Short answer: Type the symbol with an Alt code (€ is Alt + 0128, £ Alt + 0163, ¥ Alt + 0165, ₹ Alt + 8377) or copy it below. On any international invoice, also add the three-letter ISO code — write USD 1,000 or $1,000 USD — because a symbol like $ is used by several currencies.
Tap to copy a currency symbol
Need a symbol that isn’t here? The Alt Code Finder gives the Windows, Mac, Word and HTML method for any currency — search by name.
Getting the currency right on an invoice is partly typing the symbol and partly formatting it so there’s no confusion about which currency and how much. This guide covers both, for the tools you actually invoice in. It’s part of the Currency symbols hub.
Common invoice currencies
| Symbol | Currency | ISO | Windows | Unicode |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $ | Dollar (US, CA, AU…) | USD/CAD/AUD | on keyboard | U+0024 |
| € | Euro | EUR | Alt + 0128 | U+20AC |
| £ | Pound | GBP | Alt + 0163 | U+00A3 |
| ¥ | Yen / Yuan | JPY/CNY | Alt + 0165 | U+00A5 |
| ¢ | Cent | — | Alt + 0162 | U+00A2 |
| ₹ | Rupee | INR | Alt + 8377 | U+20B9 |
| ₩ | Won | KRW | Alt + 8361 | U+20A9 |
| ₽ | Ruble | RUB | Alt + 8381 | U+20BD |
| ₺ | Turkish lira | TRY | Alt + 8378 | U+20BA |
| ₪ | Shekel | ILS | Alt + 8362 | U+20AA |
| ₦ | Naira | NGN | Alt + 8358 | U+20A6 |
| ₿ | Bitcoin | BTC | Alt + 8383 | U+20BF |
Add the ISO code on international invoices
This is the professional habit worth building: state the three-letter ISO 4217 code next to the amount — USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, CAD, AUD — whenever the invoice crosses borders.
Why it matters: several currencies share a symbol. $ alone could be US, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, Hong Kong or Singapore dollars; kr is used across the Nordic countries; ¥ covers both the Japanese yen and Chinese yuan. Writing just “$2,000” invites disputes and short payments. Writing $2,000 USD (or USD 2,000) removes all doubt — especially on the total.
A simple rule: use the symbol for brevity in the line items, and pin the ISO code to the total and the payment terms. For a multi-currency table, lead with codes (USD, EUR) rather than symbols.
Symbol placement and number format
Placement and separators follow the client’s locale, and getting them right signals you know their market:
- United States / UK: symbol first, no space — $1,250.00, £1,250.00. Comma for thousands, period for the decimal.
- Much of Europe: symbol often after the amount with a space — 1 250,00 €. Many locales use a period or space for thousands and a comma for the decimal (1.250,00 or 1 250,00).
- Quebec French: dollar sign after — 1 250,00 $.
- Negatives / credits: a leading minus, or parentheses in accounting style — ($150.00).
When in doubt for an English-language invoice, symbol-first with two decimals ($1,250.00) is the safe default — just add the ISO code.
Windows and Mac
- Windows: hold Alt and type the code on the numeric keypad (Num Lock on) — 0128 €, 0163 £, 0165 ¥, 0162 ¢, 8377 ₹, 8361 ₩. No numpad? Press Win + . and search the currency name. If a code returns the wrong character, you’re on the number row — see why Alt codes don’t work.
- Mac: Option + 2 gives €, Option + 3 gives £, Option + Y gives ¥, Option + 4 gives ¢. For the rest, open the Character Viewer (Control + Command + Space) and search the name.
Word and Google Docs
For a written invoice or quote: in Word, type the Unicode hex and press Alt + X (20AC → €, 20B9 → ₹), or use Insert → Symbol. In Google Docs, go to Insert → Special characters and search the currency name. The Windows Alt codes and Mac Option shortcuts also work directly in both.
Excel and Google Sheets (the invoice workhorse)
Most invoices are built in a spreadsheet, so format the cells rather than typing symbols by hand:
- Currency vs Accounting format. Select the cells, then Format Cells → Number → Currency (symbol sits next to the digits) or Accounting (symbol is pushed to the left edge of the cell so a column of figures lines up, and negatives show in parentheses). Accounting format is the tidy choice for invoice tables.
- Pick the symbol from the format’s dropdown — Excel lists dozens of currencies and locales.
- Other currencies / custom look: use a custom format like
[$₹-hi-IN] #,##0.00, or the formula route=UNICHAR(8377)to place a ₹ character. - Google Sheets: Format → Number → Custom currency lets you choose the symbol, placement and decimals.
More spreadsheet symbol tips: symbols in Google Sheets.
Invoicing software and web invoices
If you use invoicing software (or a store/checkout), it almost always has a currency setting — set it there and it handles the symbol, placement and code, including multi-currency. If you build invoices or price pages in HTML/PDF, use entities so the symbol renders in any font: € €, £ £, ¥ ¥, ¢ ¢, and numeric forms for the rest — ₹ ₹, ₩ ₩, ₽ ₽, ₿ ₿. In CSS you can use the escaped code point, e.g. content:"\20AC".
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Alt + 8377 does nothing | Num Lock off, or top-row numbers used. Use the numeric keypad, or Word’s 20B9 + Alt + X. |
| No numpad on my laptop | Use Win + ., the spreadsheet’s currency format, or copy from the tool above. |
| The symbol column won’t line up | Use Accounting format in Excel/Sheets — it aligns the symbol to the cell edge. |
| Client unsure which “$” I mean | Add the ISO code — $2,000 USD or USD 2,000 — especially on the total. |
| Symbol shows as a box ▯ | The font lacks the glyph. Switch to Arial, Calibri or Times New Roman. More: symbol showing as a box. |
| ¥ ambiguous (yen or yuan?) | Add the ISO code — JPY for yen, CNY for yuan. |
Frequently asked questions
How do you type currency symbols like € £ ¥ ₹ on an invoice?
On Windows, hold Alt and type the code on the numeric keypad: 0128 for €, 0163 for £, 0165 for ¥, 8377 for ₹. On a Mac, use Option + 2 for €, Option + 3 for £ and Option + Y for ¥. In a spreadsheet, it’s easier to apply a currency format to the cells than to type the symbol.
Should you use the currency symbol or the ISO code (USD) on an invoice?
Use both on international invoices. Symbols are quick but ambiguous — $ is used by the US, Canada, Australia and others — so add the three-letter ISO 4217 code (USD, EUR, GBP) next to the amount, especially the total: $2,000 USD or USD 2,000.
Where does the currency symbol go — before or after the amount?
It depends on the client’s locale. In the US and UK the symbol goes first ($1,250.00). In much of Europe the euro follows the amount with a space (1 250,00 €), and Quebec French puts the dollar sign after. For an English-language invoice, symbol-first with two decimals is the safe default.
How do you format currency in Excel or Google Sheets?
Select the cells and choose Format Cells → Currency (symbol next to the digits) or Accounting (symbol aligned to the cell edge so columns line up, with negatives in parentheses). Pick the currency from the dropdown, or use a custom format for others. In Google Sheets, use Format → Number → Custom currency.
How do you show a currency symbol that isn’t on your keyboard?
Use its Alt code on Windows (₹ is Alt + 8377, ₩ is Alt + 8361), the Mac Character Viewer, or Insert → Special characters in Google Docs. In a spreadsheet, choose the currency from the format dropdown. Or simply copy it from a symbol tool.
What are the Unicode and HTML codes for common currency symbols?
€ is U+20AC (€), £ is U+00A3 (£), ¥ is U+00A5 (¥), ¢ is U+00A2 (¢), ₹ is U+20B9 (₹) and $ is U+0024.
Recap
- Type it: € Alt + 0128, £ 0163, ¥ 0165, ₹ 8377 (keypad); Mac Option + 2/3/Y; or copy above.
- Label it: add the ISO code (USD, EUR, GBP) on international invoices, especially the total.
- Place it: US/UK symbol-first ($1,250.00); much of Europe after with a space (1 250,00 €).
- In sheets: use Currency or Accounting format; Accounting lines the symbols up.
Written by Igor R.. Tested on Windows 11, macOS, iOS, Android, Excel, Google Sheets, Word and Google Docs. Last updated July 2026. Symbol code points follow the Unicode Standard.