How To Highlight Top Bottom N Values In Excel [Conditional Formatting]

The best way to highlight top bottom values is by using conditional formatting.

It’s quick, simple and all you need a few clicks.

But, the best part is, you don’t even have to write a formula for this.

I have been using this since I have got my first job.

Whenever my boss called me with some sort of reports, I do it for sure to highlight top and bottom values.

And, if you are not using it yet, let me tell you how to use it.

Steps To Highlight Top Bottom Values

Below, I have a table with day wise sales and I want to highlight top 10 days with the highest sale (Table is bit long here).

First of all, select the data from which you want to highlight top values.
Go to Home Tab -> Styles -> Conditional Formatting -> Top/Bottom Rules -> Top 10.

Now, in the pop-up window, you have two things to specify.
1. Numbers of values to highlight (top 10 for now).
2. Formatting to use for highlighting values.

It will instantly highlight top 10 values from the data with the formatting style you have mentioned.

For highlighting bottom 10 values, you can use the same steps.

But instead of top 10, just click on bottom 10 and rest of the things are same.

In Top/Bottom rule option in conditional formatting, you have some other useful options.

Top 10% – Use this to highlight the top values which are equivalent to 10% of the data.
Bottom 10% – Highlight the bottom values which are equivalent to 10% of the data.
Above Average – For highlighting values which are above the average value of the data.
Below Average – Use this to highlight values which are below the average value of the data.

As I already said, I highlight top bottom values in all my reports.

And, this also helps the other person to get a quick insight, even if the data is just a table.

So, what do you think about this?

Do you have any other method to highlight top bottom values in excel?

Speak up in the comment box.