Applies ToExcel for Microsoft 365 Excel 2024 Excel 2021 Excel 2019 Excel 2016

You can square a number in Excel with the power function, which is represented by the carat ^ symbol. Use the formula =N^2, in which N is either a number or the value of the cell you want to square. This formula can be used multiple times throughout a worksheet.

Square a number in its own cell

Follow these steps:

  1. Click inside a cell on your worksheet.

  2. Type =N^2 into the cell, where N is the number you want to square. For example, to insert the square of 5 into cell A1, type =5^2 into the cell.  

    The formula is in the cell.
  3. Press Enter to see the result.

    Tip: You can also click into another cell to see the squared result.

    The squared result is in the cell.

Square a number in a different cell

Follow these steps:

  1. Click inside a cell and type the number that you want to square.

  2. Select another empty cell in the worksheet.

  3. Type =N^2 into the empty cell, in which N is a cell reference that contains the numeric value you want to square. For example, to display the square of the value in cell A1 into cell B1, type =A1^2 into cell B1.

  4. Press Enter to see the result.

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Move or copy cells, rows, or columns

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