This article will explain everything you need to know about the PI function in Google Sheets. Read on to master this important function.

What Is the PI Function?

PI is defined as the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. No matter what the size of the circle is, the ratio will always be equal to the number of PI. The value of PI is approximately equal to 3.14 and is denoted using the Greek symbol π.

The PI function in Google Sheets returns the value of PI up to 9 decimal numbers. This is equal to 3.141592654. When using the PI function, you will realize no arguments to the formula. This is because the value of PI is pre-defined and isn’t calculated. Here is the easiest way to write PI in Google Sheets:

Google Sheets will return a #N/A error if you write anything between the brackets.

How to Use the PI Function in Google Sheets

Here are the steps you need to follow to use the PI function in Sheets:

Select an empty cell. Click on Insert at the top of your screen and then on Function in the dropdown menu. A submenu should open with several categories to choose from. You can either click on Math or All. There, scroll down to find PI. Click on it to enter the function into the selected cell. Your cursor may be inside the brackets when the formula shows up in the cell. Make sure not to type anything within the brackets, as it will return an error. Press Enter, and you should be able to see the value of PI in the cell.

Alternately, you can also type the formula into the cell. To do this, follow these steps:

Click on the cell you wish to input the formula to select it. You can type the formula in the cell or click on the formula bar at the top. Type the formula. In this case, you have to write =PI(). Once you’re done typing in the formula, simply press the Enter key.

How to Use the PI Function for Calculations

Using the PI function will return correct values, assuming you’re using the first 9 decimal digits of PI. Here are some examples of calculations where the PI function can be used.

Diameter

The diameter can be calculated by dividing the circumference by PI. The syntax you need to follow to calculate the diameter is:

Assuming the circumference is 50, here is the formula you need to write in the cell:

​​​​You can also find the radius by dividing the circle’s diameter by 2.

Circumference

To find the circumference, you need to multiply its diameter with PI. The syntax you need to follow to calculate the circumference is:

So, assuming that the diameter of the circle is 50, here is the formula you need to put in the cell:

​​​​​

Area

To find the area of a circle, you need to multiply PI with the square of the circle’s radius. The syntax you need to follow to calculate the area is:

Assuming that the radius of the circle is 20, here is the formula you need to put in the cell:

How to Use the PI Symbol in Google Sheets

Now that we know how the PI function can be used in Google Sheets, let’s look at how you can insert the PI (π) symbol into your spreadsheet. There are two ways in which you can do this.

The first way is to copy the PI symbol from a Google search and paste it into a cell. The second method uses the CHAR() function. Here are the steps you need to follow to do this:

Click on the cell where you wish to insert the PI symbol. Now type in the CHAR formula into the cell or the formula bar. For the CHAR formula to work, you need to enter the character code of the symbol you wish to input. In this case, the character code for the PI symbol is 960. Press the Enter key for the changes to be applied.

If you wish to include text with the PI character:

Put an equal sign (=) in the cell and type your text in quotation marks (“”). Put an ampersand symbol (&) followed by CHAR(960). If you wish to put more text after the PI symbol, put another ampersand (&) symbol and write your text inside quotation marks (“”).

Remember that using the character does not allow you to complete any Google Sheets functions with it. It’s just text.

What Is the PI Function in Sheets?

The PI function allows you to do circle calculations in your spreadsheet. It can be accessed by going to Insert > Function > Math > PI.

What Is the PI Formula in Google Sheets?

The formula for PI in Sheets is =PI(). The formula doesn’t have any arguments, so if you put anything inside the brackets, the formula will give an error.

How Can I Insert the PI Symbol in Google Sheets?

The CHAR function can insert the π symbol in your spreadsheets. The function can convert numbers from the Unicode table to characters. For the PI symbol, use =CHAR(960).

Summarizing the PI Function

Once you know the formula and the correct syntax, using the PI function in Sheets can be as simple as a few keystrokes. It can be beneficial when doing geometrical calculations, as you won’t have to type in the value for PI every time you start writing an equation.

Remember that the function uses PI to 9 decimal places. If, for any reason, you need your calculations to incorporate PI with more figures, it may be best to perform them outside of Google Sheets and then type the values in manually.