How to Type the Greater Than or Equal To Sign (≥) on Keyboard, Word & Excel

Typing special math symbols like the Greater Than or Equal To sign (≥) isn’t always straightforward—especially since it’s not printed on most keyboards. Yet it’s commonly used in mathematical equations, data analysis, Excel formulas, and technical documents created in Microsoft Word.

Whether you’re a student writing math problems, an analyst working in Excel, or simply formatting a report, knowing how to insert this symbol quickly can save you time and frustration.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to type the Greater Than or Equal To sign on a keyboard, and how to insert it in Word, Excel, Google Docs, and even on mobile. We’ll walk you through the best methods—from keyboard shortcuts and Alt codes, to AutoCorrect tricks, the Symbol menu, and the good old copy-and-paste.

📋 Quick Reference: How to Type the Greater Than or Equal To Sign (≥)

If you’re in a hurry, use the table below to quickly find the best method to type or insert the ≥ symbol on your keyboard or in different applications.

Platform	Method	Shortcut / Code	Works In
Windows	Unicode Shortcut	`2265 + Alt + X`	Word, Outlook only
Windows	Alt Code (NumPad required)	`Alt + 8805`	MS Word
Mac	Character Viewer	Insert manually	Word, Pages, Numbers
Word	Insert > Symbol Dialog	Select from symbol list	Word
Excel	Insert > Symbol	Same as Word	Excel
Excel	Formula	`=UNICHAR(8805)`	Excel (for display only)
Google Docs	Special Characters Tool	Search or draw ≥	Google Docs
Any	Copy & Paste	`≥`	Universal

💡 Tip: The fastest and most reliable method for Word users is 2265 + Alt + X, while Excel users may prefer Insert > Symbol or copy-paste. Below is a button for easy copying

≥

⌨️ Method 1: Type The Greater Than or Equal To Sign Using Unicode (2265 + Alt + X)

One of the easiest and most efficient ways to type the Greater Than or Equal To sign (≥) in Microsoft Word is by using its Unicode character code. Every symbol you see in Word—whether it’s a letter, arrow, emoji, or math operator—has a unique code behind it called a Unicode value.

The Unicode for the ≥ sign is 2265, and you can turn that into the actual symbol by pressing Alt + X immediately after typing the code.

This method works only in Microsoft Word and Outlook, but it’s incredibly fast once you get the hang of it—and doesn’t require you to open any menus.

✅ How to Use This Method:

Follow these steps exactly to insert the ≥ symbol:

Open your Word document and click where you want the symbol to appear.
Type the code: 2265. This tells Word which symbol you’re aiming for. Don’t press Enter or space yet.
While your cursor is still after the code, hold down the Alt key and press the X key.
The number 2265 will be instantly converted into the Greater Than or Equal To sign (≥).

greater than or equal to sign Alt code method to type the symbol on keyboard

🧠 Why This Works:

The Unicode system is like a universal dictionary for symbols.
In Word, when you type a Unicode (like 2265) and press Alt + X, it translates that code into its symbol equivalent.
It saves time and avoids having to navigate through menus or remember obscure keyboard combinations.

⚠️ Things to Watch Out For:

This method only works in Microsoft Word and Outlook. It won’t work in Excel, PowerPoint, Notepad, or browsers.
Do not press the spacebar or Enter key after typing the code—doing so will break the shortcut.
If you type the code within a sentence, make sure there’s a space before and after, so Word doesn’t confuse it with other characters.

💡 Bonus Tip: If you accidentally convert the wrong code using Alt + X, just press Ctrl + Z (Undo), and Word will reverse it instantly.

🖱️ Method 2: Insert the Greater Than or Equal To Sign Using Word’s Symbol Dialog

If you’re not comfortable with keyboard shortcuts or don’t want to memorize Unicode values, Word provides a built-in Symbol dialog box that allows you to visually browse and insert any symbol, including the Greater Than or Equal To sign (≥).

This method is ideal if:

You’re using Microsoft Word.
You’re inserting the symbol for the first time
You prefer point-and-click methods
You’re unsure of the code or shortcut

Let’s walk through it step by step.

✅ Steps to Insert the ≥ Symbol from the Symbol Menu in Word:

Open Microsoft Word and place your cursor exactly where you want the symbol to appear.
Go to the Insert tab in the ribbon at the top of Word.
On the far right of the Insert tab, click the Symbol dropdown.
Then select More Symbols… from the bottom of the list.
In the Symbol dialog box that opens, do the following:
- Set the Font dropdown to Normal Text (to show standard characters)
- In the Subset dropdown (top-right area of the dialog), select Mathematical Operators This filters the symbol list to math-related characters only.
Now, scroll through the list of characters until you find the Greater Than or Equal To sign (≥).
You can usually find it midway through the Mathematical Operators subset.
Click on the ≥ symbol to select it.
Click the Insert button, or simply double-click the symbol. It will be inserted into your document where your cursor is placed.
Click Close to exit the dialog box.

🧠 Why This Method Is Helpful:

No need to memorize codes—just browse and click.
Useful for users who want to discover related symbols like ≤ (less than or equal), ≠ (not equal), or ≈ (approximately equal).
Word remembers your most recently used symbols—so the next time you go to Insert > Symbol, the ≥ symbol will likely appear in the quick-access list.

💡 Pro Tip: If you often use the ≥ symbol, you can click the Shortcut Key… button in the Symbol dialog and assign your own custom keyboard shortcut (e.g., Ctrl + Shift + G) for even quicker access.

🔢 Method 3: Type the Greater Than or Equal To Sign Using the Alt Code (Alt + 8805)

If you’re using a Windows PC with a numeric keypad, you can insert the Greater Than or Equal To sign (≥) in most programs—including Excel, Notepad, and web browsers—by using the Alt code.

Alt codes are system-level shortcuts that let you type symbols by holding the Alt key and entering a number on your numeric keypad. It’s quick, flexible, and works in many more apps than the Unicode method.

✅ Steps to Type ≥ Using Alt Code:

Click where you want the ≥ symbol to appear.
Make sure Num Lock is turned ON on your keyboard.
Hold down the Alt key on your keyboard.
While holding Alt, type 8805 on the numeric keypad (the number pad on the right of full-size keyboards).
Release the Alt key, and the ≥ symbol will appear.

⚠️ Important Notes:

This method only works on Windows with a physical numeric keypad. It won’t work on most laptop keyboards without using a function key workaround or an external keypad.
You must use the number pad on the right side of the keyboard, not the number row above the letters.
If nothing appears, double-check that Num Lock is on and you’re using the correct keypad.

💡 Tip for Laptop Users:

If your laptop doesn’t have a numeric keypad, you can try:

Using Fn + NumLock to enable a simulated keypad (check your laptop’s documentation)
Or simply use the copy and paste method instead:
≥ ← (Copy this)

📋 Method 4: Copy and Paste the Greater Than or Equal To Sign (≥)

If you’re looking for the simplest and most universal way to insert the ≥ symbol—whether you’re in Word, Excel, Google Docs, an email, or even a phone text field—copying and pasting is the quickest option.

This method is perfect if:

You’re using a mobile device or tablet
Your keyboard doesn’t support shortcuts or Alt codes
You just need to insert the symbol once or twice

Use the button below to copy the symbol.

≥

⚙️ Method 5: Use AutoCorrect to Insert the Greater Than or Equal To Sign in Word

If you type the ≥ sign often in your documents, one of the smartest things you can do is set up a custom AutoCorrect rule in Microsoft Word.

AutoCorrect is typically used to fix typos, like changing “adn” to “and”—but it can also replace short codes with special symbols or entire phrases. For example, you can assign the code GOE to automatically insert ≥.

✅ Why Use AutoCorrect for the ≥ Symbol?

✅ Faster than using Insert or Alt codes
✅ Perfect for repetitive typing (e.g., math reports, data entry)
✅ You can assign any custom code that’s easy for you to remember
✅ The replacement happens automatically when you type your code and press the spacebar or punctuation

📝 How to Set It Up in Microsoft Word:

Open a Word document.
Insert the ≥ symbol into the document using any previous method (e.g., 2265 + Alt + X, copy-paste, or Insert > Symbol).
Highlight and copy the ≥ symbol (Ctrl + C).
Go to the top ribbon and click on:
- File → Options → Proofing → AutoCorrect Options…
In the AutoCorrect dialog:
- In the “Replace” box, type a short code like GOE (you can use any memorable text).
- In the “With” box, paste the ≥ symbol you copied earlier.
Click Add, then click OK.

🧪 Now Try It:

Type GOE (in uppercase), then press the spacebar.
Word will immediately replace it with: ≥

⚠️ Important Notes:

AutoCorrect is case-sensitive: If you enter GOE, it won’t work if you type goe in lowercase (unless you add both versions).
You need to press space or punctuation after the code for it to trigger.
- Typing valueGOE won’t work.
- But value GOE will become value ≥

💡 Pro Tip: You can repeat this process to create shortcuts for other math symbols like:

LOE → ≤
NOTEQ → ≠
PI → π

🎁 Bonus Tips: Insert the Greater Than or Equal To Sign (≥) in Excel, Google Docs, Mac & More

Now that you’ve mastered how to type the ≥ sign in Word, here’s how to do it in other popular programs and devices—because typing symbols should be easy no matter where you’re working.

📊 ≥ In Microsoft Excel

While Excel doesn’t support the Alt + X method from Word, you still have reliable options:

Option 1: Insert from Symbol Menu

Go to the Insert tab
Click Symbol (far-right in the ribbon)
Set Font to “Normal Text”
Choose Mathematical Operators in the Subset
Find and select the ≥ symbol
Click Insert

Option 2: Use a Formula (Display Only)
You can use:

=UNICHAR(8805)

This will display the ≥ symbol in a cell but can’t be used for comparisons.

Option 3: Copy and Paste
Just copy ≥ and paste it into any cell—quick and easy.

📄 ≥ In Google Docs

Google Docs offers a built-in special characters tool:

Go to Insert → Special characters
In the search bar, type: greater than or equal to
Click on the ≥ symbol to insert it into your document

Alternate Option: Use the drawing pad to sketch the symbol, and Google will suggest similar characters.

🍎≥ On a Mac (macOS)

Mac keyboards don’t have Alt codes, but inserting the ≥ symbol is still easy:

Option 1: Use the Emoji & Symbols Viewer

Place your cursor where you want the symbol
Press Control + Command + Space
(This opens the Character Viewer)
In the search box, type: greater than or equal
Double-click the ≥ symbol to insert

Option 2: Use AutoReplace (in Word for Mac)

If you’re using Microsoft Word for Mac, you can set up an AutoCorrect rule just like in Windows (e.g., type GOE to auto-replace with ≥)

📱 On Mobile Devices (iOS & Android)

There is no direct keyboard key for the ≥ symbol on most mobile keyboards.

Your best option is to:

Copy the symbol ≥ from a document or website
Paste it wherever you need (WhatsApp, Notes, Docs, Email)

Some third-party keyboards or math input tools may include the symbol in their extended character sets.

✅ Conclusion

The Greater Than or Equal To sign (≥) is a powerful symbol used in math, logic, finance, and technical writing—but it’s not always obvious how to type it. Thankfully, whether you’re on Windows, Mac, Word, Excel, Google Docs, or even a mobile device, there’s a method that fits your setup.

From quick shortcuts like 2265 + Alt + X in Word, to inserting it via the Symbol menu, to setting up an AutoCorrect rule for instant typing, this guide has shown you multiple ways to save time and insert the ≥ symbol wherever you need it.

💬 Still stuck? Drop your question in the comments below and I’ll help you out.

👉 Related guide: How to Insert Symbols in Word