How to type ¼ on Windows
The fastest method on a full-size keyboard is the Alt code Alt+0188.
- Make sure Num Lock is on.
- Hold down the Alt key.
- Type 0188 on the numeric keypad (the number row will not work).
- Release Alt. The one quarter symbol ¼ appears.
No numeric keypad?
Press Win+. to open the emoji panel, choose the Symbols tab (Ω) and search for "one quarter". Or open Character Map from the Start menu, find ¼, click Select, then Copy.
How to type ¼ on a Mac
There is no direct keyboard shortcut for ¼ on a Mac.
For any symbol, the Character Viewer works: press Control+⌘+Space, type "one quarter" in the search box and double-click the result. It will be remembered under Frequently Used.
How to type ¼ on iPhone and iPad
The iOS keyboard does not include ¼, so the reliable way is to copy it from this page, then press and hold in any text field and tap Paste.
If you use it often, create a shortcut: open Settings → General → Keyboard → Text Replacement, paste ¼ in the Phrase field and type a short code such as ;one in the Shortcut field. Typing that code will then insert ¼ anywhere.
How to type ¼ on Android
Copy the symbol from this page, then long-press in a text field and choose Paste. Gboard also keeps a clipboard history: tap the clipboard icon on the toolbar to paste it again later.
For a permanent shortcut, open Gboard settings → Dictionary → Personal dictionary, add ¼ as the word and a short code as the shortcut.
How to type ¼ in Microsoft Word
- Type the Unicode hex code 00BC where you want the symbol.
- Press Alt+X. Word converts the code into ¼.
This works on Windows in Word, Outlook and OneNote and needs no numeric keypad. You can also go to Insert → Symbol → More Symbols, set the font to a Unicode font and type 00BC in the Character code box. In Excel, the formula =UNICHAR(188) returns the symbol.
How to type ¼ in Google Docs
Open Insert → Special characters, then either search for "one quarter" or draw the symbol in the sketch box. Click the result to insert it. In Google Sheets, use =CHAR(188).
¼ in HTML, CSS and code
| Format | Code |
|---|---|
| HTML entity | ¼ |
| HTML decimal | ¼ |
| HTML hex | ¼ |
CSS content | "\00BC" |
| JavaScript | "\u00BC" |
| Python | "\u00BC" |
| LaTeX | \frac{1}{4} |
| URL encoded | %C2%BC |
Because ¼ is a standard Unicode character (U+00BC), you can also paste it directly into any UTF-8 file. The escaped forms above are only needed when the file encoding is uncertain or the symbol must be entered on a keyboard without it.
Where the one quarter symbol is used
It appears in recipes and measurements, such as "¼ cup sugar" or "¼ mile track", and in general text to avoid typing "1/4". Some fonts render it as a fraction, others may show a plain slash form instead, which can look similar to a manually typed 1/4.
Frequently asked questions
Is ¼ the same as 1/4? +
Yes, ¼ represents the same value as 1/4, but it is a single character rather than three separate characters.
Why does ¼ look different in some documents? +
Font support varies, so some fonts display the true fraction glyph while others fall back to a plain numeral and slash combination.
What is the Alt code for the one quarter symbol? +
The Alt code for ¼ is Alt+0188. Hold Alt, type 0188 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt.
How do I type ¼ on a Mac? +
There is no dedicated Mac shortcut for ¼. Open the Character Viewer with Control + Command + Space, search for "one quarter", and double-click it. Or copy it from this page.
How do I type the one quarter symbol on iPhone or Android? +
Phone keyboards do not include ¼ by default. Copy it from this page and paste it, or add it as a text replacement shortcut in Settings so you can type it with a short abbreviation.
What is the HTML code for ¼? +
Use ¼ in HTML. The numeric form ¼ works too. In CSS use content: "\00BC" and in JavaScript use "\u00BC".