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POWER Function

Excel 2007+

Summary

The Excel POWER function calculates a number raised to a specified power, equivalent to the exponentiation operation. It's perfect for mathematical calculations requiring exponents, growth modeling, scientific computations, and engineering formulas where precise power calculations are essential.

Syntax

POWER(number, power)

Parameters

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
number	`Number`	Yes	Base number for exponentiation - supports decimals, negatives, and zero
power	`Number`	Yes	Exponent value - can be positive, negative, fractional, or integer

Using the POWER Function

POWER is fundamental for exponential calculations in Excel. Use it for compound interest calculations, growth rates, scientific formulas, unit conversions, and any scenario requiring exponentiation. While the ^ operator provides identical functionality, POWER offers clearer readability in complex formulas.

Common POWER Examples

Basic Squaring

=POWER(5,2)

Calculates 5 squared, returning 25. Perfect for area calculations.

Fractional Exponents (Roots)

=POWER(4,1/2)

Calculates the square root of 4 (equivalent to SQRT(4)), returning 2.

Negative Exponents

=POWER(2,-3)

Calculates 2 to the power of -3 (1/8), returning 0.125.

Real-World Application

=POWER(98.6,3.2)

Engineering calculation raising 98.6 to the power 3.2, useful for volume scaling.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, POWER(number,power) produces identical results to number^power. Use POWER for better readability in complex formulas.

Yes, but results depend on the exponent. Even integer exponents work fine; fractional exponents with negative bases may return errors.

POWER calculates base^exponent. EXP calculates e^number (natural exponential).

Common Errors and Solutions

#NUM! Error

Cause: Negative number raised to a non-integer power

Solution: Use ABS() for positive base or integer exponents

#VALUE! Error

Cause: Non-numeric arguments provided

Solution: Ensure both arguments are valid numbers

Unexpected zero result

Cause: Zero base with positive exponent or negative base with even exponent

Solution: Verify your mathematical expectations

Notes

POWER(negative_number, fraction) may return #NUM! - use GAMMA/LN for complex roots
Identical to ^ operator but more explicit
Negative exponents return reciprocals (1/base^positive_exponent)
Zero^0 returns 1 in Excel

Compatibility

Available in: Excel 2007, Excel 2010, Excel 2013, Excel 2016, Excel 2019, Excel 2021, Microsoft 365, Excel for Web

Not available in:

Content last reviewed: December 11, 2025
Update frequency: As needed
Excel versions tested: Excel 2007+