Insert or Type Alpha, Beta, Delta, Gamma, Omega, Pi, Sigma, Theta and Other Greek Symbols in Excel

by Avantix Learning Team | Updated February 6, 2022

Applies to: Microsoft® Excel® 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021 and 365 (Windows)

You can insert or type Greek letters or symbols (such as Alpha, Beta, Delta, Gamma, Omega, Pi, Sigma or Theta) in Excel worksheets in several ways. These include inserting symbols using the Insert Symbol command, the Symbol font, Alt code shortcuts and AutoCorrect shortcuts. You can insert Greek letters in cells, text boxes and equations in Excel.

In this article, we'll review 6 ways to insert Greek letters or symbols in Excel:

  1. Use the Insert Symbol command
  2. Press Alt and then enter a number sequence
  3. Use the Symbol font and press the corresponding letter on the keyboard
  4. Add custom AutoCorrect entries to create shortcuts
  5. Use Math AutoCorrect shortcuts in an equation block or placeholder
  6. Use the Equation Ribbon to insert symbols in an equation block or placeholder

Recommended article: How to Insert Multiple Rows in Excel (4 Fast Ways with Shortcuts)

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To insert an equation block in Excel:

  1. Click the Insert tab in the Ribbon.
  2. Click Symbols. A drop-down menu appears.
  3. Click Equation. An equation block is inserted on the worksheet.

1. Inserting Greek symbols using Insert Symbol

To insert Greek symbols using Insert Symbol in an Excel worksheet

  1. Click in the cell, text box or equation block where you want to insert the Greek symbol. Double-click the cell if you want to edit a cell that has other content.
  2. Click the Insert tab in the Ribbon.
  3. In the Symbols group, click Symbol. A drop-down menu appears.
  4. Click More Symbols. A dialog box appears.
  5. If necessary, click the Symbols tab.
  6. Select (normal text) from the Font drop-down menu and then Greek and Coptic from the Subset menu. Alternatively, you could select the Symbol font.
  7. Click the symbol or letter you want to use.
  8. Click Insert.
  9. Click Close.

The Insert Symbol dialog box displays Greek letters or symbols when you select normal text as the font and Greek and Coptic as the subset:

Insert symbol dialog box in Excel to insert Greek characters.

2. Using Alt keyboard shortcuts to insert Greek symbols

You can press the Alt key in combination with numbers on the numeric keypad to insert Greek symbols in a cell, text box or equation block.

Press and hold Alt and then enter number sequences on the numeric keypad to enter the following:

α (Alpha) – Alt + 224
ß (Beta) – Alt + 225
Γ (Gamma) – Alt + 226
Δ (Upper case Delta) – Alt + 916
δ (Lower case Delta) – Alt + 235
ε (Epsilon) – Alt + 238
Θ (Theta) – Alt + 233
π (Pi) – Alt + 227
µ (Mu) – Alt + 230
Σ (Upper case Sigma) – Alt + 228
σ (Lower case Sigma) – Alt + 229
τ (Tau) – Alt + 231
Φ (Upper case Phi) – Alt + 232
φ (Lower case Phi) – Alt + 237
Ω (Omega) – Alt + 234

If these sequences don't work, press the NumLock key on the numeric keypad.

If you don't have a numeric keypad, you may be able to press the Fn key and access the numbers at the top of your keyboard.

In the Insert Symbol dialog box, Alt keyboard shortcuts are also displayed for each character at the bottom. The Unicode (hex) sequences listed in the dialog box are entered differently. In the document, press the indicated keys (using the numeric keypad) and then press Alt + X.

3. Inserting Greek symbols by switching to the Symbol font

You can use the Symbol font to insert Greek letters or symbols in Excel.

To insert letters or symbols using the Symbol font:

  1. Click in the cell, text box or equation block where you want to insert the Greek symbol.
  2. Click the Home tab in the Ribbon.
  3. Select Symbol from the Font drop-down menu.
  4. Type the character to insert the required letter or symbol.

The Greek characters correspond to standard characters. For example, if you type the letter a, Excel enters the corresponding Greek lowercase letter. Note that this changes the font for the entire cell if you have selected a cell.

4. Creating custom AutoCorrect shortcuts for Greek symbols

You can also create custom AutoCorrect shortcuts for Greek symbols. Although you can use Math AutoCorrect entries in equation blocks in Excel, you can't use them outside of math regions.

To create an AutoCorrect entry in Excel for a Greek symbol:

  1. Click in the cell, text box or equation block where you want to insert the Greek symbol. Double-click the cell if you want to edit a cell that has other content.
  2. Insert a Greek letter or symbol using Insert Symbol or the Alt code method above.
  3. Double-click the cell and drag over it the letter or symbol.
  4. Press Ctrl + C to copy the symbol.
  5. Click the File tab in the Ribbon.
  6. Click Options. A dialog box appears.
  7. Select Proofing in the categories on the left.
  8. Click AutoCorrect. A dialog box appears.
  9. In the Replace with box, enter the name of the entry (such as \alpha).
  10. Click in the With box and press Ctrl + V to paste the symbol.
  11. Click Add.
  12. Click OK.
  13. Click Close.
  14. Click in the cell, text box or equation block where you want to insert the Greek symbol. Double-click the cell if you want to edit a cell that has other content.
  15. Type the entry (such as \alpha) and then press the Spacebar.

The AutoCorrect dialog box appears as follows with a Greek symbol to be added as an entry:

AutoCorrect dialog box in Excel to add Greek letters as an entry.

5. Inserting Greek symbols in an equation block using AutoCorrect for Math

Excel has built-in Math AutoCorrect entries that are available to insert in equation blocks.

To insert Greek symbols in an equation block using AutoCorrect for Math:

  1. Select the Excel worksheet where you want to insert an equation.
  2. Click the Insert tab in the Ribbon.
  3. Click Symbol. A drop-down menu appears.
  4. Click Equation to insert a new equation block or placeholder. You can also use an existing equation block or placeholder.
  5. Click in the equation block or placeholder and type a backslash (\) plus the name of the symbol (such as \lambda) and then press the Spacebar. To enter a Greek capital letter, use the same method but start with a capital letter (such as \Lambda).

6. Inserting Greek symbols in an equation block using the Equation tab in the Ribbon

To insert Greek symbols in an equation block or placeholder using the Equation tab in the Ribbon:

  1. Select the Excel worksheet where you want to insert an equation.
  2. Click the Insert tab in the Ribbon.
  3. Click Symbol. A drop-down menu appears.
  4. Click Equation to insert a new equation block or placeholder. You can also use an existing equation block or placeholder.
  5. Ensure that you have clicked in the equation block and then click the Equation tab in the Ribbon.
  6. Click the More arrow on the bottom right of the Symbols gallery.
  7. At the top of the Symbols gallery, select the drop-down menu (typically, this displays Basic Math).
  8. Select Greek Letters from the drop-down menu.
  9. Click the Greek symbol you want to insert.

The Symbol gallery with Greek Letters selected appears as follows:

Greek symbols in Symbols gallery in Equation tab in the Ribbon.

You can also insert Greek symbols in an equation block using Alt codes or the Insert Symbol dialog box.

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Summary
How to Insert or Type Greek Letters or Symbols in Excel (6 Ways)
Article Name
How to Insert or Type Greek Letters or Symbols in Excel (6 Ways)
Description
You can insert or type Greek letters or symbols (such as Alpha, Beta, Delta, Gamma, Omega, Pi, Sigma or Theta) in Excel worksheets in several ways. These include inserting symbols using the Insert Symbol command, the Symbol font, Alt code shortcuts and AutoCorrect shortcuts. You can insert Greek letters in cells, text boxes and equations in Excel.
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Avantix Learning

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