How To Type ² Squared Symbol In Word/Excel (on Keyboard)

The squared symbol (²) is a superscript 2. It’s used in math and science (like x²), and in area units such as m², cm², km², ft², in².

Most keyboards don’t have a dedicated key for ², so you’ll usually type it using Alt codes, symbol pickers, or superscript formatting.

Table of Contents

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• 1-Minute Answer (fastest ways)
• Quick Reference
• Step-by-step methods by platform/app
  • A) Windows (very clear)
    • Method 1: Alt code (²)
    • Method 2: Windows symbol panel (Win + .)
    • Method 3: Character Map (always works)
    • Laptop troubleshooting (no numpad)
  • B) Mac
    • Method 1: Character Viewer (recommended)
  • C) Microsoft Word (Windows + Mac)
    • Method 1: Superscript formatting (best for x² and m²)
    • Method 2: Insert the ² character (Insert Symbol)
    • Method 3: Unicode in Word (00B2 then Alt+X)
  • D) Excel
    • Intent 1: Display only (like m² in a cell)
    • Intent 2: Math calculations (square a number)
  • E) Google Docs + Google Sheets
    • Google Docs: make x² (superscript formatting)
    • Google Docs: insert the ² character
    • Google Sheets
  • F) iPhone + Android
    • Most reliable method: copy/paste
    • Optional: save ² as a text replacement (huge time-saver)
  • G) Chromebook (short)
• Common confusion (don’t skip this)
  • 1) “Squared symbol” vs caret
  • 2) ² (character) vs superscript formatting
  • 3) “Why can’t I type it directly?”
  • 4) “How do I type m² and cm² quickly?”
• Troubleshooting
  • Alt code not working
  • The symbol shows as a box □
  • Superscript won’t turn off (Word/Docs)
• FAQ
  • What is the squared symbol called?
  • How do I type ² on Windows?
  • How do I type ² on Mac?
  • How do I write m² in Word/Google Docs?
  • How do I square a number in Excel?
• Quick recap

1-Minute Answer (fastest ways)

Windows (fastest)

• Alt code: Hold Alt and type 0178 on the numeric keypad → ².
• Or just copy/paste: ²

Mac (fastest)

• Press Control + Command + Space → search superscript or squared → insert ²

Microsoft Word (fastest)

• Make “2” superscript (x²): Type x2 → highlight the 2 → Ctrl + Shift + = (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + = (Mac)
• Or: Insert → Symbol → More Symbols → choose ²

Excel (fastest)

• For display: copy/paste ² (like m²)
• For a formula result: use =CHAR(178) (or =UNICHAR(178)) to return ²

Google Docs / Google Sheets (fastest)

• Docs: Type x2 → highlight 2 → Format → Text → Superscript (shortcut: Ctrl + . / Cmd + .)
• Sheets: for calculations use ^2 (example: =A1^2) — for display use ² (copy/paste)

iPhone / Android (fastest)

• Most reliable: copy/paste ²
• You can also save it as a text replacement (optional tip below)

Chromebook (fastest)

• Copy/paste ²
• In Google Docs on Chromebook, you can also use Superscript formatting (same menu/shortcut as above)

Squared Symbol (²) — Click to Copy Click/tap any chip to copy. Includes ², common squared units, and related superscripts. Clear Copy all Copy units Core ² Related superscripts ³ ¹ ⁿ ⁻¹ Common squared units m² cm² km² ft² in² Optional math √ ∞ π ±

Quick Reference

Symbol	Name	Meaning / example	Windows method	Mac method	Notes (Word/Excel/Docs)
²	Superscript two (squared symbol)	x², m², 5²	Alt+0178 (numpad)	Character Viewer (search “superscript”)	Word/Docs can also use Superscript formatting
³	Superscript three (cubed symbol)	x³, cm³	Alt+0179 (numpad)	Character Viewer	Useful for volume units
¹	Superscript one	x¹	Alt+0185 (numpad)	Character Viewer	Less common, but requested often

Step-by-step methods by platform/app

A) Windows (very clear)

Method 1: Alt code (²)

Use this when you have a numeric keypad.

1. Click where you want the symbol.
2. Turn Num Lock ON.
3. Hold Alt.
4. Type 0178 on the numeric keypad.
5. Release Alt → you get ².

Important notes

• This usually won’t work with the number row above the letters.
• It works best on a full keyboard with a dedicated numpad.

Method 2: Windows symbol panel (Win + .)

1. Press Win + . (or Win + ;).
2. Look for a Symbols section.
3. If you see ², click it to insert.

Tip: This panel doesn’t always show ² depending on your Windows version and the panel category, so Alt code / Character Map / copy-paste is more reliable.

Method 3: Character Map (always works)

1. Click Start and search Character Map, then open it.
2. Tick Advanced view.
3. In the search box, type superscript two.
4. Click ² → click Select → click Copy.
5. Paste it where you need it (Ctrl+V).

Laptop troubleshooting (no numpad)

If Alt codes don’t work:

• Try Character Map (method above), or copy/paste (fastest).
• Some laptops have a hidden numpad (often activated with Fn + NumLock/NmLk) — if you don’t see numpad-style numbers on some letter keys, you probably don’t have it.

B) Mac

Method 1: Character Viewer (recommended)

1. Click where you want the symbol.
2. Press Control + Command + Space to open Character Viewer.
3. Search: superscript, squared, or two.
4. Double-click ² to insert it.

Optional tip: Add ² to Favorites so it’s always quick to find.

I’m not listing a “one-and-done” Mac keyboard shortcut for ² because it depends on your enabled input methods. Character Viewer is the most reliable for beginners.

C) Microsoft Word (Windows + Mac)

Method 1: Superscript formatting (best for x² and m²)

This is best when you want any letter/number in superscript (not only ²).

To type x²

1. Type x2
2. Highlight just the 2
3. Turn on superscript:
   • Windows: Ctrl + Shift + =
   • Mac: Cmd + Shift + =
4. Click after the superscript and keep typing normally.

To turn it off: press the same shortcut again.

Method 2: Insert the ² character (Insert Symbol)

1. Go to Insert → Symbol → More Symbols.
2. Look for ² (often under Latin-1 Supplement or similar subsets).
3. Select ² → Insert → Close.

Method 3: Unicode in Word (00B2 then Alt+X)

This is fast if you remember the code.

1. Type 00B2
2. Press Alt + X
3. Word converts it to ².

Best method for x² and m²?

• If it’s a one-off: superscript formatting (Method 1)
• If you repeatedly need the actual character ²: insert it once, then copy it, or save it as AutoCorrect/text replacement.

D) Excel

Excel has two common “squared” needs. They are NOT the same.

Intent 1: Display only (like m² in a cell)

Use one of these:

• Copy/paste: m²
• Or type m then insert ² (Character Map on Windows, Character Viewer on Mac)
• Or use Format Cells → Font → Superscript to make the “2” superscript

Superscript formatting steps (display)

1. Type m2
2. Double-click the cell, highlight the 2
3. Right-click → Format Cells
4. Font tab → check Superscript → OK

Intent 2: Math calculations (square a number)

Use the caret operator:

• =A1^2 (this calculates “A1 squared”)

Optional formula to return the ² character

• =CHAR(178) → returns ²
• Or =UNICHAR(178) → returns ² (newer Excel)

E) Google Docs + Google Sheets

Google Docs: make x² (superscript formatting)

1. Type x2
2. Highlight the 2
3. Go to Format → Text → Superscript(Shortcut: Ctrl + . on Windows/Chromebook, Cmd + . on Mac)

Google Docs: insert the ² character

1. Go to Insert → Special characters
2. Search: superscript 2, superscript two, or squared
3. Click ² to insert it

Google Sheets

• For display: copy/paste m²
• For calculations: use ^2 (example: =A1^2)

F) iPhone + Android

Most reliable method: copy/paste

Copy: ²Paste anywhere you need it.

Optional: save ² as a text replacement (huge time-saver)

iPhone (iOS)

1. Go to Settings → General → Keyboard → Text Replacement
2. Tap +
3. Phrase: ²
4. Shortcut: type something like ^2 or sq2
5. Save

Android (varies by keyboard)

• If you use Gboard, you can often add it to your Personal dictionary and create a shortcut.
• Steps can vary slightly by phone brand, so if you can’t find it: search your settings for Personal dictionary.

Note: Some third-party keyboards may offer superscripts on long-press, but it varies—don’t rely on it.

G) Chromebook (short)

• Fastest: copy/paste ²
• If you’re using Google Docs on Chromebook: make superscripts with Format → Text → Superscript (or Ctrl + .)

Common confusion (don’t skip this)

1) “Squared symbol” vs caret

• ² is a real character
• ^2 is plain text or a math operator (especially in Excel formulas)

If you’re writing normal text like m², you usually want ², not ^2.

2) ² (character) vs superscript formatting

• ² character: great for quick typing and copy/paste (m², cm²)
• Superscript formatting: best when you need any superscript, like x², y³, 10⁻¹, or when you want consistent formatting in Word/Docs

3) “Why can’t I type it directly?”

Most keyboards don’t include a dedicated key for ², so you must use:

• Alt code (Windows with numpad)
• Character Map / Character Viewer
• Insert Symbol menus
• Superscript formatting

4) “How do I type m² and cm² quickly?”

Best options:

• Copy/paste: m² cm²
• Set a text replacement shortcut (type m2 → it becomes m²)

Troubleshooting

Alt code not working

Common causes:

• You’re using the number row instead of the numeric keypad
• Num Lock is OFF
• Your laptop has no numpadFix:
• Use Character Map or copy/paste instead.

The symbol shows as a box □

That’s usually a font problem.Fix:

• Switch to a common font like Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman
• Try pasting into another app to confirm it’s not the font.

Superscript won’t turn off (Word/Docs)

Fix:

• Press the superscript shortcut again:
  • Word Windows: Ctrl + Shift + =
  • Word Mac: Cmd + Shift + =
  • Google Docs: Ctrl + . / Cmd + .
• Or turn it off from the menu (Word: Home → superscript button; Docs: Format → Text → Superscript)

FAQ

What is the squared symbol called?

It’s commonly called superscript two or the squared symbol: ².

How do I type ² on Windows?

Use Alt + 0178 on the numeric keypad (Num Lock on).

How do I type ² on Mac?

Use Character Viewer: Control + Command + Space, then search superscript.

How do I write m² in Word/Google Docs?

Type m2, highlight the 2, then apply Superscript (Word: Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+=, Docs: Ctrl/Cmd+.) — or just copy/paste m².

How do I square a number in Excel?

Use the formula operator: =A1^2

Quick recap

• Need the real character? Use Alt+0178 (Windows) or Character Viewer (Mac), or just copy/paste ².
• Need to make any value superscript (x², m²)? Use superscript formatting in Word/Docs.
• Need math in Excel? Use ^2 in formulas.