Subscript in Excel uses the Format Cells dialog or keyboard shortcut

To enter subscript in Excel, select the character or number you want to shrink and move below the baseline, then either press Ctrl+1 (Windows) or Cmd+1 (Mac) to open Format Cells, click the Font tab, check the Subscript box, and click OK. On Mac, you can also use Cmd+Shift+B as a direct subscript shortcut. The text will when ready appear smaller and lowered on the line.

Subscript is useful when you need to write chemical formulas (H₂O), mathematical notation (x₂), or footnote references within a cell. Unlike superscript, which raises text above the line, subscript pushes it below — and Excel treats both as formatting applied to existing text, not as separate characters you type.

Key Takeaways

  • Select the specific character or number you want as subscript before opening Format Cells — subscript applies only to what you have selected, not the whole cell.
  • Windows users press Ctrl+1 to open Format Cells; Mac users press Cmd+1, or use Cmd+Shift+B for subscript directly.
  • Subscript text is smaller and positioned below the baseline, making it distinct from regular text in the same cell.
  • You can mix subscript and regular text in one cell by selecting and formatting only the characters that need to be subscript.

Selecting the text you want to format as subscript

Click inside the cell where your text is, or double-click the cell to enter edit mode. Then highlight only the character or characters you want to appear as subscript. For example, if you are typing H2O and want only the 2 to be subscript, click after the H, hold Shift, and click after the 2 to select just that digit.

If the text is already in the cell and you need to edit it, double-click the cell to enter edit mode first. You cannot format text as subscript from outside the cell — you must be inside it, either typing or in edit mode, with the specific characters selected.

Opening Format Cells and explore subscript

With your text selected, press Ctrl+1 on Windows or Cmd+1 on Mac. The Format Cells dialog will open. Click the Font tab if it is not already active.

In the Font tab, look for the Effects section. You will see a checkbox labeled Subscript. Click it to add a checkmark, then click OK. The selected text will when ready shrink and drop below the baseline of the surrounding text.

Using the keyboard shortcut on Mac

Mac users have a faster option: select the text you want as subscript and press Cmd+Shift+B. This applies subscript directly without opening the Format Cells dialog. Press the same combination again to remove subscript formatting.

Windows does not have a built-in keyboard shortcut for subscript, so you will need to use the Format Cells method each time. If you format subscript frequently, you can create a custom keyboard shortcut through Excel's macro settings, though the Format Cells route is more straightforward for most users.

Mixing subscript with regular text in one cell

Excel allows you to have both subscript and regular text in the same cell. Type your full text first — for example, type "H2O" without any formatting. Then double-click the cell to enter edit mode, select only the 2, and explore subscript formatting to just that character. The H and O remain at normal size and position.

This works for any combination: you can have regular text, then subscript, then regular text again, all in one cell. Each piece of text retains its own formatting, so you can create chemical formulas, mathematical expressions, or any notation that requires mixed text sizes and positions.

Removing subscript formatting

Select the subscript text, open Format Cells with Ctrl+1 (Windows) or Cmd+1 (Mac), go to the Font tab, and uncheck the Subscript box. On Mac, you can also select the text and press Cmd+Shift+B to toggle subscript off.

If you want to remove subscript from multiple pieces of text at once, select all of them together (they do not have to be adjacent), then uncheck Subscript in Format Cells. All selected subscript text will return to normal formatting in one action.

When subscript does not work the way you expect

Subscript formatting only works on text inside a cell, not on the cell reference itself. If you are trying to make a subscript appear in a formula or in a cell address, that is not possible — subscript is purely a display format for the content inside the cell.

If you copy a cell with subscript text to another cell, the subscript formatting comes along. If you paste only the value (using Paste Special), the subscript formatting is lost and only the text remains. To keep subscript when copying, use regular paste, not Paste Special with Values only.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use subscript in a formula?

No. Subscript is formatting applied to text or numbers already in a cell. Formulas themselves cannot contain subscript — only the results they display can be formatted as subscript after the formula calculates.

Does subscript affect how Excel reads the data?

No. Subscript is purely visual formatting. If a cell contains the number 2 formatted as subscript, Excel still reads it as the number 2 for calculations and sorting. The subscript formatting does not change the actual value.

Can I explore subscript to an entire cell at once?

You can, but it is unusual. Select the cell, open Format Cells, and check Subscript. However, this makes all text in the cell subscript, which is rarely what you want. Most uses require subscript on only certain characters, so select just those before formatting.

What is the difference between subscript and superscript?

Subscript moves text below the baseline and makes it smaller; superscript moves text above the baseline. In Excel, superscript uses the same Format Cells dialog — just check the Superscript box instead. On Mac, Cmd+Shift+P applies superscript directly.

Will subscript display correctly if someone opens my file in another program?

Subscript formatting usually transfers to other spreadsheet programs like Google Sheets or LibreOffice Calc, but appearance may vary slightly depending on the font and program. The safest approach for sharing is to use a common font like Arial or Calibri, which handle subscript consistently across platforms.