diff --git a/examples/xlsx/demo/main.cpp b/examples/xlsx/demo/main.cpp
index dab7a5f..6e82a04 100644
--- a/examples/xlsx/demo/main.cpp
+++ b/examples/xlsx/demo/main.cpp
@@ -19,17 +19,9 @@ void writeVerticalAlignCell(Document &xlsx, const QString &range, const QString
    Format *format = xlsx.createFormat();
    format->setVerticalAlignment(align);
    format->setBorderStyle(Format::BorderThin);
-   xlsx.mergeCells(range);
-
    CellRange r(range);
-   for (int row=r.firstRow(); row<=r.lastRow(); ++row) {
-       for (int col=r.firstColumn(); col<=r.lastColumn(); ++col) {
-           if (row == r.firstRow() && col == r.firstColumn())
-               xlsx.write(row, col, text, format);
-           else
-               xlsx.write(row, col, QVariant(), format);
-       }
-   }
+   xlsx.write(r.firstRow(), r.firstColumn(), text);
+   xlsx.mergeCells(r, format);
 }
 
 void writeBorderStyleCell(Document &xlsx, const QString &cell, const QString &text, Format::BorderStyle bs)
@@ -83,7 +75,7 @@ void writeInternalNumFormatsCell(Document &xlsx, int row, double value, int numF
     Format *format = xlsx.createFormat();
     format->setNumberFormatIndex(numFmt);
     xlsx.write(row, 0, value);
-    xlsx.write(row, 1, numFmt);
+    xlsx.write(row, 1, QString("Builtin NumFmt %1").arg(numFmt));
     xlsx.write(row, 2, value, format);
 }
 
@@ -265,6 +257,18 @@ int main()
     writeCustomNumFormatsCell(xlsx, 14, 1.23, "0.00 \"RMB\"");
     writeCustomNumFormatsCell(xlsx, 15, 60, "[Red][<=100];[Green][>100]");
 
+    //---------------------------------------------------------------
+    //Create the fifth sheet.
+    xlsx.addWorksheet("Merging");
+    Format *centerAlign = xlsx.createFormat();
+    centerAlign->setHorizontalAlignment(Format::AlignHCenter);
+    centerAlign->setVerticalAlignment(Format::AlignVCenter);
+    xlsx.write("B4", "Hello Qt!");
+    xlsx.mergeCells("B4:F6", centerAlign);
+    xlsx.write("B8", 1);
+    xlsx.mergeCells("B8:C21", centerAlign);
+    xlsx.write("E8", 2);
+    xlsx.mergeCells("E8:F21", centerAlign);
 
     xlsx.saveAs("Book1.xlsx");
 
diff --git a/examples/xlsx/mergecells/doc/images/xlsx-mergecells.png b/examples/xlsx/mergecells/doc/images/xlsx-mergecells.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fdd266b
Binary files /dev/null and b/examples/xlsx/mergecells/doc/images/xlsx-mergecells.png differ
diff --git a/examples/xlsx/mergecells/doc/src/mergecells.qdoc b/examples/xlsx/mergecells/doc/src/mergecells.qdoc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3198cc3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/xlsx/mergecells/doc/src/mergecells.qdoc
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+/*!
+    \example mergecells
+    \title Merge Cells Example
+    \brief Demonstrates how to merge cells
+    \ingroup qtxlsx-examples
+
+    This example demonstrates how to generate a
+    simplest .xlsx file which contians merged cells with
+    Qt Xlsx Library.
+
+    \image xlsx-mergecells.png
+
+    Create an format which will be applied to the merged cells:
+    \snippet mergecells/main.cpp 0
+
+    Merge cells.
+    \snippet mergecells/main.cpp 1
+
+*/
diff --git a/examples/xlsx/mergecells/main.cpp b/examples/xlsx/mergecells/main.cpp
index 536bc33..076994a 100644
--- a/examples/xlsx/mergecells/main.cpp
+++ b/examples/xlsx/mergecells/main.cpp
@@ -1,15 +1,24 @@
 #include "xlsxdocument.h"
+#include "xlsxformat.h"
+
+QTXLSX_USE_NAMESPACE
 
 int main()
 {
-    QXlsx::Document xlsx;
-
-    xlsx.write("B1", "Merge Cells");
-    xlsx.mergeCells("B1:B5");
-
-    xlsx.write("E2", "Merge Cells 2");
-    xlsx.mergeCells("E2:G4");
-
+    Document xlsx;
+    //![0]
+    Format *format = xlsx.createFormat();
+    format->setHorizontalAlignment(Format::AlignHCenter);
+    format->setVerticalAlignment(Format::AlignVCenter);
+    //![0]
+    //![1]
+    xlsx.write("B4", "Hello Qt!");
+    xlsx.mergeCells("B4:F6", format);
+    xlsx.write("B8", 1);
+    xlsx.mergeCells("B8:C21", format);
+    xlsx.write("E8", 2);
+    xlsx.mergeCells("E8:F21", format);
+    //![1]
     xlsx.save();
 
     return 0;
diff --git a/src/xlsx/xlsxdocument.cpp b/src/xlsx/xlsxdocument.cpp
index dd0e956..a2e4ee8 100644
--- a/src/xlsx/xlsxdocument.cpp
+++ b/src/xlsx/xlsxdocument.cpp
@@ -142,21 +142,44 @@ int Document::insertImage(int row, int column, const QImage &image, double xOffs
 }
 
 /*!
- * Merge cell \a range.
+    Merge a \a range of cells. The first cell should contain the data and the others should
+    be blank. All cells will be applied the same style if a valid \a format is given.
+
+    \note All cells except the top-left one will be cleared.
  */
-int Document::mergeCells(const QString &range)
+int Document::mergeCells(const CellRange &range, Format *format)
 {
-    return currentWorksheet()->mergeCells(range);
+    return currentWorksheet()->mergeCells(range, format);
 }
 
 /*!
- * Unmerge cell \a range.
+    \overload
+    Merge a \a range of cells. The first cell should contain the data and the others should
+    be blank. All cells will be applied the same style if a valid \a format is given.
+
+    \note All cells except the top-left one will be cleared.
  */
+int Document::mergeCells(const QString &range, Format *format)
+{
+    return currentWorksheet()->mergeCells(range, format);
+}
+
+/*!
+    Unmerge the cells in the \a range.
+*/
 int Document::unmergeCells(const QString &range)
 {
     return currentWorksheet()->unmergeCells(range);
 }
 
+/*!
+    Unmerge the cells in the \a range.
+*/
+int Document::unmergeCells(const CellRange &range)
+{
+    return currentWorksheet()->unmergeCells(range);
+}
+
 /*!
  * \brief Set properties for a row of cells.
  * \param row The worksheet row (zero indexed).
diff --git a/src/xlsx/xlsxdocument.h b/src/xlsx/xlsxdocument.h
index bfaf55e..4d61c5c 100644
--- a/src/xlsx/xlsxdocument.h
+++ b/src/xlsx/xlsxdocument.h
@@ -58,7 +58,9 @@ public:
     int write(const QString &cell, const QVariant &value, Format *format=0);
     int write(int row, int col, const QVariant &value, Format *format=0);
     int insertImage(int row, int column, const QImage &image, double xOffset=0, double yOffset=0, double xScale=1, double yScale=1);
-    int mergeCells(const QString &range);
+    int mergeCells(const CellRange &range, Format *format=0);
+    int mergeCells(const QString &range, Format *format=0);
+    int unmergeCells(const CellRange &range);
     int unmergeCells(const QString &range);
     bool setRow(int row, double height, Format* format=0, bool hidden=false);
     bool setRow(const QString &row, double height, Format* format=0, bool hidden=false);
diff --git a/src/xlsx/xlsxworksheet.cpp b/src/xlsx/xlsxworksheet.cpp
index d60a402..3220f28 100755
--- a/src/xlsx/xlsxworksheet.cpp
+++ b/src/xlsx/xlsxworksheet.cpp
@@ -679,7 +679,13 @@ int Worksheet::insertImage(int row, int column, const QImage &image, const QPoin
     return 0;
 }
 
-int Worksheet::mergeCells(const CellRange &range)
+/*!
+    Merge a \a range of cells. The first cell should contain the data and the others should
+    be blank. All cells will be applied the same style if a valid \a format is given.
+
+    \note All cells except the top-left one will be cleared.
+ */
+int Worksheet::mergeCells(const CellRange &range, Format *format)
 {
     Q_D(Worksheet);
     if (range.rowCount() < 2 && range.columnCount() < 2)
@@ -688,11 +694,37 @@ int Worksheet::mergeCells(const CellRange &range)
     if (d->checkDimensions(range.firstRow(), range.firstColumn()))
         return -1;
 
+    for (int row = range.firstRow(); row <= range.lastRow(); ++row) {
+        for (int col = range.firstColumn(); col <= range.lastColumn(); ++col) {
+            if (row == range.firstRow() && col == range.firstColumn()) {
+                Cell *cell = cellAt(row, col);
+                if (cell) {
+                    if (format)
+                        cell->d_ptr->format = format;
+                } else {
+                    writeBlank(row, col, format);
+                }
+            } else {
+                writeBlank(row, col, format);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    if (format)
+        d->workbook->styles()->addFormat(format);
+
     d->merges.append(range);
     return 0;
 }
 
-int Worksheet::mergeCells(const QString &range)
+/*!
+    \overload
+    Merge a \a range of cells. The first cell should contain the data and the others should
+    be blank. All cells will be applied the same style if a valid \a format is given.
+
+    \note All cells except the top-left one will be cleared.
+ */
+int Worksheet::mergeCells(const QString &range, Format *format)
 {
     QStringList cells = range.split(QLatin1Char(':'));
     if (cells.size() != 2)
@@ -703,14 +735,12 @@ int Worksheet::mergeCells(const QString &range)
     if (cell1 == QPoint(-1,-1) || cell2 == QPoint(-1, -1))
         return -1;
 
-    return mergeCells(CellRange(cell1.x(), cell1.y(), cell2.x(), cell2.y()));
-}
-
-int Worksheet::mergeCells(int row_begin, int column_begin, int row_end, int column_end)
-{
-    return mergeCells(CellRange(row_begin, column_begin, row_end, column_end));
+    return mergeCells(CellRange(cell1.x(), cell1.y(), cell2.x(), cell2.y()), format);
 }
 
+/*!
+    Unmerge the cells in the \a range.
+*/
 int Worksheet::unmergeCells(const CellRange &range)
 {
     Q_D(Worksheet);
@@ -721,6 +751,10 @@ int Worksheet::unmergeCells(const CellRange &range)
     return 0;
 }
 
+/*!
+    \overload
+    Unmerge the cells in the \a range.
+*/
 int Worksheet::unmergeCells(const QString &range)
 {
     QStringList cells = range.split(QLatin1Char(':'));
@@ -735,11 +769,6 @@ int Worksheet::unmergeCells(const QString &range)
     return unmergeCells(CellRange(cell1.x(), cell1.y(), cell2.x(), cell2.y()));
 }
 
-int Worksheet::unmergeCells(int row_begin, int column_begin, int row_end, int column_end)
-{
-    return unmergeCells(CellRange(row_begin, column_begin, row_end, column_end));
-}
-
 void Worksheet::saveToXmlFile(QIODevice *device)
 {
     Q_D(Worksheet);
diff --git a/src/xlsx/xlsxworksheet.h b/src/xlsx/xlsxworksheet.h
index e4f9ad6..0aa5632 100755
--- a/src/xlsx/xlsxworksheet.h
+++ b/src/xlsx/xlsxworksheet.h
@@ -71,10 +71,8 @@ public:
 
     int insertImage(int row, int column, const QImage &image, const QPointF &offset=QPointF(), double xScale=1, double yScale=1);
 
-    int mergeCells(int row_begin, int column_begin, int row_end, int column_end);
-    int mergeCells(const QString &range);
-    int mergeCells(const CellRange &range);
-    int unmergeCells(int row_begin, int column_begin, int row_end, int column_end);
+    int mergeCells(const QString &range, Format *format=0);
+    int mergeCells(const CellRange &range, Format *format=0);
     int unmergeCells(const QString &range);
     int unmergeCells(const CellRange &range);