How to Add Superscript and Subscript in Excel

This guide shows every reliable way to create superscript and subscript in Microsoft Excel. You’ll learn the quick Format Cells method, ribbon paths, keyboard access keys, and practical examples for math and chemistry.

Quick Reference: Excel Superscript and Subscript

Superscript

Ctrl + 1 (Windows) or ⌘ + 1 (Mac) → Format Cells → Font → check Superscript
Home tab → Font group → Dialog launcher → Font → Superscript

Subscript

Ctrl + 1 (Windows) or ⌘ + 1 (Mac) → Format Cells → Font → check Subscript
Right‑click cell → Format Cells… → Font → Subscript

Method 1: Use Format Cells (Fastest and Most Reliable)

Select the cell or the exact characters inside the cell you want to format.
Press Ctrl + 1 (Windows) or ⌘ + 1 (Mac) to open Format Cells.
Go to the Font tab → in Effects check either Superscript or Subscript.
Click OK.

Tip: To format only a portion of text inside one cell, double‑click the cell (or press F2), select just the characters to change, then open Format Cells.

Method 2: Ribbon and Right‑Click Menu

If you prefer the mouse, Excel lets you open the same Format Cells dialog from the ribbon or the context menu.

Home tab → Font group → click the small dialog launcher arrow → Font → Superscript/Subscript
Right‑click the cell → Format Cells… → Font → Superscript/Subscript

Method 3: Keyboard Access Keys

There’s no single dedicated superscript/subscript shortcut in Excel like in Word, but you can use access keys to reach Format Cells quickly.

Windows

Press Alt then H, then F, then N to open Font settings; check Superscript/Subscript.

Or simply use Ctrl + 1 to jump straight to Format Cells.

Mac

Use ⌘ + 1 to open Format Cells, then toggle Superscript/Subscript under Font.

Practical Examples in Excel

Common use cases include mathematical exponents and chemical formulas inside cells.

Mathematics

x squaredx²

10 cubed10³

E equals mc squaredE = mc²

Chemistry

Water moleculeH₂O

Carbon dioxideCO₂

Sulfuric acidH₂SO₄

Need Fast Copy‑Paste Subscript or Superscript?

For quick results across apps and the web, generate Unicode superscript and subscript characters online and paste them directly into Excel.

Try our free tool to create subscript and superscript text that works in Excel, emails, and browsers.

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Troubleshooting and Tips

Only part of the cell should be subscript/superscript

Enter edit mode first (double‑click the cell or press F2), select just the characters, then apply Subscript or Superscript via Format Cells.

Formatting doesn’t copy as expected

Copying between apps can drop cell formatting. If you need portable text, use Unicode superscript/subscript characters from the online generator and paste as text.

Conclusion

In Excel, the most dependable way to add superscript or subscript is through Format Cells (Ctrl + 1 on Windows, ⌘ + 1 on Mac). Use the ribbon or right‑click to reach the same dialog, and remember you can format just part of a cell’s text when needed.

For quick copy‑paste across apps, our superscript generator and subscript generator provides Unicode characters that work anywhere.