How to type ² on Windows
The fastest method on a full-size keyboard is the Alt code Alt+0178.
- Make sure Num Lock is on.
- Hold down the Alt key.
- Type 0178 on the numeric keypad (the number row will not work).
- Release Alt. The squared symbol ² appears.
No numeric keypad?
Press Win+. to open the emoji panel, choose the Symbols tab (Ω) and search for "squared". Or open Character Map from the Start menu, find ², click Select, then Copy.
How to type ² on a Mac
There is no direct keyboard shortcut for ² on a Mac.
For any symbol, the Character Viewer works: press Control+⌘+Space, type "squared" in the search box and double-click the result. It will be remembered under Frequently Used.
How to type ² on iPhone and iPad
The iOS keyboard does not include ², so the reliable way is to copy it from this page, then press and hold in any text field and tap Paste.
If you use it often, create a shortcut: open Settings → General → Keyboard → Text Replacement, paste ² in the Phrase field and type a short code such as ;squared in the Shortcut field. Typing that code will then insert ² anywhere.
How to type ² on Android
Copy the symbol from this page, then long-press in a text field and choose Paste. Gboard also keeps a clipboard history: tap the clipboard icon on the toolbar to paste it again later.
For a permanent shortcut, open Gboard settings → Dictionary → Personal dictionary, add ² as the word and a short code as the shortcut.
How to type ² in Microsoft Word
- Type the Unicode hex code 00B2 where you want the symbol.
- Press Alt+X. Word converts the code into ².
This works on Windows in Word, Outlook and OneNote and needs no numeric keypad. You can also go to Insert → Symbol → More Symbols, set the font to a Unicode font and type 00B2 in the Character code box. In Excel, the formula =UNICHAR(178) returns the symbol.
How to type ² in Google Docs
Open Insert → Special characters, then either search for "squared" or draw the symbol in the sketch box. Click the result to insert it. In Google Sheets, use =CHAR(178).
² in HTML, CSS and code
| Format | Code |
|---|---|
| HTML entity | ² |
| HTML decimal | ² |
| HTML hex | ² |
CSS content | "\00B2" |
| JavaScript | "\u00B2" |
| Python | "\u00B2" |
| LaTeX | ^2 |
| URL encoded | %C2%B2 |
Because ² is a standard Unicode character (U+00B2), you can also paste it directly into any UTF-8 file. The escaped forms above are only needed when the file encoding is uncertain or the symbol must be entered on a keyboard without it.
Where the squared symbol is used
It appears mainly in math and science for exponents, like x² for x squared, and in unit abbreviations such as m² (square meters) or cm² (square centimeters). Some fonts render it as a small raised 2 that can be mistaken for a footnote marker.
Frequently asked questions
What does ² mean in math? +
It means the base number is multiplied by itself once, so 5² equals 5 times 5, or 25.
Why is ² used with units like m² or cm²? +
It shows the unit is measuring area, meaning two dimensions (length and width) are multiplied together.
What is the Alt code for the squared symbol? +
The Alt code for ² is Alt+0178. Hold Alt, type 0178 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt.
How do I type ² on a Mac? +
There is no dedicated Mac shortcut for ². Open the Character Viewer with Control + Command + Space, search for "squared", and double-click it. Or copy it from this page.
How do I type the squared symbol on iPhone or Android? +
Phone keyboards do not include ² by default. Copy it from this page and paste it, or add it as a text replacement shortcut in Settings so you can type it with a short abbreviation.
What is the HTML code for ²? +
Use ² in HTML. The numeric form ² works too. In CSS use content: "\00B2" and in JavaScript use "\u00B2".