIBUTED

​
Vertical Alignment

use PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Style\Alignment;

$alignment->setVertical(Alignment::VERTICAL_CENTER);

// Options:
Alignment::VERTICAL_TOP
Alignment::VERTICAL_CENTER
Alignment::VERTICAL_BOTTOM
Alignment::VERTICAL_JUSTIFY
Alignment::VERTICAL_DISTRIBUTED

​
Text Control

// Wrap text
$alignment->setWrapText(true);

// Shrink to fit
$alignment->setShrinkToFit(true);

// Text rotation (0 to 180, or -1 to -90)
$alignment->setTextRotation(45);
// Use -165 (or TEXTROTATION_STACK_PHPSPREADSHEET) for stacked text

// Indent (only with left/right alignment)
$alignment->setIndent(2);

// Read order
$alignment->setReadOrder(Alignment::READORDER_LTR);
// Options: READORDER_CONTEXT, READORDER_LTR, READORDER_RTL

​
Using Array Format

$spreadsheet->getActiveSheet()->getStyle('A1')->applyFromArray([
    'alignment' => [
        'horizontal' => Alignment::HORIZONTAL_CENTER,
        'vertical' => Alignment::VERTICAL_CENTER,
        'textRotation' => 0,
        'wrapText' => true,
        'shrinkToFit' => false,
        'indent' => 0,
    ]
]);

​
Applying Styles to Ranges

Styles can be applied to cell ranges efficiently: 
// Apply to single cell
$spreadsheet->getActiveSheet()->getStyle('A1')->applyFromArray($styleArray);

// Apply to range
$spreadsheet->getActiveSheet()->getStyle('A1:D4')->applyFromArray($styleArray);

// Apply to entire row
$spreadsheet->getActiveSheet()->getStyle('5:5')->applyFromArray($styleArray);

// Apply to entire column
$spreadsheet->getActiveSheet()->getStyle('C:C')->applyFromArray($styleArray);

// Apply to multiple ranges (using duplicateStyle)
$spreadsheet->getActiveSheet()->duplicateStyle(
    $spreadsheet->getActiveSheet()->getStyle('A1'),
    'B1:B10'
);

​
Default Workbook Style

Set default styles for the entire workbook: 
// Set default font
$spreadsheet->getDefaultStyle()->getFont()->setName('Arial');
$spreadsheet->getDefaultStyle()->getFont()->setSize(10);

// Set default alignment
$spreadsheet->getDefaultStyle()->getAlignment()
    ->setHorizontal(Alignment::HORIZONTAL_LEFT);

​
Protection

Control cell locking and visibility: 
$protection = $spreadsheet->getActiveSheet()->getStyle('A1')->getProtection();

// Lock cell (prevents editing when sheet is protected)
$protection->setLocked(Protection::PROTECTION_PROTECTED);

// Hide formula (formula bar is empty when cell is selected)
$protection->setHidden(Protection::PROTECTION_PROTECTED);

// Unlock cells
$protection->setLocked(Protection::PROTECTION_UNPROTECTED);
Cell protection only takes effect when worksheet protection is enabled:
$spreadsheet->getActiveSheet()->getProtection()->setSheet(true);

​
Complete Example

use PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Spreadsheet;
use PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Style\Alignment;
use PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Style\Border;
use PhpOffice\PhpSpreadsheet\Style\Fill;

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

// Set values
$sheet->setCellValue('A1', 'Header');
$sheet->setCellValue('A2', 1234.56);

// Apply comprehensive styling
$sheet->getStyle('A1:E1')->applyFromArray([
    'font' => [
        'bold' => true,
        'color' => ['rgb' => 'FFFFFF'],
        'size' => 14,
        'name' => 'Arial'
    ],
    'fill' => [
        'fillType' => Fill::FILL_SOLID,
        'startColor' => ['rgb' => '4472C4']
    ],
    'alignment' => [
        'horizontal' => Alignment::HORIZONTAL_CENTER,
        'vertical' => Alignment::VERTICAL_CENTER,
    ],
    'borders' => [
        'outline' => [
            'borderStyle' => Border::BORDER_THICK,
            'color' => ['rgb' => '000000']
        ]
    ]
]);

​
Best Practices

  • Use applyFromArray() for better performance when setting multiple properties
  • Apply styles to ranges rather than individual cells when possible
  • PhpSpreadsheet minimizes memory by reusing identical styles
  • Set default styles at the workbook level for consistency

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