Excel Function Translator Logo
    The Excel Translator

    POWER

    Math & Trig

    Returns the result of a number raised to a power. Equivalent to using the ^ operator.

    Translations
    EnglishPOWER
    FrenchPUISSANCE
    SpanishPOTENCIA
    GermanPOTENZ
    ItalianPOTENZA
    PortuguesePOTÊNCIA
    DutchMACHT
    PolishPOTĘGA
    RussianСТЕПЕНЬ
    TurkishKUVVET
    CzechPOWER
    HungarianHATVÁNY
    SwedishUPPHÖJT.TILL
    DanishPOTENS
    FinnishPOTENSSI
    Syntax
    POWER(number, power)

    Arguments

    • numberThe base number
    • powerThe exponent
    Examples
    =POWER(2,3)
    8

    2 raised to the power of 3

    =POWER(10,2)
    100

    10 squared

    =POWER(27,1/3)
    3

    Cube root of 27

    Tips & Best Practices
    • •Use fractional power for roots (1/2 = square root)
    • •Equivalent to number^power
    • •Negative base with fractional power returns #NUM!
    Common Mistakes
    • •Forgetting POWER and the ^ operator do the exact same thing, and using both inconsistently across a workbook, which hurts readability without any functional benefit
    • •Using a fractional exponent to calculate a root, like POWER(9,0.5) for a square root, without realizing SQRT is clearer and specifically built for that case
    • •Trying to raise a negative number to a fractional power expecting a real result, when mathematically that returns a #NUM! error for most fractional exponents
    Related Functions
    SQRTCalculates a square root directly, clearer than POWER with a 0.5 exponent for that specific case.
    EXPRaises the constant e to a power, a specialized version of what POWER does generally.
    PRODUCTMultiplies numbers together, unrelated mathematically but often confused with POWER by name.
    Frequently Asked Questions

    What's the difference between POWER and the ^ symbol?

    None functionally - POWER(2,3) and 2^3 both return 8. POWER can be clearer in a formula that's already dense with parentheses.

    Can POWER calculate a square root?

    Yes, with a 0.5 exponent, like POWER(9,0.5) for the square root of 9, but SQRT(9) is more readable for that specific case.

    Why does POWER return a #NUM! error for a negative base?

    Raising a negative number to a non-integer power doesn't have a real-number result in most cases - Excel returns #NUM! rather than a complex number.

    Need to translate a formula using POWER?

    Use our translator to convert your complete formula