Squared Symbol Shortcut (²)
To type the squared symbol (²): on Windows hold Alt and type 0178 on the numeric keypad; on Mac copy the ² below or type 2 and apply superscript with ⌃⌘+ (Ctrl+Cmd+plus). For cubed use ³ (Alt+0179 on Windows).
| Action | Mac | Windows | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Squared ² | copy / ⌃⌘+ | Alt+0178 | |
| Cubed ³ | copy / ⌃⌘+ | Alt+0179 | |
| Squared ² (copy) | ² | ² |
The squared symbol on Mac vs Windows
The squared symbol (²) is a superscript 2, used in math like 5² = 25 and units like m². On Windows, hold Alt and type 0178 on the numeric keypad, then release. For cubed (³) use Alt+0179. On a Mac there is no single Option key for ² — the fastest ways are to copy the ² above, or type a normal 2 and format it as superscript with ⌃⌘+ (Control+Command+plus) in Pages/Word.
When to use ² vs ^2
Use the true ² character in readable text and documents (area = 10 m²). In spreadsheets and code, exponents are written with a caret or function instead: 5^2 in formulas. No number pad? Copy the ² above, or on Windows open the emoji panel with Win+. and search "superscript".
FAQ
What is the squared symbol shortcut?
On Windows hold Alt and type 0178 on the numeric keypad, then release. For cubed use Alt+0179. On Mac copy the ² from this page or format a 2 as superscript with ⌃⌘+ (Ctrl+Cmd+plus).
How do I type ² on a laptop without a number pad?
Copy the ² from this page, or on Windows open the emoji panel with Win+. and search "superscript". In Word or Pages you can also select a 2 and press the superscript shortcut.
How do I type the cubed symbol ³?
On Windows hold Alt and type 0179 on the numeric keypad. On Mac copy ³ or format a 3 as superscript with ⌃⌘+ (Ctrl+Cmd+plus).