How to Add Superscript and Subscript in Google Sheets [2024]

Adding superscript and subscript in Google Sheets can be quite useful for various purposes such as mathematical equations, chemical formulas, footnotes, and more. 

While Google Sheets doesn't have dedicated buttons for superscript and subscript like some other word processing software, you can still achieve these effects using a couple of different methods.

In this tutorial, you'll learn how to add superscript and subscript in Google Sheets using the CHAR function.

At the end, you'll also get the list of important formulas along with ASCII Codes that you can just copy and paste on your Google Sheet for your use.

Let's get started.

Note: This article contains affiliate links. When you click an affiliate link and make a purchase, we get a small compensation at no cost to you. See our Privacy Policy and Disclaimer for more info.

Adding Superscript in Google Sheets

The CHAR function in Google Sheets is a powerful tool that allows users to manipulate and work with character values in their spreadsheets. 

This function is particularly useful when dealing with textual data and can help streamline various tasks such as data manipulation, formatting, and text-based calculations.

When it comes to using the CHAR function in Google Sheets, it's essential to understand its primary purpose. 

The function is designed to return the character specified by the ASCII code, providing users with the ability to generate specific characters based on their numerical codes.

Using this function we can easily add superscripts as well as subscripts in our sheets.

Thus, in this tutorial, we will use the Char function and show you how to input the formula correctly to generate the right superscripts and subscripts.

Creating Superscripts Using the CHAR function

First you need open Google Sheets from your browser by visiting the link given below.

Google Sheets - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/0/ 

Now, let's say you want to write the famous Einstein formula, E = mc² in your sheet, where 2 is the superscript. To add 2 as superscript in Google Sheets, you need to know the proper ASCII code for the number 2.

The ASCII Code for the number 2 is 178.

So, to replace the regular 2 as superscript in the formula E = mc², we will use the ASCII code 178.

Below you can see that I have entered the formula ="E=mc"&CHAR(178) in the cell to produce the result we wanted.

Please note that all the text characters are required to be entered inside the double quotation mark ("").

In Google Sheet, if you want to superscript text or numbers, you need to perform the following steps:

Step 1: Click on a cell in your Google Sheet
Step 2: Enter the formula “=CHAR(numerical value)”
Step 3: Press Enter

Thus, in just three steps, you should now have a superscript character in the cell.

Below is the ASCII Code for numbers from 0 to 9 so that you can easily create superscripts in Google Sheets.

Let's see some more example where we will try to input some mathematical expressions containing superscripts. 

Example 1: Click on a cell in your Google Sheet and enter the formula =char(8308) and press the Enter button on your keyboard. The result would be superscript 4 as shown below.

In the above table, you can see that the ASCII Code for 4 is 8308 that is why on using the formula =char(8308) in Google Sheets, it generated number 4 as superscript.

Example 2: In this example, we will generate 7⁵ using the char function. In the above table, you can see that the ASCII Code for number 5 is 8309.

So, we will use the formula =7&char(8309) and press the Enter button on your keyboard. The result would be 7 to the power 5 (7⁵) as shown below.

Example 3: Below is an example of producing the mathematical expression a³ + b³. To produce this result, I have entered this formula ="a"&char(179)&"+b"&char(179).

Example 4: In this example, we will try to produce the formula (a + b)² = a² + 2ab + b², where 2 is the superscript.

To generate this formula with proper superscript in Google Sheet, click on a cell and enter this formula ="(a + b)"&char(178)&"= a"&char(178)&" + 2ab + b"&char(178).

Below, you can see that I have successfully produced the expression (a + b)² = a² + 2ab + b² using the formula mentioned above. 

By using the CHAR function and proper ASCII Code, and following the steps as covered above, now, you would be able to add superscript in Google Sheets easily. 

In the next section, we will see how to add subscripts in Google Sheets.

Adding Subscript in Google Sheets

Using the same Char function and specific ASCII Code we can easily add subscripts in Google Sheets.

Below are some ASCII Codes for creating subscripts in Google Sheets using the Char function.

Example 1: Click on a cell in your Google Sheet. Now, enter the formula =char(8326) and press the Enter button. The result would be subscript 6 as shown below.

Example 2: In this example, we will generate H₂ using the char function. In the above table, you can see that the ASCII Code for number 2 is 8322.

So, we will use the formula ="H"&char(8322) and press the Enter button. The result would be H₂ as shown below.

Example 3: Below is an example of producing the chemical formula of water which is H₂O. To produce this result, we will entered this formula ="H"&char(8322)&"O".

Example 4: In this example, we will try to produce the formula of washing soda Na₂CO₃, where the numbers 2 and 3 are the subscripts.

To generate this formula with proper subscript in Google Sheet, click on a cell and enter this formula ="Na"&char(8322)&"CO"&char(8323) as shown below.

I hope now you have a clear understanding of inserting both superscripts and subscripts in your sheets.

By following the simple steps covered in this tutorial, you can easily add superscript and subscript text in your Google Sheets document, enhancing the visual appeal and clarity of your data.

Wrapping Up

By incorporating superscript and subscript in Google Sheets, you can significantly enhance the presentation and readability of your data.

Whether you're noting chemical formulas, mathematical notations, or footnotes, these formatting options offer a versatile way to convey information effectively within your spreadsheets.

I hope you found the tutorial on how to add superscripts and subscripts in Google Sheets helpful. If you've liked it please share it with your friends on social media.

For more useful tips and tutorials, please check out the below mentioned resources from our blog.