Figma is a powerful design tool, but it doesn’t include a dedicated “superscript” or “subscript” button like you’d find in word processors. That said, you can still create superscript text manually using a few simple techniques. Whether you’re designing footnotes, chemical formulas, math expressions, or stylistic text, Figma gives you enough flexibility to simulate superscript formatting precisely.
What Is Superscript?
Superscript refers to text that is smaller and raised above the baseline, often used for:
- Footnotes (e.g., Text¹)
- Exponents (e.g., x²)
- Ordinals (e.g., 1st, 2nd)
- Chemical notation (e.g., H₂O)
Figma doesn’t support this with one click, but there are two simple ways to achieve it.
Method 1: Manual Superscript (Recommended)
The most flexible way to create superscript text in Figma is to manually style a separate text layer.
✅ Steps:
- Create your main text
Use the Text Tool (T) to write your base text (e.g., “E = mc”). - Create a second text layer for the superscript (e.g., “2”).
- Adjust font size
Reduce the superscript layer’s font size to around 50–70% of the base text (depends on visual preference). - Raise the position
Move the superscript layer upward using the Y-position in the design panel, or simply drag it slightly above the baseline. - Align manually
Use Smart Guides or arrow keys for pixel-perfect alignment.
💡 Bonus Tip: Group the base text and superscript layers to keep them together when moving or resizing.
Method 2: Use Unicode Superscript Characters (Quick & Limited)
If you’re only using simple superscript numbers or letters, Unicode has preformatted superscript characters you can copy and paste.
✅ Examples:
- ¹ (U+00B9)
- ² (U+00B2)
- ³ (U+00B3)
- ⁿ (U+207F)
- ⁺ ⁻ ⁽ ⁾ (U+207A–U+207E)
You can find more at sites like Unicode Table or use shortcuts if your OS supports them.
✅ How to use:
- Copy the desired superscript character.
- Paste it into your Figma text layer.
- Style as needed to match the rest of your typography.
⚠️ Limitation: Only a small set of characters are available in superscript form via Unicode.
When to Use Each Method
| Use Case | Best Method |
|---|---|
| Footnotes and citations | Manual superscript |
| Exponents in equations | Manual superscript |
| Quick one-off numbers | Unicode characters |
| Complex scientific notation | Manual superscript |
Final Thoughts
While Figma doesn’t have a native superscript feature, it’s easy to replicate the effect using layer positioning and font sizing, or by inserting Unicode superscript characters. The manual method gives you full control, making it suitable for polished UI text, math equations, or editorial layouts. With a little attention to detail, you can make your text look exactly the way you want—even if the feature isn’t built in.
Designilo 