How to Add Subscript in Excel? (6 Best Methods)

Note: This guide on Excel subscript is suitable for all Excel versions including Office 365. 

If you are confused about how to add subscript in Excel, this is the right guide for you. 

In this tutorial, I am going to show you how to add Excel subscripts the easy way. 

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Excel Subscript – An Overview

A subscript is a formatting style where a number or character is typed below the preceding text. It is usually used to denote bases in mathematics like log₂, chemical formulas like CO₂ etc. 

I’ll show you how to add subscripts for both texts and numbers. 

How to Subscript in Excel for Text?

Please keep in mind that all the following methods convert your data into a string. Hence, they cannot be used inside formulas for calculations. 

Format Text as Subscript in Excel

This is the easiest way to convert a normal text to a subscript. 

1. Select the text you want to convert to subscript. 

2. Go to the Format cells dialogue box. Do this either by using Ctrl+1 or by right-clicking on the cell and selecting Format Cells.

3. In the Format cells menu, under the Font tab, inside the Effects group click on the checkbox next to the Subscript button.  

4. Click OK. 

You have converted your selected text into a subscript. Please keep in mind that it only changes the appearance of the text. 

Keyboard Shortcuts to Add Subscript in Excel

You can directly use the keyboard shortcuts Ctrl+Shift+F followed by Alt+B, to instantly convert your selected text into a subscript. 

Subscript Option in Quick Access Toolbar

In Excel versions 2016 and later, including Office 365, you can get an option to add a direct subscript button to the quick access toolbar. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click the drop-down button menu at the end of the quick access toolbar.

2. Choose More Commands from the drop-down menu

3. Under the Commands Not in the Ribbon section, select the Subscript option and click on the Add button.

4. Click OK.

You have added the subscript button shortcut to the quick access toolbar.

Now, click on this button after selecting a text to quickly convert it into a subscript.

Use the quick access toolbar keyboard shortcuts to do this quickly. The shortcuts may vary from user to user and are usually in the format of Alt + “Position of the Quick Access Button”. For example, if the subscript button is the 6th from the left, then the shortcut is Alt+6

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Subscript Option in Excel Ribbon

In the same manner, you have the option to add the subscript button to the Excel Ribbon in Excel versions 2016 and later. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Right-click anywhere on the Excel Ribbon and click on the Customize the Ribbon option.

2. In the Excel Options dialogue box, under the Customize the Ribbon section, select the desired tab where you want to keep the subscript button.

3. Click on the New Group option.

4. Click on the Rename option, to give this group a unique name

5. In the left-hand side drop-down list titled Choose commands from, select Commands Not in the Ribbon. Select Subscript from the commands list. 

7. Click Add and hit OK

You have successfully added the subscript button to the Excel Ribbon. 

Now, just click on this button after selecting a text to convert it into a subscript

How to Type Equations in Excel using Subscript? 

Now, let me show you how to type equations in Excel involving subscripts. This is applicable for numbers and other equation-type formats. 

Please remember that all these methods either convert your numbers into strings or simply change their appearance to look like subscripts. 

Hence, be careful and check their values in the formula bar before using them inside any function or formulas

How to Type a Subscript  Using the Equation Option?

To add Excel subscripts using the equation option, follow these steps. 

1. Locate and click on the Equation button under the Insert tab in the Symbols group

2. In the Design tab, click on the Subscript format option under the Script section of the Structures group.

3. Select the appropriate location and type in the value. 

You have successfully added numerical subscripts to your Excel Sheet. You can now drag and change the position of this subscript if needed. 

How to Add Subscript Using the Ink Equation Option?

Did you know that you can just doodle your equation with your mouse to add these subscripts? 

Interesting isn’t it?

To do this:

1. Click on the Ink Equation button under the Insert tab in the Symbols group.

2. Doodle your equation with subscript, using a mouse.

3. If Excel recognizes your handwriting, it will automatically display the equation.

4. If the equation is correct, click on the Insert button

You have now inserted an equation with a subscript. Please note that this is just an Excel object, and will not be treated as a valid value or formula. Hence, it can not be used inside formulas or functions. 

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FAQs

Closing Thoughts

That’s all folks. These are the different methods to add subscripts in Excel. If you have any questions regarding this or any other Excel feature, please let us know in the comments. We are always happy to help. 

If you need more high-quality Excel guides, please check out our free Excel resources centre.

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Simon Calder

Chris “Simon” Calder was working as a Project Manager in IT for one of Los Angeles’ most prestigious cultural institutions, LACMA.He taught himself to use Microsoft Project from a giant textbook and hated every moment of it. Online learning was in its infancy then, but he spotted an opportunity and made an online MS Project course - the rest, as they say, is history!