Syntax
=POWER(base, exponent)
base- The number to raise.
exponent- The power to raise it to. Fractions work too: 0.5 is a square root.
POWER function in Google Sheets
POWER raises a number to an exponent. It does exactly what the ^ operator does, but some people find it easier to read in longer formulas such as compound interest.
Practice POWER
Task 1 of 1
Compound growth: the future value is principal × (1 + rate)years. Use POWER to calculate it. Answer in D2.
Tip: while typing a formula, click a cell or drag across cells to insert references. Press Enter to check, and Tab to accept a function suggestion.
POWER examples
Each example below runs against this sample sheet. The results are calculated by the same engine as the practice grid.
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Value | Other |
| 2 | -7.45 | 3 |
| 3 | 12.5 | 4 |
| 4 | 81 | 2 |
| 5 | 2.5 | 0 |
| 6 | 1234.567 | 5 |
| Formula | Result | What it shows |
|---|---|---|
=POWER(B3, 2) | 16 | Squared. |
=POWER(A4, 0.5) | 9 | A power of 0.5 is the square root. |
=1000 * POWER(1 + 5%, B3) | $1,215.51 | $1,000 growing at 5% a year for 4 years. |
Tips and common mistakes
- =POWER(B3, 2) and =B3^2 are identical. Use whichever reads better.
Related functions
Learning step by step? POWER is covered in Lesson 32: MEDIAN, MOD, ABS & More Math of the free course.