How to Apply Excel Subscript and Superscript Fast

When working in Excel, one of the formatting styles that is particularly useful is subscript and superscript. In this guide, I will show you different ways to apply subscript and superscript formatting in Excel.

Key Takeaways:

• Subscript and superscript formatting in Excel can improve readability.
• The Format Cells dialog provides a straightforward way to apply subscript or superscript formatting.
• Adding superscript and subscript buttons to the Quick Access Toolbar saves time.
• The CHAR function can create superscripts in text.
• Custom number formatting and Alt codes offer alternative methods for applying it.

 

Introduction to Subscript and Superscript

Superscript displays characters slightly above the normal text line. Whereas, Subscript displays characters slightly below the normal text line. They are both smaller in size than the normal text. They can make the data look more precise and is easy to read.

They are used to:

• Write chemical equations like H₂O and CO₂
• Write mathematical powers like x² and y³
• Create footnotes and references
• Write units such as m² and cm³

 

How to Add Subscript & Superscript in Excel

Format Cells Dialog

STEP 1: Select the cell containing the text you want to format.

STEP 2: Right-click the cell and choose Format Cells from the menu.

STEP 3: In the Format Cells window, go to the Font tab and check the Superscript box.

STEP 4: Click OK.

For subscript check “Subscript” in the Format Cells window and click OK.

Quick Access Toolbar

The QAT is located at the top left of the Excel window. It allows me to pin my most-used commands for quick access.

STEP 1: Click the downward arrow next to the Undo and Redo buttons in the Quick Access Toolbar.

STEP 2: Select More Commands from the dropdown menu.

STEP 3: In the Excel Options window, choose Commands Not in the Ribbon from the dropdown menu.

STEP 4: Scroll down and find Superscript and Subscript, then click Add to move it to the Quick Access Toolbar.

STEP 5: Click OK. The Superscript button is now added to my Quick Access Toolbar.

To apply superscript, I simply:

STEP 1: Select the text or number I want to format.

STEP 2: Click the Superscript button in the Quick Access Toolbar.

To format the text in Subscript, click on the “Subscript” button.

Using Formulas

STEP 1: Identify the base number I want to format with a superscript.

STEP 2: Use the CHAR function to generate the superscript character. Here are some common CHAR codes:

• CHAR(178) → ²

Combine the base number with the superscript using the & operator. For example, if the base number is in cell A1, I enter the formula:

This formula appends the superscript 2 to the number in A1.

Since this method converts the result into text, I cannot use it in calculations. Also, it only supports a small set of superscripts—so it’s not ideal for more complex formatting needs.

Using Custom Number Formatting in Excel

STEP 1: Select the cells where I want to apply superscript or subscript formatting.

STEP 2: Press CTRL + 1 to open the Format Cells dialog.

STEP 3: Click the Number tab and select Custom from the list of categories.

STEP 4: In the Type field, enter 0 as a placeholder for the number.

STEP 5: To add a superscript (e.g., squared ² or cubed ³), I use Alt codes:

• Alt + 0178 → ² (Superscript 2)

For example, if I want my numbers to display as squared values (e.g., 10²), I enter:

STEP 6: Enter and check the result.

 

FAQs

How to type a subscript?

To type a subscript in Excel,

• Select the text or number you want to format.
• Press Ctrl and the Equal sign (=) at the same time.

What is the quickest method to apply superscript in Excel?

The quickest method to apply superscript in Excel is by using the keyboard shortcut:

• Select the cell you want to format
• Press Ctrl + Shift + +

Can I add subscript and superscript buttons to the Excel Ribbon?

Yes, you can add subscript and superscript buttons to the Excel Ribbon.

• Right-click on the Ribbon
• Choose ‘Customize the Ribbon’
• Create a new group within a tab.
• Select ‘Commands Not in the Ribbon’
• Find Subscript and Superscript
• Add them to your new group
• Save the changes

How to superscript 2 in Excel?

In Excel, to superscript the number 2, you can use this formula

=A2&CHAR(178)

What are alt codes for subscripts in Excel?

You can use Alt codes to input subscript characters in Excel. For example, the Alt code for subscript 2 is Alt + 8322.

• Hold the “Alt” key
• Enter the code on the numeric keypad
• Release “Alt” to insert the subscript.