Superscript & Subscript Text
Complete Guide to ˢᵘᵖᵉʳˢᶜʳⁱᵖᵗ and ₛᵤᵦₛ꜀ᵣᵢₚₜ

All Superscript Characters — Click to Copy

These are all the Unicode superscript characters that can be copied and pasted anywhere. They work on social media, in emails, in documents, and in most apps — unlike HTML <sup> tags which only work in web pages. Click any character to copy it.

All Subscript Characters — Click to Copy

Subscript Unicode characters are fewer than superscript — not every letter has a subscript version in Unicode. The most complete set is for numbers, which are fully covered.

Real Use Cases — Copy Any Example

Click any example below to copy it directly. These cover the most common situations where superscript and subscript are needed.

Superscript examples

Subscript examples

How to Type Superscript in Word & Google Docs

Superscript & Subscript in HTML and CSS

For web developers, HTML and CSS provide proper semantic methods for superscript and subscript that are accessible, searchable, and screen-reader friendly.

HTML — the <sup> and <sub> tags

CSS — vertical-align method

When you need more control over sizing and positioning — for example in custom typography — use CSS directly rather than the semantic HTML tags.

When to use HTML tags vs Unicode characters

Use HTML <sup>/<sub> tags when you’re writing web content — they’re semantically correct, accessible to screen readers, and render at the right size for any font. They’re the right choice for scientific content, academic writing, and any HTML page.

Use Unicode characters (²³ₐ₂) when you’re writing in plain text — emails, social media, markdown files, WhatsApp, Discord, or any platform that doesn’t render HTML. Copy them from this page.

Superscript on iPhone & Android

Native keyboard shortcuts for superscript are limited on mobile — but there are three reliable methods.

Superscript for Social Media, Bios & Usernames

Beyond science and maths, Unicode superscript characters have become popular for creating stylish social media bios and usernames. Because they’re actual Unicode characters rather than font formatting, they paste cleanly into Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Discord, and WhatsApp — and stay raised wherever they appear.

The most popular social media uses are:

Small text bios: Using full superscript sentences — ᵗʰⁱˢ ⁱˢ ᵐʸ ᵇⁱᵒ — for a distinctive aesthetic in Instagram and TikTok profiles.

Ordinals in usernames: Adding ˢᵗ, ⁿᵈ, or ʳᵈ as suffixes to create names like Player1ˢᵗ that stand out.

Exponents in content: Writing 10⁶ or 2² in captions and posts where maths notation is needed without HTML.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the superscript 1 symbol? The superscript 1 is ¹ (Unicode U+00B9). Copy it: ¹ — it’s the raised digit 1 used for footnote markers, first-position ordinals, and exponents.

What is the superscript 2 symbol? Superscript 2 is ² (U+00B2). Copy it: ² — used for “squared” in maths, m² for square metres, and km² for square kilometres.

What is the superscript 3 symbol? Superscript 3 is ³ (U+00B3). Copy it: ³ — used for “cubed” in maths, cm³ for cubic centimetres, and m³ for cubic metres.

What’s the difference between superscript and subscript? Superscript raises characters above the text line (x²). Subscript lowers them below (H₂O). Both use smaller type than the surrounding text.

Do Unicode superscript characters work everywhere? They work in the vast majority of modern apps and platforms — Instagram, Twitter, WhatsApp, Discord, Google Docs, Microsoft Word, and most websites. Some very old systems or apps with strict character filters may not support them, but these are increasingly rare.

Is ² the same as ²? Visually similar but technically different. ² is a Unicode character that looks like a raised 2 everywhere. ² is HTML markup that tells a browser to render the 2 as superscript — it only works in HTML contexts. For plain text and social media, use ².