What is the syntax for POWER in Excel?

The syntax for POWER is: =POWER(number, power)

What are common errors with POWER?

#NUM! for invalid operations like negative base with fractional exponent

What is the difference between POWER and using the ^ operator?

POWER(5,2) and 5^2 produce identical results (25). The ^ operator is shorter to type, while POWER is more readable in complex formulas. Use whichever fits your style - there's no performance difference.

How do I calculate compound interest using POWER?

Use =Principal*POWER(1+rate, periods). For $1000 at 5% for 10 years: =1000*POWER(1.05,10) returns $1,628.89. This calculates (1+r)^n which is the compound growth factor.

Why does POWER return #NUM! error?

POWER returns #NUM! when you try invalid math operations, like raising a negative number to a fractional power (e.g., POWER(-4, 0.5)). This is mathematically undefined in real numbers. For such cases, use complex number functions like IMPOWER.

Math & Trig

POWER Function in Excel

Returns the result of a number raised to a power.

Syntax

=POWER(number, power)

Arguments

number (required): The base number
power (required): The exponent

Examples

=POWER(5, 2) - 5 squared - Result: 25
=POWER(2, 10) - 2 to the 10th - Result: 1024

POWER in reporting workflows

Use absolute references when copying formulas across rows.
For conditional totals see [SUMIF](/functions/sumif/) and [SUMIFS](/functions/sumifs/).
Filtered lists may need [SUBTOTAL](/functions/subtotal/) instead of SUM on visible cells only.

Common errors

#NUM! for invalid operations like negative base with fractional exponent

Use cases

Compound growth
Scientific calculations
Geometric formulas

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between POWER and using the ^ operator? POWER(5,2) and 5^2 produce identical results (25). The ^ operator is shorter to type, while POWER is more readable in complex formulas. Use whichever fits your style - there's no performance difference.
How do I calculate compound interest using POWER? Use =Principal*POWER(1+rate, periods). For $1000 at 5% for 10 years: =1000*POWER(1.05,10) returns $1,628.89. This calculates (1+r)^n which is the compound growth factor.
Why does POWER return #NUM! error? POWER returns #NUM! when you try invalid math operations, like raising a negative number to a fractional power (e.g., POWER(-4, 0.5)). This is mathematically undefined in real numbers. For such cases, use complex number functions like IMPOWER.

Editorial review

Reviewed by Excel.Directory Editorial Team. Updated May 2026.