How to type £ on Windows
The fastest method on a full-size keyboard is the Alt code Alt+0163.
- Make sure Num Lock is on.
- Hold down the Alt key.
- Type 0163 on the numeric keypad (the number row will not work).
- Release Alt. The pound symbol £ appears.
No numeric keypad?
Press Win+. to open the emoji panel, choose the Symbols tab (Ω) and search for "pound". Or open Character Map from the Start menu, find £, click Select, then Copy.
How to type £ on a Mac
Press Option+3 on the US keyboard layout. Hold the modifier keys and tap the final key once.
For any symbol, the Character Viewer works: press Control+⌘+Space, type "pound" in the search box and double-click the result. It will be remembered under Frequently Used.
How to type £ on iPhone and iPad
The iOS keyboard does not include £, 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 £ in the Phrase field and type a short code such as ;pound in the Shortcut field. Typing that code will then insert £ anywhere.
How to type £ 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 £ as the word and a short code as the shortcut.
How to type £ in Microsoft Word
- Type the Unicode hex code 00A3 where you want the symbol.
- Press Alt+X. Word converts the code into £.
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 00A3 in the Character code box. In Excel, the formula =UNICHAR(163) returns the symbol.
How to type £ in Google Docs
Open Insert → Special characters, then either search for "pound" or draw the symbol in the sketch box. Click the result to insert it. In Google Sheets, use =CHAR(163).
£ in HTML, CSS and code
| Format | Code |
|---|---|
| HTML entity | £ |
| HTML decimal | £ |
| HTML hex | £ |
CSS content | "\00A3" |
| JavaScript | "\u00A3" |
| Python | "\u00A3" |
| LaTeX | \pounds |
| URL encoded | %C2%A3 |
Because £ is a standard Unicode character (U+00A3), 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 pound symbol is used
The £ symbol appears before amounts in prices, invoices, and receipts, such as "£25.00" or "£1,200 rent." It's standard in UK retail, banking, and finance. Some confuse it with the euro sign (€), which represents a different currency entirely.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the pound symbol have a line through it? +
The horizontal strikethrough distinguishes it from the letter L, which the symbol originally derived from as an abbreviation for the Latin word libra.
What currencies use the £ symbol besides British pounds? +
Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, and several other countries also use £ or a similar pound sign for their own local currencies, unrelated to the UK pound.
What is the Alt code for the pound symbol? +
The Alt code for £ is Alt+0163. Hold Alt, type 0163 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt.
How do I type £ on a Mac? +
Press Option+3 on a Mac with the US keyboard layout. You can also open the Character Viewer with Control + Command + Space and search for "pound".
How do I type the pound symbol on iPhone or Android? +
Phone keyboards do not include £ 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 £? +
Use £ in HTML. The numeric form £ works too. In CSS use content: "\00A3" and in JavaScript use "\u00A3".