The Excel POWER function raises a number to a power — identical to the ^ operator, but as a readable function. A fractional exponent lets it compute any root.
Syntax
| Argument | Description | |
|---|---|---|
number | Required | The base number you want to raise to a power. |
power | Required | The exponent. Use a fraction (e.g. 1/3) to take a root, or a negative value for a reciprocal power. |
How to use it
POWER does exactly what the caret operator does — =POWER(2,10) equals =2^10 — but reads more clearly inside a longer formula:
A fractional exponent is the trick for roots: the 1/n power is the nth root, so =POWER(8,1/3) gives the cube root, 2. For a plain square root, SQRT is the simpler choice.
POWER vs ^: they are equivalent. Use ^ for quick math and POWER when a named function makes a complex formula easier to read.
Try it: interactive demo
Pick a POWER example to see the formula and its result.
Practice workbook
Frequently asked questions
Is POWER the same as the ^ operator?
=POWER(2,10) and =2^10 both return 1024. POWER is just the function form, handy for readability in long formulas.How do I take a cube root or other root with POWER?
1/n. The cube root of 8 is =POWER(8,1/3) = 2; the fourth root of 16 is =POWER(16,1/4) = 2.Can POWER use negative exponents?
=POWER(2,-1) = 0.5 and =POWER(2,-2) = 0.25.What is POWER(anything, 0)?
=POWER(5,0) = 1. (POWER(0,0) also returns 1 in Excel.)Master functions like this in one day
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