How to Type The Pound Symbol (£) on Keyboard (Windows, Mac, Word, and More)

Need to type the Pound symbol (£) on your keyboard but can’t find it? Whether you’re preparing a document with British currency, working in Microsoft Word or Excel, or just trying to figure out the shortcut for the pound sign on Windows or Mac, you’re in the right place.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to type the Pound symbol (£) using different methods, including keyboard shortcuts (like Alt + 0163 for Windows or Option + 3 for Mac), the Insert Symbol tool in Word, AutoCorrect tricks, and even simple copy-paste options. We’ll also cover how to use the pound sign in Excel, Google Docs, and on websites using HTML.

This tutorial is beginner-friendly, mobile-friendly, and packed with tips — so you’ll never struggle with typing the £ sign again, no matter what device or software you’re using.

Let’s get started.

Quick Reference: All the Ways to Type the Pound (£) Symbol

If you’re just looking for a fast answer, the table below shows you exactly how to type or insert the Pound sign (£) on any device or platform — whether you’re on Windows, Mac, Word, Excel, Google Docs, or even writing code for the web.

It includes the correct keyboard shortcuts, Alt codes, Unicode values, and other methods that work across popular tools. This way, you don’t need to scroll through the whole article if you just want the quick fix.

🧾 Pound Symbol Table: Shortcuts, Codes, and Methods

Whether you’re working in Word, writing formulas in Excel, or coding a webpage, you now have a quick reference for inserting the Pound symbol (£) exactly where you need it. In the next sections, we’ll walk you through each method step-by-step with tips, screenshots, and troubleshooting help.

How to Type the Pound Symbol on Windows Keyboard

If you’re using a Windows PC, the easiest way to type the Pound symbol (£) is by using its Alt code.

✅ Method 1: Using Alt Code (with Numeric Keypad)

1. Place your cursor where you want to insert the £ symbol.
2. Make sure Num Lock is enabled on your keyboard.
3. Hold down the Alt key.
4. While holding Alt, type 0163 on the numeric keypad (on the right side of the keyboard).
5. Release the Alt key — the £ symbol should appear.

Example:
Alt + 0163 → £

💡 This method works in Microsoft Word, Excel, Notepad, web browsers, and most Windows applications.

💻 Laptop Users: No Numpad?

If your laptop doesn’t have a numeric keypad:

• Try using the Fn key + NumLk to activate a hidden numpad (often overlayed on the right side of your keyboard).
• Or use the Windows On-Screen Keyboard:
  1. Press Windows key + R, type osk, and hit Enter.
  2. Use the on-screen numeric pad with Alt to type 0163.

✅ Method 2: Using Unicode in Microsoft Word

If you’re working in Word, you can also use the Unicode value of the Pound symbol:

1. Type 00A3 (which is the Unicode for £).
2. Press Alt + X.
3. Word will instantly convert it into the £ symbol.

Example:
00A3 + Alt + X → £

How to Type the Pound Symbol on Mac Keyboard

Typing the Pound sign (£) on a Mac is much simpler than on Windows — it has a built-in shortcut that works across almost all applications.

✅ Method: Use the Mac Keyboard Shortcut

To type the Pound symbol on a Mac:

1. Place your cursor where you want the symbol.
2. Press Option (⌥) + 3 on your keyboard.

Example:
Option + 3 → £

That’s it! The Pound symbol will appear exactly where your cursor is.

💡 This shortcut works in Microsoft Word, Pages, Google Docs, Excel, email clients, and most text fields on macOS.

🧩 Having Trouble?

If pressing Option + 3 doesn’t work:

• Make sure your keyboard is set to the US or UK layout.
  • Go to System Settings → Keyboard → Input Sources, and check your active layout.
• If you’re using a non-English keyboard, the shortcut might be different or require remapping.

How to Insert the Pound Symbol in Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word offers multiple ways to insert special symbols like the Pound sign (£) — even if you can’t remember a keyboard shortcut.

✅ Method 1: Insert the Pound Symbol Using the Symbol Dialog

1. Open your Word document and place the cursor where you want the symbol.
2. Go to the Insert tab on the Ribbon.
3. Click on Symbol (far right), then choose More Symbols….
4. In the Symbol dialog box:
   • Set Subset to Latin-1 Supplement.
   • Look for the Pound sign (£) in the list.
5. Click the Insert button, then Close the dialog box.

The Pound symbol will appear at your cursor.

💡 You can also double-click the symbol in the list to insert it faster.

✅ Method 2: Set Up AutoCorrect to Type the Pound Symbol Automatically

If you type the Pound symbol often, Word’s AutoCorrect feature can make it even easier.

Steps:

1. Go to Insert > Symbol > More Symbols…
2. Find and select the £ symbol.
3. Click on the AutoCorrect… button.
4. In the dialog box:
   • Under Replace, type a custom code (e.g., #pound or :GBP)
   • Under With, the symbol (£) should already appear.
5. Click Add, then OK.

Now, every time you type #pound, Word will automatically replace it with £.

🔎 AutoCorrect Tips:

• It is case-sensitive — #Pound is different from #pound.
• Avoid using real words as the trigger (e.g., pound) to prevent unintended replacements.
• Leave a space after the code for it to activate (#pound → £).

How to Type the Pound Symbol in Microsoft Excel

Need to insert the Pound symbol (£) in Excel? Whether you’re entering prices, working with UK currency, or just typing text, there are multiple ways to do it — from keyboard shortcuts to Excel’s built-in Symbol tool.

Let’s walk through each method step-by-step.

✅ Method 1: Use the Alt Code on Windows

This is the quickest way to type the Pound symbol on a Windows keyboard.

Steps:

1. Click into the cell where you want to insert the symbol.
2. Make sure Num Lock is turned on.
3. Hold the Alt key.
4. While holding Alt, type 0163 on the numeric keypad.
5. Release the Alt key.

You’ll see the £ symbol appear in the cell.

💡 This only works on keyboards with a numeric keypad. The number row at the top of the keyboard won’t work.

🧑‍💻 Laptop Users Without a Numpad

If your laptop doesn’t have a numeric keypad, here are two options:

• Enable a hidden numpad by pressing Fn + NumLk (look for small numbers printed on certain letter keys).
• Use the On-Screen Keyboard:
  • Press Windows + R, type osk, and hit Enter.
  • Use the on-screen numeric keypad to press Alt + 0163.

✅ Method 2: Use Excel’s Built-In Symbol Dialog

Excel has a built-in Symbol dialog — just like Word — for inserting special characters.

Steps:

1. Select the cell where you want to insert the symbol.
2. Go to the Insert tab on the ribbon.
3. Click Symbol (usually at the far right).
4. In the dialog box:
   • Set Subset to Latin-1 Supplement.
   • Scroll to find the Pound sign (£).
5. Click Insert, then Close.

The symbol will appear in the selected cell.

💡 You can also insert it into a formula, header, or chart label this way.

✅ Method 3: Use a Formula to Generate the Pound Symbol

Excel’s CHAR function lets you generate symbols based on their ASCII code.

Example:

excelCopyEdit=CHAR(163)

Typing this into a cell will display the £ symbol.

⚠️ Note: This formula returns text — not a currency format — so use it mainly for labels or display purposes.

✅ Method 4: Copy and Paste the Pound Symbol

The simplest method of all — just copy the symbol and paste it into Excel.

Steps:

1. Copy this: £
2. Click into your desired cell.
3. Press Ctrl + V to paste.

This works in cells, headers, footers, or anywhere text is accepted in Excel.

✅ Bonus Tip: Format Cells as British Currency (with £ Symbol)

If you’re working with financial data, you can format numbers so that they automatically show the £ symbol.

Steps:

1. Select your number cells.
2. Press Ctrl + 1 or right-click and choose Format Cells.
3. Under the Number tab, select Currency or Accounting.
4. In the Symbol dropdown, choose £ English (United Kingdom).
5. Click OK.

Your numbers will now display with the Pound sign in front.

How to Insert the Pound Symbol in Google Docs and Web Pages

If you’re working in a browser — whether it’s Google Docs, Google Slides, or building a website — you can still easily insert the Pound (£) symbol using built-in tools or simple code.

✅ Method 1: Insert Pound Symbol in Google Docs

Google Docs has a powerful Special Characters tool that lets you search and insert symbols.

Steps:

1. Open your Google Docs file.
2. Place your cursor where you want the symbol.
3. Click on Insert in the top menu.
4. Select Special characters.
5. In the search bar, type “pound”.
6. Click on the £ symbol to insert it.

The Pound sign will appear exactly where your cursor is.

💡 You can also draw the symbol in the box if you’re not sure what it’s called — Google will try to match it.

✅ Method 2: Use a Keyboard Shortcut (Mac only)

If you’re using Google Docs on a Mac, you can type the Pound symbol directly using the Mac shortcut:

Option + 3 → £

⚠️ Windows shortcut (Alt + 0163) won’t work in Google Docs because browser-based apps don’t respond to Alt codes.

✅ Method 3: Copy and Paste into Google Docs or Web Forms

Just copy the Pound symbol and paste it into any browser-based tool, including Google Docs, Gmail, or form fields.

Example:

1. Copy: £
2. Paste anywhere using Ctrl + V or Cmd + V

This works on all platforms and is quick and reliable.

How to Use the Pound Symbol in HTML

If you’re building a web page, writing in a WordPress code editor, or editing raw HTML, you can insert the Pound symbol using an HTML entity.

✅ Common HTML Codes for the Pound Symbol:

You can use these in text, HTML tables, meta descriptions, button labels, and more.

Example in HTML:

<p>The price is £120</p>

💡 All three codes display the same symbol. Use whichever one you prefer — they are all browser-compatible.

Conclusion

Typing the Pound symbol (£) doesn’t have to be confusing — now you know every possible way to do it, whether you’re using Windows, Mac, Word, Excel, Google Docs, or writing for the web.

To recap, you can:

• Use Alt + 0163 on Windows or Option + 3 on Mac
• Insert it from Word or Excel’s Symbol dialog
• Use AutoCorrect or formulas for faster input
• Simply copy and paste the £ sign anywhere

Bookmark this guide so you can always come back when you need a quick reference — and don’t forget to check out our other tutorials for typing special characters and symbols with ease.