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    SQRT

    Math & Trig

    Returns the square root of a number.

    Translations
    EnglishSQRT
    FrenchRACINE
    SpanishRAIZ
    GermanWURZEL
    ItalianRADQ
    PortugueseRAIZ
    DutchWORTEL
    PolishPIERWIASTEK
    RussianКОРЕНЬ
    TurkishKAREKÖK
    CzechSQRT
    HungarianGYÖK
    SwedishROT
    DanishKVROD
    FinnishNELIÖJUURI
    Syntax
    SQRT(number)

    Arguments

    • numberThe number to find the square root of
    Examples
    =SQRT(16)
    4

    Square root of 16

    =SQRT(2)
    1.414...

    Square root of 2

    =SQRT(A1^2+B1^2)
    Hypotenuse

    Pythagorean theorem

    Tips & Best Practices
    • •Returns #NUM! for negative numbers
    • •Use ABS(number) first if number might be negative
    • •POWER(number, 0.5) is equivalent
    Common Mistakes
    • •Applying SQRT to a negative number and expecting a result - Excel has no built-in imaginary number support in SQRT, so it returns a #NUM! error instead
    • •Using SQRT when POWER with an exponent of 0.5 would work identically - not a functional mistake, but SQRT is clearer and preferred for readability
    • •Forgetting SQRT operates on a single value, not an array, when trying to take the square root of an entire range without wrapping it in SUMPRODUCT or a dynamic array context
    Related Functions
    POWERCan replicate SQRT using an exponent of 0.5, though SQRT is more readable for this specific case.
    SUMSQSums the squares of values, the opposite operation in a sense, and often used alongside SQRT for distance or magnitude calculations.
    ABSFrequently used before SQRT to ensure the input is non-negative when the sign genuinely doesn't matter.
    Frequently Asked Questions

    Why does SQRT return #NUM!?

    The input is negative, and Excel's SQRT doesn't support imaginary numbers. If you need the magnitude regardless of sign, wrap the input in ABS first: SQRT(ABS(A1)).

    Is there a difference between SQRT(9) and POWER(9,0.5)?

    No, they return the identical result - SQRT is just a clearer, more specific way to write it.

    Can SQRT process a whole range of cells at once?

    In modern Excel with dynamic arrays, SQRT(range) will spill the square root of each value automatically; in older versions, it needs to be entered as an array formula.

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