Create custom color for cell background by using java color class Create custom color- XSSFWorkbook workBook = new XSSFWorkbook (); IndexedColorMap colorMap = workbook.getStylesSource().getIndexedColors(); Font tableHeadOneFontStyle = workbook.createFont(); tableHeadOneFontStyle.setBold( true ); tableHeadOneFontStyle.setColor( IndexedColors.BLACK.getIndex() ); XSSFCellStyle tableHeaderOneColOneStyle = workbook.createCellStyle(); tableHeaderOneColOneStyle.setFont( tableHeadOneFontStyle ); tableHeaderOneColOneStyle.setFillForegroundColor( new XSSFColor( new java.awt.Color( 255, 231, 153 ), colorMap ) ); tableHeaderOneColOneStyle.setFillPattern( FillPatternType.SOLID_FOREGROUND ); tableHeaderOneColOneStyle = setLeftRightBorderColor( tableHeaderOneColOneStyle ); tableHeaderOneColOneStyle = alignCenter( tableHeaderOneColOneStyle );