How to Make an Exponent in Excel

To calculate an exponent in Excel, use the caret symbol (^). For example, type =5^3 in a cell and press Enter to get 125. You can also use the POWER function, like =POWER(5,3), which gives the same result. If you just want an exponent to look raised, like the 2 in m², format that character as Superscript instead.

Here’s when to use each method, how to work with cell references, negative and fractional exponents, and how to display superscript numbers.

Exponent formulas in Excel

What you want	Formula	Result
5 to the power of 3	=5^3 or =POWER(5,3)	125
A number in A2 to the power in B2	=A2^B2	Depends on the cells
Square a number	=A2^2	A2 × A2
Negative exponent	=10^-2	0.01
Square root	=16^(1/2) or =SQRT(16)	4
Cube root	=27^(1/3)	3
e to a power	=EXP(2)	7.389…
Scientific notation	=3*10^8	300,000,000

Method 1: Use the caret (^) operator

1. Click the cell where you want the result.
2. Type an equals sign, the base, a caret, and the exponent, like =5^3. To type the caret, press Shift + 6.
3. Press Enter.

Use cell references to make the formula update automatically. If the base is in A2 and the exponent in B2, type =A2^B2. Then drag the fill handle down to copy the formula to other rows.

Method 2: Use the POWER function

1. Click a cell.
2. Type =POWER(number, power), like =POWER(A2,B2).
3. Press Enter.

POWER and ^ give the same answer. Some people find POWER easier to read in long formulas.

Watch the order of operations

Excel calculates exponents before multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction. Use parentheses to control the order:

• =2*3^2 equals 18, because 3² is calculated first.
• =(2*3)^2 equals 36.
• =-2^2 equals 4 in Excel, because the minus sign is applied first. Use =-(2^2) to get -4.

Method 3: Show an exponent as superscript

Superscript changes how text looks, not how Excel calculates. It’s useful for labels like m² or footnote numbers.

1. Type the text in a cell. For a number, type an apostrophe first, like ‘102, so Excel treats it as text.
2. Double-click the cell, or press F2, and select only the character you want raised.
3. Press Ctrl + 1 to open Format Cells.
4. Check Superscript under Effects and click OK.

A cell formatted this way is text, so you can’t use it in calculations.

Other ways to show exponents

• ² and ³ symbols: Go to Insert > Symbol, or hold Alt and type 0178 (²) or 0179 (³) on the number pad. These stay raised even in number formats.
• Custom number format: To show units after numbers, select the cells, press Ctrl + 1, choose Custom, and enter 0″ m²”. The numbers stay numbers.
• Equation: Insert > Equation adds a floating math equation, which is good for displaying formulas but doesn’t calculate.

Troubleshooting

• The formula shows as text: The cell is formatted as Text. Change it to General on the Home tab, then re-enter the formula.
• #NUM! error: The result is too large, or you took an even root of a negative number, like =(-4)^(1/2).
• #VALUE! error: One of the cells contains text instead of a number.
• Superscript option is grayed out: You selected the whole cell of a number or formula. Superscript only works on characters inside text.

Frequently asked questions

What is the exponent symbol in Excel?

The caret (^). Press Shift + 6 to type it.

Is there an EXP function for exponents?

Yes, but EXP only raises the constant e (about 2.718) to a power. For any other base, use ^ or POWER.

How do I square a whole column?

In the first cell of an empty column, type =A2^2, press Enter, then double-click the fill handle to copy it down.

Does this work in Google Sheets?

Yes. Google Sheets supports both ^ and POWER the same way.