How to Insert the Symbol for “Squared” ( ² ) in Word

How to Insert the Symbol for “Squared” ( ² ) in Word

by | Jan 23, 2025 | Useful Tech

Looking for inches or meters to be squared or composing a formula in a Word document? Find out here how to insert the symbol for “squared” ( ² ) in Microsoft Word on Windows, Mac, iOS, Android and the web.

First, It’s Two Thirds to Six Somewhere

Thousands of years ago, the Sumerians went to the trouble of making measures easily divide into sixty pieces. It’s a travesty that we still make no good use of it today!

The hour, for instance, can be neatly divided not only into four hasty parts of fifteen sharp minutes but also into three parts, each elegantly measuring a casual twenty.

So, I intend to start saying “It’s only a third past one” and “I’ll be there at around two thirds to nine.”

Think that’s contrived? Well, it could just as easily be “… 8 / 3 ⋅ ( sin ( π / 6 ) ) ² to nine.”

Either way, maybe we’re better off finding out how to write that superscripted number two for “squared” first:

How to Insert the Symbol for “Squared” ( ² ) in Word

Using Superscripting Formatting (Easiest)

Word for Windows, Mac and on the Web

Time needed: 2 minutes

To insert the symbol for squared in a document using Microsoft Word for Windows, Mac and the web using superscript formatting:

  1. Type the number 2 as you normally would using the keyboard where you want the sign for squared to appear.

    Keep typing: It’s okay to keep typing to continue the flow of your thoughts and characters; you can apply superscript formatting later.
    Example: sin2(π/6).

  2. Highlight the number 2.

    Going on: It is best to enter at least one character (a whitespace character is fine) before selecting the number two; if it is the last character, its superscript formatting will also apply to what you type afterwards, and you will have to change formatting again.

  3. Go to the Home tab on the ribbon.

  4. Click Superscript in the Font section in Word for Mac, Windows and the web.

    Word keyboard shortcut: You can press Ctrl Shift + (Word for Windows and Word online on Windows) or Command Shift + (Word online on a Mac).
    Example: sin²(π/6).
    Superscripted “2”: This method does insert a regular character 2 that is superscripted and made smaller by formatting inside Word; this differs from inserting the character ² (using the Symbol dialog, for instance), which is itself a smaller and superscripted number two.
    Choose “Superscript” to turn the number “2“ into the symbol for “squared”

Word for Android and iPhone

To produce the symbol for squared using the Word app on an iPhone and iPad or Android device:

  1. Insert the number 2 where “squared” is to appear in the document.
  2. Highlight the number you just entered.
  3. Tap the three dots menu button (⋯) in the formatting toolbar.
  4. Select the Home section.
  5. Choose More Formatting.
    Select “More Formatting” in the “Home” section
  6. Now select Superscript.
    With “Superscript” enabled, the number 2 effectively turns into the symbol for “squared” in Word for iOS

Using the Symbol Dialog

To insert the symbol for squared using the Symbol dialog in Word for Windows and Word for Mac:

  1. Position the text insertion cursor where you want to place the squared symbol.
  2. Go to the Insert tab on the ribbon.
  3. Select Symbol | More Symbols… (Windows) or Advanced Symbol (Mac) in the Symbols section.
  4. Go to the Symbols tab.
  5. Choose (normal text) for Font:.
  6. Highlight ² (in the Latin-1 Supplement section).
  7. Click Insert.
  8. Now click Close.
    Inserting the symbol for “squared” using the Word “Symbol” dialog

Using the Operating System

You can, of course, also insert the symbol for “squared” using the operating system using a keyboard layout that includes it or another means of entering special characters:

Using Equations

You can, of course, also insert the squared symbol as part of a mathematical equation, either inline or set off, in Word for all platforms.

To inserted an equation using a superscripted number in Word:

  1. Position the text cursor where the equation is to appear in your document.
  2. Go to the Insert tab.
  3. Click Equation.
  4. Now select Script on the Equation tab on the ribbon.
  5. Choose Superscript (under Subscripts and Superscripts) or x squared (under Common Subscripts and Superscripts).
  6. Use the arrow keys or the mouse to select the placeholders for the base and, then the exponent.
    No base: If you want to use an equation to insert only the superscripted 2, you can use a zero-width space for the base; type \zwsp and press Space.
  7. Type 2 for the exponent.

(How to insert the symbol for “squared” ( ² ) tested with Word on Windows, Word 16.92 for Mac, Word 2.92 for iOS and Word on the web; first published January 2025)

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