In Excel: use =POWER(number, power) — it raises a base to an exponent, so =POWER(2, 10) returns 1024. The ^ operator does the same thing: =2^10.
On this page8
Syntax
Arguments
| Argument | required / optional | Description |
|---|---|---|
number | required | The base value. |
power | required | The exponent. Fractions give roots — 1/3 is a cube root. |
Related functions
Select the result cell and type =POWER(.
Enter or select the base value, then a comma.
Enter the exponent — a whole number to multiply out, a fraction such as 1/4 to take a root.
Press Enter. For a growth rate, subtract 1 from the result and format the cell as a percentage.
What this does
POWER raises a number to an exponent and is exactly equivalent to the ^ operator, so which you use is a readability decision rather than a functional one. Its real everyday value is fractional exponents, which produce roots: raising to 1/3 gives a cube root, and raising a growth ratio to 1/n is the core of every compound-growth calculation. A CAGR is literally =POWER(end/start, 1/years)-1. Negative exponents give reciprocals. A negative base with a fractional exponent has no real answer and returns #NUM!. 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. For “square a number in excel”, the reliable version is a short checking loop, not just the first command that appears to work. Run it on a deliberately small range first, watch how the affected cells change, and only then apply the same setup to the full sheet. 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. That is what makes a calculation you can defend to a CFO or an auditor useful in real work: repeatable, auditable, and not dependent on memory or luck.
A worked example
Compound annual growth from 120,000 to 195,000 over 4 years: =POWER(195000/120000, 1/4)-1 returns about 0.1281, or 12.81 %. A cube root of 27 is =POWER(27, 1/3), which returns 3. Doubling capacity ten times over: =POWER(2, 10) returns 1024. POWER is the backbone of every compound-growth and rate calculation, because the fractional exponent is what converts a total change into a per-period one. 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 “square a number in excel”, 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
- Writing 1/4 without brackets inside a larger expression, where operator precedence changes the meaning — wrap the exponent when in doubt.
- Taking a fractional power of a negative base, which returns
#NUM!because no real root exists. - Forgetting the -1 in a growth-rate formula, which reports the growth factor (1.128) rather than the rate (12.8 %).
Frequently asked questions
Is POWER the same as the ^ operator?
Yes, =POWER(2,10) and =2^10 give identical results. POWER reads more clearly inside a long formula; ^ is shorter.
How do I calculate a root?
Use a fractional exponent: =POWER(A2, 1/3) is the cube root, =POWER(A2, 1/2) the square root — though SQRT says the latter more directly.
How do I calculate CAGR?
=POWER(end/start, 1/years)-1, formatted as a percentage. The fractional exponent is what turns total growth into an annual rate.
Other ways people ask this
On the way here you may have searched this as “how to square numbers on excel”, “how do you square a number in excel”, “how do i square a number in excel” and “excel formula to square a number” — it is all the same task, and this page is the single, complete answer to it.
Why do people search for this in so many different ways?
Because the same task has many names. “how to square numbers on excel”, “how do you square a number in excel”, “how do i square a number in excel” all point at the one operation explained on this page, which is why they all lead here.