Sign in with Microsoft
Sign in or create an account.
Hello,
Select a different account.
You have multiple accounts
Choose the account you want to sign in with.

In Visio you can customize the appearance of shapes by changing their text colors, font, fill colors and patterns, line weight and style, or shadow.

Apply formatting quickly by using shape styles

The quickest way to add color to a shape is with the menu of preset shape styles.

  1. Select the shape you want to change.

  2. On the toolbar, go to Home > Shape Styles:

    Shape formatting options on the Home tab in Visio for Microsoft 365.

  3. Open the gallery of styles and select an option, all of which match your drawing’s color theme. Options include different colors, gradients, and line styles.

Apply formatting manually

You can apply formatting more precisely by using the Format Shape pane, as described below:

  1. Select the shape or shapes you want to change.

  2. Right-click the shape and select Format Shape.

    The Format Shape pane opens. 

  3. On the The Fill & Line tab in the Format Shape pane. (Fill & Line) tab, select the type of fill, then select a color. 

  4. If you want a border on the shape, under Line, select the line type and color. Then select any other options you want such as Transparency, Width, Dash type and Cap type

  5. To apply an effect (such as Shadow, Reflection, Glow, or 3D appearance, select the The Effects tab in the Format Shape pane. (Effects) tab at the top of the pane, and explore the available options. 

Choose a custom color to apply

You can apply a custom color by specifying a red-green-blue color combination or a hexadecimal color code, or by choosing from the color canvas.

  1. Select one or more shapes.

  2. Select Home > Fill Shape Fill button..

  3. Select More Colors > Custom.

  4. You can specify a red-green-blue color combination or a hex value for a custom color, or you can choose a color directly from the color map. 

    You can select a custom color on the Custom tab of the Colors dialog box.

  5. To select a custom outline color, select Home > Line Shape Outline button., then select More Colors.

Change the line weight of a shape

  1. Select the shape.

  2. On the Home tab, in the Shape Styles section, select Line > Weight, then select the thickness you want.

    (The Line menu also lets you change the line style. Use the Dashes or Arrows option to choose the kind of line you want.)

    Tip: For more precise sizing of line weight, you can right-click a shape and select Format Shape, then select Line and choose the exact Width you want, in increments of .25 pts. 

See Also

Apply transparency to a shape

Select, move, resize, and rotate shapes

Apply a color, line style, gradient, and effect independently

  1. Select one or more shapes. 

  2. Select the Shape tab on the toolbar ribbon. 

  3. Select Shape > Shape Fill Shape Fill button., then select an option from the gallery that appears. 

    The Shape Fill button. Shape Fill menu also has a Transparency option so that you can adjust the opacity of a shape to reveal text or another shape behind it.

  4. If you want a border on the shape, select  Shape Outline button. Shape Outline, then select an option from the gallery that appears.

    You can also change the line, weight, dashes, or arrows (if you have selected a connector line).

Choose a custom color to apply

  1. Select one or more shapes.

  2. To fill the shape with a theme or standard color, select Shape > Shape Fill Shape Fill button. > More Fill Colors to define a custom color.

    In the Custom Colors dialog box, you can specify any color by using a hexadecimal value or a red-green-blue value.

  3. To apply a custom color to the shape's border, select Shape > Shape Outline Shape Outline button. > More Outline Colors.

Change the line weight of a shape

  1. Select the shape.

  2. On the Shape tab, select  Shape Outline button. Shape Outline > Weight, then select the thickness you want.

    (The Shape Outline menu also lets you change the line style. Use the Dash or Arrows option to choose the kind of line you want.)

    Tip: For more precise sizing of line weight, you can right-click a shape and select Format Options. Then, in Format Options pane, select Line and choose the exact Weight you want, in increments of .25 pts. In the Format Options pane, you can also choose the outline and fill colors of a shape, including custom colors. 

See Also

Change the size, rotation, and order of a shape in Visio for the web

Apply transparency to a shape

Need more help?

Want more options?

Explore subscription benefits, browse training courses, learn how to secure your device, and more.

Communities help you ask and answer questions, give feedback, and hear from experts with rich knowledge.

Was this information helpful?

What affected your experience?
By pressing submit, your feedback will be used to improve Microsoft products and services. Your IT admin will be able to collect this data. Privacy Statement.

Thank you for your feedback!

×