In Excel: use =EXP(number) — it raises the constant e (about 2.71828) to your exponent, so =EXP(1) returns 2.718281828.
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Syntax
Arguments
| Argument | required / optional | Description |
|---|---|---|
number | required | The exponent to raise e (about 2.71828) to. |
Related functions
Select the result cell and type =EXP(.
Enter the exponent — often a rate multiplied by a number of periods.
Press Enter.
To reverse the operation, apply LN to the result; the two undo each other exactly.
What this does
EXP raises Euler's number e to a power. It is the exact inverse of LN, so =EXP(LN(A2)) returns A2, and that pairing is what makes it useful outside pure maths: continuous growth and decay models, logistic curves and interest compounded continuously are all expressed with EXP. In practice most spreadsheet users meet it when converting a log-scale coefficient back into a real-world multiplier, or when a growth model is specified in continuous rather than periodic terms. Most people learn this as a sequence of clicks and forget it by next week; learning it as a pattern instead is what lets you apply it to the next, slightly different version of the problem without starting from scratch. That is the difference this page is trying to make. The difference between a quick fix and a sheet you can trust is the extra minute you spend validating “excel exp formula”. Start on a copy or a tiny sample, keep the affected formula visible, and compare the result with the outcome you expected before you touch the real workbook. When a formula is involved, keep the inputs labelled beside it, reference cells instead of typing values, and apply number formatting only after the result checks out. The point is a calculation you can defend to a CFO or an auditor, but the practical win is that someone else can open the file and understand what happened without asking you.
A worked example
Continuous compounding of 10,000 at 5 % for 3 years: =10000*EXP(0.05*3) returns about 11,618. Converting a log-model coefficient of 0.182 back into a multiplier, =EXP(0.182) returns roughly 1.20 — a 20 % uplift. Exponential decay of 500 units at 12 % per period over 4 periods: =500*EXP(-0.12*4). EXP is how a continuous-growth model gets expressed in a spreadsheet, and how log-scale results get translated back into figures a reader can act on. Check the referenced cells, argument order and result type in your workbook. Start with the worked example before changing an input, then compare the changed result with the calculation you expected. An error value or a result of a different type is a reason to inspect the inputs and arguments.
In Google Sheets
Google Sheets support for this task has not been verified. Check the function, arguments and workflow in the target product before transferring the example. Matching formula notation does not establish identical behaviour. Keep this page bookmarked for the next time the same question comes up. Better still, repeat the steps once in your own workbook — doing it yourself is what turns a copied answer into something you remember. For “excel exp formula”, keep the input cells and the result visible while you check the formula in Excel. Follow the worked example and change one input at a time. The steps explain the workbook calculation; this page does not run a live calculator for that task.
Common mistakes
- Using EXP where ordinary periodic compounding was meant; that is
=principal*(1+rate)^periods, not continuous compounding. - Passing a large exponent, which overflows to
#NUM!— EXP grows extremely fast. - Confusing EXP with the ^ operator; ^ takes any base, EXP is fixed to e.
Frequently asked questions
What is e in Excel?
=EXP(1) returns it: approximately 2.718281828. There is no separate E() constant the way there is PI().
How do I reverse EXP?
Apply LN. =LN(EXP(5)) returns 5 exactly, because the two are inverses.
When would I use EXP rather than ^?
When the model is specified in continuous terms — continuous compounding, exponential decay, or converting a log-scale coefficient back to a multiplier.