---
title: "POWER function in Excel: syntax and examples | PracticeExcel"
description: "How to use POWER in Excel and Google Sheets: exponents, roots and compound growth, and how POWER compares with the ^ operator."
canonical_url: "https://practiceexcelonline.com/functions/power"
locale: en
meta:
  "og:description": "How to use POWER in Excel and Google Sheets: exponents, roots and compound growth, and how POWER compares with the ^ operator."
  "og:image": "https://practiceexcelonline.com/_og/d/c_Page%2Ctitle_~UE9XRVIgZnVuY3Rpb24gaW4gRXhjZWw6IHN5bnRheCBhbmQgZXhhbXBsZXM%2Cdescription_~SG93IHRvIHVzZSBQT1dFUiBpbiBFeGNlbCBhbmQgR29vZ2xlIFNoZWV0czogZXhwb25lbnRzLCByb290cyBhbmQgY29tcG91bmQgZ3Jvd3RoLCBhbmQgaG93IFBPV0VSIGNvbXBhcmVzIHdpdGggdGhlIF4gb3BlcmF0b3Iu%2Ceyebrow_Excel%2Bfunctions%2Csite_practiceexcel%2Ccode_~UE9XRVIobnVtYmVyLCBwb3dlcik%2Cp_Ii9mdW5jdGlvbnMvcG93ZXIi%2Cs_UUqxXlKTuqbdzBCn.png"
  "og:image:height": "600"
  "og:image:type": image/png
  "og:image:width": "1200"
  "og:title": "POWER function in Excel: syntax and examples | PracticeExcel"
  "twitter:image": "https://practiceexcelonline.com/_og/d/c_Page%2Ctitle_~UE9XRVIgZnVuY3Rpb24gaW4gRXhjZWw6IHN5bnRheCBhbmQgZXhhbXBsZXM%2Cdescription_~SG93IHRvIHVzZSBQT1dFUiBpbiBFeGNlbCBhbmQgR29vZ2xlIFNoZWV0czogZXhwb25lbnRzLCByb290cyBhbmQgY29tcG91bmQgZ3Jvd3RoLCBhbmQgaG93IFBPV0VSIGNvbXBhcmVzIHdpdGggdGhlIF4gb3BlcmF0b3Iu%2Ceyebrow_Excel%2Bfunctions%2Csite_practiceexcel%2Ccode_~UE9XRVIobnVtYmVyLCBwb3dlcik%2Cp_Ii9mdW5jdGlvbnMvcG93ZXIi%2Cs_UUqxXlKTuqbdzBCn.png"
---

> Index of every page on this site: [llms.txt](https://practiceexcelonline.com/llms.txt)

# **The POWER function**

Raises a number to a power. POWER(2,3) is 2×2×2, which is 8, the same as =2^3.

=

POWER(

## **Syntax**

```
POWER(number, power)
```

<dl><dt>**number **</dt>
<dd>The base number.</dd>
<dt>**power **</dt>
<dd>The exponent. A fraction gives a root, so 1/3 is the cube root.</dd></dl>

## **Examples**

B1`=POWER(<sup>1</sup>2,<sup>2</sup>10)`

|  | A | B |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 |  | **1024** |

**In plain words:** <sup>1</sup>2 raised to <sup>2</sup>the power of 10.

B1=POWER(27,1/3)

|  | A | B |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 |  | **3** |

D1=B1\*POWER(1+B2,B3)

|  | A | B | C | D |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Starting amount | 1000 |  | **1628.894627** |
| 2 | Annual growth | 0.05 |  | |
| 3 | Years | 10 |  | |

## **Questions**

<details>

<summary>

### Is POWER the same as the ^ operator?

</summary>

Yes. =POWER(5,2) and =5^2 both give 25. Use whichever reads better; ^ is shorter inside longer formulas.

</details>

<details>

<summary>

### How do I square a number in Excel?

</summary>

Write =POWER(A2,2) or =A2^2. For a square root, use SQRT or a power of 1/2.

</details>

## **Related functions**

- [**SQRT**](https://practiceexcelonline.com/functions/sqrt)
- [**PRODUCT**](https://practiceexcelonline.com/functions/product)
- [**FV**](https://practiceexcelonline.com/functions/fv)

```json
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@id":"https://practiceexcelonline.com/#identity","@type":"Organization","name":"PracticeExcel","url":"https://practiceexcelonline.com/","logo":{"@id":"https://practiceexcelonline.com/#logo"}},{"@id":"https://practiceexcelonline.com/#website","@type":"WebSite","inLanguage":"en-US","name":"PracticeExcel","url":"https://practiceexcelonline.com/","alternateName":["Practice Excel Online","PracticeExcelOnline.com"],"publisher":{"@id":"https://practiceexcelonline.com/#identity"},"workTranslation":{"@id":"https://excelopgaver.dk/#website"}},{"@id":"https://practiceexcelonline.com/functions/power#webpage","description":"How to use POWER in Excel and Google Sheets: exponents, roots and compound growth, and how POWER compares with the ^ operator.","name":"POWER function in Excel: syntax and examples","url":"https://practiceexcelonline.com/functions/power","@type":["WebPage","FAQPage"],"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://practiceexcelonline.com/functions/power#breadcrumb"},"isPartOf":{"@id":"https://practiceexcelonline.com/#website"},"mainEntity":[{"@id":"https://practiceexcelonline.com/functions/power#/schema/question/1"},{"@id":"https://practiceexcelonline.com/functions/power#/schema/question/2"}],"potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https://practiceexcelonline.com/functions/power"]}],"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https://practiceexcelonline.com/#logo"}},{"@id":"https://practiceexcelonline.com/functions/power#breadcrumb","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","name":"Home","item":"https://practiceexcelonline.com","position":1},{"@type":"ListItem","name":"Excel functions","item":"https://practiceexcelonline.com/functions","position":2},{"@type":"ListItem","name":"POWER function in Excel: syntax and examples","position":3}]},{"@id":"https://practiceexcelonline.com/functions/power#article","description":"How to use POWER in Excel and Google Sheets: exponents, roots and compound growth, and how POWER compares with the ^ operator.","headline":"POWER function in Excel: syntax and examples","inLanguage":"en-US","thumbnailUrl":"https://practiceexcelonline.com/_og/d/c_Page%2Ctitle_~UE9XRVIgZnVuY3Rpb24gaW4gRXhjZWw6IHN5bnRheCBhbmQgZXhhbXBsZXM%2Cdescription_~SG93IHRvIHVzZSBQT1dFUiBpbiBFeGNlbCBhbmQgR29vZ2xlIFNoZWV0czogZXhwb25lbnRzLCByb290cyBhbmQgY29tcG91bmQgZ3Jvd3RoLCBhbmQgaG93IFBPV0VSIGNvbXBhcmVzIHdpdGggdGhlIF4gb3BlcmF0b3Iu%2Ceyebrow_Excel%2Bfunctions%2Csite_practiceexcel%2Ccode_~UE9XRVIobnVtYmVyLCBwb3dlcik%2Cp_Ii9mdW5jdGlvbnMvcG93ZXIi%2Cs_UUqxXlKTuqbdzBCn.png","@type":["Article","TechArticle"],"author":{"@id":"https://practiceexcelonline.com/#identity"},"image":{"@id":"https://practiceexcelonline.com/#/schema/image/1"},"isPartOf":{"@id":"https://practiceexcelonline.com/functions/power#webpage"},"mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https://practiceexcelonline.com/functions/power#webpage"},"publisher":{"@id":"https://practiceexcelonline.com/#identity"}},{"@id":"https://practiceexcelonline.com/functions/power#/schema/question/1","@type":"Question","inLanguage":"en-US","name":"Is POWER the same as the ^ operator?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes. =POWER(5,2) and =5^2 both give 25. Use whichever reads better; ^ is shorter inside longer formulas."}},{"@id":"https://practiceexcelonline.com/functions/power#/schema/question/2","@type":"Question","inLanguage":"en-US","name":"How do I square a number in Excel?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Write =POWER(A2,2) or =A2^2. For a square root, use SQRT or a power of 1/2."}},{"@id":"https://practiceexcelonline.com/#logo","@type":"ImageObject","caption":"PracticeExcel","contentUrl":"https://practiceexcelonline.com/brand/practiceexcel/icon-512.png","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://practiceexcelonline.com/brand/practiceexcel/icon-512.png"},{"@id":"https://practiceexcelonline.com/#/schema/image/1","@type":"ImageObject","contentUrl":"https://practiceexcelonline.com/_og/d/c_Page%2Ctitle_~UE9XRVIgZnVuY3Rpb24gaW4gRXhjZWw6IHN5bnRheCBhbmQgZXhhbXBsZXM%2Cdescription_~SG93IHRvIHVzZSBQT1dFUiBpbiBFeGNlbCBhbmQgR29vZ2xlIFNoZWV0czogZXhwb25lbnRzLCByb290cyBhbmQgY29tcG91bmQgZ3Jvd3RoLCBhbmQgaG93IFBPV0VSIGNvbXBhcmVzIHdpdGggdGhlIF4gb3BlcmF0b3Iu%2Ceyebrow_Excel%2Bfunctions%2Csite_practiceexcel%2Ccode_~UE9XRVIobnVtYmVyLCBwb3dlcik%2Cp_Ii9mdW5jdGlvbnMvcG93ZXIi%2Cs_UUqxXlKTuqbdzBCn.png","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://practiceexcelonline.com/_og/d/c_Page%2Ctitle_~UE9XRVIgZnVuY3Rpb24gaW4gRXhjZWw6IHN5bnRheCBhbmQgZXhhbXBsZXM%2Cdescription_~SG93IHRvIHVzZSBQT1dFUiBpbiBFeGNlbCBhbmQgR29vZ2xlIFNoZWV0czogZXhwb25lbnRzLCByb290cyBhbmQgY29tcG91bmQgZ3Jvd3RoLCBhbmQgaG93IFBPV0VSIGNvbXBhcmVzIHdpdGggdGhlIF4gb3BlcmF0b3Iu%2Ceyebrow_Excel%2Bfunctions%2Csite_practiceexcel%2Ccode_~UE9XRVIobnVtYmVyLCBwb3dlcik%2Cp_Ii9mdW5jdGlvbnMvcG93ZXIi%2Cs_UUqxXlKTuqbdzBCn.png"}]}
```

## Sitemap

See the full [sitemap](https://practiceexcelonline.com/sitemap.md) for all pages.