How to subscript in Google Sheets

Google Sheets doesn’t have a feature to add subscript text easily like in Google Docs. However, it is possible to achieve this and we will cover two ways to add subscript in Google Sheets.

The first method is straightforward, all you have to do is copy and paste. For the second you will need to use the CHAR function and Unicode numbers to get the desired character.

You’ll also see how to add a subscript right after a word with a formula, and how to import a full table of subscript characters into your spreadsheet. By the end, we will go over a few instances in which you might need to add subscript text.

What is subscript text?

Subscript text is positioned lower than the baseline of the surrounding characters, typically appearing at the bottom-right of a character. This formatting is commonly used to denote indices, subscripts, or coefficients in scientific or mathematical notation.

Read on to find out how to make small numbers in Google Sheets.

How to add subscript in Google Sheets

We will cover two ways to insert subscript text in Google Sheets. Both of these procedures rely on the character lists provided in the tables below, so keep them handy!

Copy subscript characters

This first method is as simple as it gets: just copy the character you want from the list and paste it into a cell in your spreadsheet.

Unfortunately, not all letters have a matching subscript version. That’s why the table below includes some letters, and not the complete alphabet. 

To add a subscript to text that’s already in a cell, double-click the cell, place the cursor where the subscript goes, and paste with Ctrl+V (Cmd+V on Mac).

If you do this often it can become quite time consuming to go back and forth to copy and paste. In that scenario, the second method shines.

Use the CHAR function

The CHAR formula needs only one piece of information: the unicode number of the character you want.

Just insert the correct number from the tables below, and the formula will return the selected character.

After you get the character you can remove the formula by copying the result and pasting values only (Right click a cell > Paste special > Values only).

This method is particularly useful if you use these subscript characters frequently. If that’s the case, you could write the codes down or memorize them. This ensures that they will always be handy.

How to add subscript to text with the CHAR function

CHAR on its own returns a single character. To put a subscript right after a word, join the word and the character with an ampersand (&). In this example, a subscript x goes after the word total. The code for a subscript x is 8339, and the tables above list the codes for the other characters.

1. In an empty cell, type the equal sign. Between quotation marks, type the letter or word that requires the subscript.

2. Add an ampersand (&), followed by the CHAR function.

3. The code you use for the CHAR function depends on which subscript character you want. In this case, a lowercase x has the following decimal code: 8339.

4. Close the parenthesis and press Enter. The full formula is ="total"&CHAR(8339), and the cell shows totalₓ.

How to import a table of subscript characters with IMPORTHTML

If you plan to use subscripts and superscripts frequently, consider importing a table of subscript and superscript Unicode characters with the IMPORTHTML function. Once it’s imported, you can copy characters or look up CHAR codes without leaving your spreadsheet. I will import the table from the Wiktionary Appendix on Unicode subscripts and superscripts. However, you can use whatever source you prefer.

1. In separate cells, type the URL of the page and the HTML element. Here, the URL goes in A1 and the word table goes in A2.

2. In another cell, type the IMPORTHTML function and select the cell containing the URL.

3. Add a comma and select the cell containing the HTML element.

4. Add another comma and type the index of the table you want. In this case, it’s table 2.

5. Close the parenthesis and press Enter to import the table. The full formula is =IMPORTHTML(A1,A2,2).

6. Now that you have imported the table, you can easily use the copy & paste method to add subscripts and superscripts in your cells. The table lists the superscripts first, and the subscripts start at code point U+2080. The number in parentheses next to each code point is the decimal code to use with CHAR.

Subscripting uses

In this section we will cover some common uses of subscripting, as well as its importance in various fields.

Subscripting for chemical formulas in Google Sheets

Subscripting is key to display chemical formulas accurately; it allows you to include the number of atoms of each element. For example, “H₂O” represents water, with the “2” subscripted to indicate two hydrogen atoms.

Add subscript for mathematical notation in Google Sheets

Subscripting is also valuable for mathematical notation; you can use it for indices, subscripts, or coefficients in equations and formulas.

For instance, in the equation “a₁x + a₂y = b,” the subscripts “1” and “2” indicate coefficients associated with variables x and y, respectively.

That’s how to insert subscript in Sheets

Now you know two ways to add subscript text to your spreadsheets, how to add a subscript after a word with CHAR, and how to import a table of subscript characters with IMPORTHTML. We even covered cases where this knowledge would be fundamental.

The procedure to add superscript is exactly the same. For a set of characters specific for that purpose, check out How to superscript in Google Sheets.

For more ways to format text in Google Sheets, see how to indent in Google Sheets, add bullet points, or insert a new line in a cell.