How to Insert the Square Root Symbol in Excel

Symbol vs. Function: Know Which One You Actually Need

This is the most common point of confusion in Excel, so let’s clear it up first:

• The symbol (√) — a Unicode text character (U+221A) you display in a cell, header or label. It does zero math.
• The SQRT function — a formula that calculates and returns the numerical root of a value.

Need a label like “√Sales” in a report header? Use the symbol. Need Excel to compute that √144 = 12? Use =SQRT(144). Both are often useful together.

Method 1: UNICHAR(8730) Formula

The most reliable method on every platform:

=UNICHAR(8730)

Type it in any cell and Excel returns √. The number 8730 is the decimal equivalent of Unicode code point U+221A. UNICHAR works in Excel 2013 and later, Excel for Mac, and Excel for the web (Microsoft 365). To concatenate it with a value:

=UNICHAR(8730)&A1 — shows √144 if A1 contains 144

Method 2: Alt+251 (Windows Only)

1. Double-click the target cell to enter edit mode
2. Make sure NumLock is on
3. Hold Alt and type 251 on the numeric keypad
4. Release Alt — √ appears

This is the standard Windows Alt code for √ — the same one covered in our Windows keyboard guide. Requires a physical numpad.

Method 3: Insert → Symbol (All Platforms)

1. Select the cell
2. Click the Insert tab → Symbol
3. Set Subset to Mathematical Operators
4. Select √ (character code 221A, Unicode hex) → click Insert

Calculating Roots: SQRT, POWER and Caret

SQRT always returns the principal (non-negative) root. For negative inputs without the error: =SQRT(ABS(A1)). We explain why in Is the Square Root Always Positive?

Using √ in Charts, Headers and Custom Formats

• Chart titles / axis labels: click the title box and paste √ — renders in any chart font
• Headers & footers: Insert → Header & Footer, then paste
• Custom number format: Format Cells → Custom → enter √0 to prefix every number in that cell with √ without changing the underlying value