Follow along to learn how to insert the Pi symbol in Microsoft Excel using tried and tested methods.

If you’re creating reports, charts, and tables in mathematical niches, like geometry, trigonometry, circles, waves, and periodic functions, you might want to include the Pi (π) symbol. It helps you to present relevant datasets in a mathematically accurate way. Instead of the Pi written using alphabets, it’s more attractive when you use the actual symbol.

However, inserting a mathematical constant’s symbol in Excel isn’t an easy task. There are no straightforward formulas to achieve this. Here are steps in the skill to add a Pi symbol in Excel worksheets. Try the methods and steps shown below to learn this mandatory Excel skill from the basics to the advanced level.

Using the Shortcut Key

This is the quickest way to add a Pi symbol to your Excel data or reports.

Wherever you need to insert this symbol, place the cursor there, press the Alt key on the keyboard, and type in the number 227 using the Numpad keys.

Excel will insert the Pi (π) symbol instantly.

Insert From the Symbol Menu

Another easy way to include the Pi symbol in your Excel reports is using the Symbol tool.

Navigate to the destination worksheet and select a cell where you wish to insert the Pi symbol.

Alternatively, you can place the cursor anywhere in an Excel sheet and click on the Symbol command in the Insert tab.

The Symbol dialog box will show up.

There, you can find two Pi symbols. One is the Greek Capital Letter Pi (Π) and the other is the Greek Small Letter Pi (π).

Select the one you need and click on the Insert button.

Using Excel Functions

You might want to use a formula-based approach to insert Pi in Excel when you want the Pi symbol to appear dynamically in multiple cells.

This is also useful when you generate reports, templates, or automated calculations where the symbol needs to be updated based on certain conditions or formula outcomes.

Finally, it also helps to ensure consistency across the spreadsheet when combining Pi with other text or numbers in formulas.

The function that converts Unicode values to their corresponding characters is the UNICHAR function. Let me show you how to use it below:

Go to the cell where you need to create such a formula and enter this UNICHAR formula syntax:

=UNICHAR(960)

Hit Enter to calculate the cell.

Excel should generate the small case Pi symbol (π).

If you need the upper case Pi symbol, use the following formula syntax:

=UNICHAR(928)

Sometimes, you might see that the formula isn’t working. It won’t generate any error messages but also won’t show the appropriate symbol.

That’s because of an unsupported font selected as the default typeface for the Excel desktop app.

For example, look at the screenshot shown above. Since the default font for the workbook is Bookshelf Symbol 7, the Unicode value 960 shows a solid black square instead of the standard Pi symbol.

To fix this, select the cell and click on the font selection drop-down menu in the Font group of the Excel ribbon menu.

Choose standard, professional, or academic typefaces from the list, like Times New Roman.

The unusual character will now show the standard Pi symbol, either the small case or the upper case one, depending on the Unicode symbol you have selected.

If this doesn’t work for you, change the default font of the workbook by opening the Excel Options tool. Press Alt + F + T to access it instantly.

In the Excel Options window, select General from the left-hand menu.

Now, scroll down on the right side menu until you find the Under When creating new workbooks. There, you’ll see the option Use this as the default font.

Choose a font that’s widely accepted in professional or academic domains, like Times New Roman, Arial, Calibri, Garamond, or Helvetica.

Make any adjustments you need for the default font size.

Click OK to save your changes.

Excel might ask you to restart the app. Close it and start it again from the Start menu or use the Excel workbook you were working on.

You can now use the UNICHAR function to insert the Pi symbol without any errors.

Using the AutoCorrect Tool

If you often use the Pi symbol in text strings in Excel, you can use the AutoCorrect tool. It’ll automatically convert a preconfigured text into a Pi symbol. This eliminates the need to manually insert this special character, saving time and ensuring consistency in documents. Overall, AutoCorrect enhances your efficiency, especially if you frequently use mathematical symbols in your spreadsheets.

To use this method, open the Excel worksheet where you need to enter the Pi symbol.

Now, access the Excel Options dialog box by pressing the Alt + F + T keys.

Select the Proofing option in the left-side navigation panel and click on the AutoCorrect Options button on the right side.

Enter Pi in the Replace field and the Pi symbol in the With field.

Click OK to save the entries you’ve created.

Here are the Pi symbols you can use in the AutoCorrect Options dialog box:

Small case Pi: π

Upper case Pi: Π

Now, go back to the worksheet, type Pi, and hit the space bar. Excel will convert the text Pi into the π symbol.

Please note that the AutoCorrect Options tool is case-sensitive. You must type the exact text you entered in the Replace field.

Using the Equation Tool

Finally, you can use the Equation tool to draw a Pi symbol and insert that into the Excel worksheet as an Excel object.

Go to the destination worksheet and click on the Equation drop-down menu in the Insert tab. It should be in the Symbols block.

Click on the Ink Equation option in the drop-down menu.

Draw a small case or upper case Pi symbol in the Write math here sketch board. The Math Input Control dialog box will show a preview above the sketch board.

If the symbol seems okay, click on the Insert button.

You can resize the text and text box as needed to fit the object in your Excel report or visualization.

Conclusions

So far, you’ve learned how to insert the Pi symbol in Microsoft Excel using various built-in user interface methods.

These techniques include using a shortcut key, manually inserting the character using the Symbol menu, dynamically adding the symbol using the UNICHAR function, setting up automatic correction of Pi into a small case π symbol, and drawing the symbol manually using the Ink Equation tool.

You can use any of these methods you find easy to use and suitable for the task you’re trying to accomplish.