POWER Function & ^ (Caret Symbol) in Excel – Raise Numbers to a Power

In Excel, you can do many math calculations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

But sometimes, you need to raise a number to a power, like finding 2² (2 to the power of 2) or 3³ (3 to the power of 3).

To do that easily, Excel gives you two simple ways.

1. Using the caret ( ^ ) symbol
2. Using the POWER function

Both methods give the same result — they raise a number to a power (called an exponent).

What Does “Raise to a Power” Mean?

“Raise to a power” means multiplying a number by itself a certain number of times.

Example:

 2² = 2 × 2 = 4

 3³ = 3 × 3 × 3 = 27

This operation is also called exponentiation.

Method 1: Using the ^ (Caret) Symbol

The caret symbol (^) is the simplest way to perform exponentiation in Excel.

it’s shorter and easier to type.

Example:

=5^2

Result: 25

(Here, 5 is raised to the power of 2)

Method 2: Using the POWER Function

Excel also provides a built-in function for the same purpose.

Syntax:

=POWER(number, power)

 number → The base number

 power → The exponent or power to raise it to

Example:

=POWER(5, 2)

Result: 25

(Performs the same operation — 5 raised to the power of 2)

Both methods give the same result, so you can use whichever you prefer.

Use `^` for quick calculations and `POWER()` when you want to make formulas more readable or combine with other functions.

POWER vs ^ — Which to Use?

Both are correct — it’s just about which looks easier for you.

Both do the same thing, but POWER is a function, and `^` is a symbol.

You can use either, but POWER is more readable and clear, especially in long formulas.

In Short:

Both POWER() and ^ are used to raise numbers to a power.

They do the same job — you can choose whichever feels more comfortable.

✅ Use `POWER(number, power)` if you prefer Excel’s function format.

✅ Use `number^power` if you want a simpler and faster formula.