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Subscript in Excel

Written by ExcelMojo Editorial Team ExcelMojo Editorial Team ExcelMojo editorial profile and article credentials. Full Bio
Reviewed by Dheeraj Vaidya, CFA, FRM Dheeraj Vaidya, CFA, FRM Reviewed for accuracy, clarity, and editorial standards. Full Bio
Updated Apr 28, 2026
Read Time 8 min

What is Excel Subscript?

Excel subscript means formatting strings to appear smaller and below the line of text. There is no direct button in Excel to apply subscripts to an Excel cell by default, but you can use options like “Format Cells” and keyboard shortcuts to apply it.

We mainly use a subscript in Excel to write equations or formulas. For example, let us enter the chemical formula of carbon dioxide CO2 in an Excel cell. Double-click on the cell to make the number “2” a subscript and select the number. Right-click on cell B2 and choose the option “Format Cells.” In the Format Cells dialog box, select the “Subscript” checkbox and press OK.

📥Download the ready-to-use Excel template to practice this tutorial yourself.

Download Excel Template

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why is subscript in Excel not working?

There are many reasons why subscripts in Excel need to be fixed.
When pressing the keyboard shortcut, Ctrl + 1, Alt + B, and Enter, press them one after the other to apply the subscripts and not simultaneously.
You can customize the Excel ribbon and add the subscript command if you do not find the subscript button.

2. What is the difference between superscript and subscript in Excel?

Superscripts appear above the line of text and represent square and cubic units, exponents, etc. For example, x2, ex
Subscripts appear below the line of regular text. They are normally used to write mathematical equations and chemical formulas. For example, H2SO4, Xy + Yx

3. How to do subscript in Excel Mac?

Applying subscripts in Mac are the same as using subscripts in Excel. You should select the text you want to make as a subscript, right-click, and choose Format Cells. Then, click the checkbox for Subscript and click OK to add the subscript.

Download Template

📥Download the ready-to-use Excel template to practice this tutorial yourself.

Download Excel Template

A guide to add Subscript in Excel. Here we learn how to add subscripts, its keyboard shortcut, with examples & downloadable excel template. You can learn more from the following articles –