How to Type Squared (²) and Cubed (³) on Any Device
Quick answer: on Windows, hold Alt and type 0178 for ² or 0179 for ³ on the numeric keypad. In Word and Google Docs you can also raise any number with superscript formatting (Ctrl+Shift+= in Word, Ctrl+. in Docs). On a Mac and on phones, copy ² from this page or save a text replacement.
Quick reference: every method
Every Alt code below is verified against the real Windows code pages — where none exists we say so, rather than list one that won’t work.
| Char | Name | Windows | Mac | HTML | Word (Alt+X) | Unicode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ¹ | Superscript One | Alt+0185 |
Copy / paste | ¹ |
00B9 + Alt+X |
U+00B9 |
| ² | Superscript Two | Alt+0178 |
Copy / paste | ² |
00B2 + Alt+X |
U+00B2 |
| ³ | Superscript Three | Alt+0179 |
Copy / paste | ³ |
00B3 + Alt+X |
U+00B3 |
| ⁴ | Superscript Four | Copy / paste | Copy / paste | ⁴ |
2074 + Alt+X |
U+2074 |
Character or formatting?
There are two ways to get a raised number, and they behave differently:
- The characters ¹ ² ³ (and ⁴ to ⁹) are real Unicode characters. They stay raised wherever you paste them: chats, social media, file names, web forms. Best for units such as m², cm³ and km².
- Superscript formatting raises any text in a document, including x¹⁰ or 2ⁿ, but the formatting disappears when the text is pasted as plain text. Best for maths in Word or Docs.
Windows
¹ ² ³ are in Windows-1252, so they have leading-zero Alt codes: Alt+0185 ¹, Alt+0178 ², Alt+0179 ³. The squared sign is also in the old DOS table as Alt+253. The superscript digits from ⁴ upwards have no Alt code; copy them from the table above or use Word's Alt+X code (2074 for ⁴). Without a numeric keypad, see Alt codes not working.
Word and Google Docs
- Word: select the number and press Ctrl+Shift+= (Command+Shift+= in Word for Mac) to toggle superscript. Or insert the character with Alt+0178 or
00B2then Alt+X. - Google Docs: select the number and press Ctrl+. (Command+. on Mac), or Format → Text → Superscript.
Excel and Google Sheets
To calculate a square, use =A1^2 (or =POWER(A1,2)). To show a unit such as m², type Alt+0178 in the cell or use =UNICHAR(178); the character works in headings, labels and number formats such as 0" m²". In an Excel text cell you can also select one character in the formula bar and apply Format Cells → Font → Superscript.
Mac
The US Mac keyboard has no Option shortcut for ² or ³. Use the Character Viewer (Control+Command+Space, search "superscript"), your app's superscript formatting, or a text replacement such as m2m → m².
iPhone and Android
On Gboard, touch and hold the 2 or 3 key on the number row or symbols page to see ² and ³ in many languages. The iPhone keyboard doesn't offer them, so a text replacement is the quickest way.
HTML
Use ² (²) and ³ (³), or the <sup> element for any number: x<sup>10</sup>.
Related: √ square root, fractions, our superscript and subscript characters, and the math symbols hub.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Alt code for squared (²)?
Alt+0178 gives ² and Alt+0179 gives ³. Type the digits on the numeric keypad with Num Lock on. Alt+253 also gives ² because it is in the old DOS table too.
How do I type m² on a Mac?
There is no Option shortcut for ². Use the Character Viewer (Control + Command + Space, search "superscript two"), apply superscript formatting in your app, or set up a text replacement such as m2m → m².
What is the difference between ² and a superscript 2?
² is its own character and stays raised anywhere you paste it. A superscript 2 is a normal 2 with formatting, which is lost when the text is pasted into plain-text places such as a chat or a web form.
How do I type squared in Excel?
Type Alt+0178 in the cell or use =UNICHAR(178). To calculate a square, use =A1^2.
Looking for something else? Browse 1,000+ copy-paste symbols, the full Alt Codes finder, or the emoji picker.