How to Use Any Exact Color in PowerPoint and Word Using HEX or RGB

When you open the color picker in PowerPoint or Word, the default color swatches rarely include the exact color you need. Brand guidelines usually specify a HEX code or RGB values — and Office apps support both, but the field is hidden one click deeper than most people realize.

Here is the full workflow: get the right color code first, then paste it exactly where Office expects it.

Step 1 — Get Your Exact Color Code

Before you open PowerPoint or Word, you need the HEX or RGB code for the color you want to use. Common sources:

• Your brand style guide (usually has HEX codes like #003087)
• A design file in Figma, Canva, or Adobe XD
• A color you are trying to match from a logo, image, or website

If you do not already have the code, open the free color picker, select your color using the wheel, and copy the HEX or RGB value. The tool shows all three formats — HEX, RGB, and HSL — and lets you copy any of them with one click.

Step 2 — Enter the HEX Code in PowerPoint

In PowerPoint (Windows or Mac):

1. Select the shape, text, or element you want to color.
2. Go to Format (or right-click and choose Format Shape).
3. Under Fill or Line Color, click More Colors.
4. In the Colors dialog, click the Custom tab.
5. You will see a HEX field labeled "#" — paste your six-character code there.
6. Click OK.

PowerPoint accepts HEX codes without the # symbol in some versions. If the field does not accept your code, remove the # and try again.

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Step 3 — Enter RGB Values in PowerPoint or Word

If your brand guide specifies RGB values, the Custom tab also has individual fields for Red, Green, and Blue (each 0–255). Enter the three numbers separately.

In Word:

1. Select the text or element.
2. Go to Home tab, click the font color or highlight color dropdown arrow.
3. Click More Colors at the bottom.
4. Click the Custom tab and enter your HEX or RGB values.

The process is the same in both apps. The Custom color dialog in Microsoft 365 is identical across Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.

Using Brand Colors Consistently Across a Presentation

If you use the same brand color repeatedly, PowerPoint will remember recently used custom colors in the "Recent Colors" section of the color picker. After you enter a HEX code once, it will appear there for the rest of your session.

For longer-term consistency, consider saving your brand colors into a custom Theme in PowerPoint (Design > Colors > Customize Colors). This stores your exact RGB values in the theme file and makes them available as named swatches throughout the presentation.

Quick Reference — Color Format Conversion

Office apps accept both HEX and RGB. If your style guide only gives one format, use a free color picker to convert:

You have	You need	How to convert
HEX code	RGB values	Open the color picker, paste the HEX, read the RGB output
RGB values	HEX code	Open the color picker, enter RGB, copy the HEX output
A logo file	Either	Use an image color extractor tool, then convert as above

Frequently Asked Questions

Does PowerPoint accept HEX codes?

Yes. In the Custom color tab (More Colors > Custom), there is a HEX field labeled with a # symbol. Paste your six-character HEX code there directly. Some older versions may only show RGB fields — in that case, use an online tool to convert your HEX to RGB first.

What if the HEX field is not showing in my version of PowerPoint?

Older versions of Office (pre-2016) may not show the HEX field. In that case, use the RGB fields instead. Open a free color picker, enter your HEX code, and copy the RGB values from the output.

Can I use HSL values in PowerPoint?

PowerPoint does not have an HSL input field in its standard color dialog. You would need to convert HSL to HEX or RGB first — an online color picker can do this in seconds.

Does this also work in Google Slides?

Google Slides also supports custom HEX codes. In the color picker inside Slides, there is a HEX field at the bottom of the dropdown. Enter your code there directly.