How Do I Type the Squared Symbol on Any Keyboard?

Quick Answer

On Windows with a numeric keypad: hold Alt and type 0178. On Mac: open the Character Viewer (Control plus Command plus Spacebar) and search for "superscript two". On iPhone or Android: long press the 2 key on the keyboard.

In Microsoft Word, the universal shortcut is Ctrl plus Shift plus Plus, type 2, then Ctrl plus Shift plus Plus again to exit superscript mode. In Google Docs, highlight the 2 and press Ctrl plus Period (Windows) or Cmd plus Period (Mac).

The squared character is Unicode code point U plus 00B2. Any app that accepts Unicode input can render it directly.

Why the squared symbol matters

Writing m^2, ft^2, or any numeric exponent without the proper superscript looks unprofessional and breaks math notation. Substituting a regular 2 (e.g. "10 m2") confuses readers and search engines.

The dedicated character (²) sits inline with text, scales with your font, and is recognised by screen readers as "squared", which preserves accessibility.

Type squared on Windows

Method 1: Alt code on a numeric keypad

1. Press Num Lock to make sure the numeric keypad is active.
2. Hold the left Alt key.
3. Type 0178 using only the numeric keypad (the number row above QWERTY does not work).
4. Release Alt. The character ² appears.

Method 2: Unicode plus Alt plus X (Word and Outlook only)

1. Type 00B2 in your document.
2. Immediately press Alt plus X.
3. The hex code transforms into ².

Method 3: laptop without a numeric keypad

If your laptop has no separate numeric keypad, enable the on screen keyboard (Windows key plus Ctrl plus O) and use the Alt code there. Alternatively, copy ² from Character Map: open Start, type Character Map, search for "superscript two", and copy.

Type squared on Mac

macOS has no global Alt code system. Use one of these instead.

Method 1: Character Viewer

1. Press Control plus Command plus Spacebar.
2. Search superscript or squared.
3. Double click ² to insert.

Method 2: Text Replacement

1. Open System Settings, Keyboard, Text Replacements.
2. Add a replacement: Replace ^2 with ².
3. Now typing ^2 anywhere on the system auto expands to the superscript.

Type squared in Microsoft Word

Word has its own superscript toggle that works without remembering codes.

1. Position the cursor where you want the squared symbol.
2. Press Ctrl plus Shift plus Plus (Windows) or Cmd plus Shift plus Plus (Mac) to enter superscript mode.
3. Type 2.
4. Press the same shortcut again to exit superscript mode and resume normal typing.

This works for any number or letter, not just 2, so you can write x squared, cubed, or any other exponent the same way.

Type squared in Google Docs

1. Type your text normally, including a plain 2 at the end (e.g. m2).
2. Highlight the 2.
3. Press Ctrl plus Period (Windows) or Cmd plus Period (Mac).
4. The 2 becomes ².

Alternative menu path: Format, Text, Superscript.

Type squared on iPhone and iPad

1. Open the keyboard, switch to the numeric layout (tap 123).
2. Long press the 2 key.
3. A small popup shows ² as an alternate. Slide your finger onto it and release.

Type squared on Android

Gboard and Samsung Keyboard both support the same long press trick. Tap the ?123 or Sym button to reach the numeric layout, then long press the 2 to reveal ².

If the variant does not appear, type 00B2 and use any Unicode capable keyboard (or copy the symbol once and reuse it).

The Unicode fallback that always works

Copy this once and paste it anywhere: ². The character is U plus 00B2 and is supported by every modern font, browser, and operating system. If a keyboard shortcut ever fails (rare browser issues, unusual keyboard layouts), copy paste is the universal fallback.

Related superscript characters worth knowing

• Cubed (³): Alt plus 0179 on Windows, U plus 00B3.
• Superscript zero (⁰): U plus 2070.
• Superscript one (¹): Alt plus 0185, U plus 00B9.
• Negative exponents: the minus sign is U plus 207B, and numbers 4 through 9 live at U plus 2074 to U plus 2079.

FAQs

Why does my Alt code show a different character?

You probably typed on the number row instead of the numeric keypad. Alt codes only respond to the dedicated keypad with Num Lock active.

Will the squared symbol render in plain text emails?

Yes. Modern email clients (Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail) all render Unicode in plain text mode. Very old clients may show a question mark or box.

What is the difference between superscript and Unicode squared?

Word and Docs superscript is a formatting attribute applied to a normal 2. The Unicode ² is a single character. The visual result is similar, but Unicode is more portable across platforms.

How do I type squared in HTML or Markdown?

HTML uses ² or the raw character. Markdown passes the raw ² through directly.

The takeaway

One Alt code on Windows, one keyboard shortcut in Word and Docs, one long press on mobile. Memorise the path for the platform you use most and the squared symbol is a half second keystroke instead of a frustrating search.