Short answer: On a Mac, press Option + 3. On Windows, press Alt + 0163 on the numeric keypad, or type 00A3 then Alt + X in Word. On a Chromebook or Linux, use Ctrl + Shift + U, then 00a3. On a phone, press and hold the $ key and slide to £. Or just copy it below.
A US keyboard has no dedicated £ key — that’s a UK-layout feature, where £ sits on Shift + 3 (the spot US keyboards give to #). But you don’t need a British keyboard to type it. Pick your device below.
Quick reference
| Platform | How to type £ |
|---|---|
| Mac | Option + 3 |
| Windows | Alt + 0163 (numeric keypad, Num Lock on) |
| Windows (Word) | 00A3 then Alt + X |
| Chromebook | Ctrl + Shift + U, then 00a3, then Enter |
| Linux | Ctrl + Shift + U, then 00a3 — or Compose, L, – |
| iPhone / Android | Press and hold the $ key, slide to £ |
| HTML | £ or £ |
| Unicode | U+00A3 |
“Pound sign” can mean two different things
Quick heads-up, because this trips people up: in the US, “pound sign” often means # — the key you “press pound” on a phone menu. The £ you’re probably here for is the pound sterling sign (British currency).
- Want £ (money)? Keep reading.
- Want # (hash / number sign)? On a US keyboard that’s simply Shift + 3.
Mac
Press Option + 3. It works in nearly every Mac app.
If you get a different symbol, your Mac is set to a non-US layout — on a UK layout, £ is Shift + 3. Check System Settings → Keyboard → Input Sources.
Alternative: open the Character Viewer with Ctrl + Cmd + Space, search “pound,” and double-click £.
Windows
Hold Alt and type 0163 on the numeric keypad with Num Lock on.
A few alternatives if that’s awkward:
- In Word: type 00A3, then press Alt + X.
- No numeric keypad (most laptops): copy £ above, use the Word method, or open the emoji/symbol panel with Win + . (period) and search “pound.” If the numbers do nothing, see our Alt codes not working guide.
- Type £ often? Add the United Kingdom keyboard (Settings → Time & Language → Language & region → add a keyboard), switch with Win + Space, and £ becomes Shift + 3.
Chromebook
Chromebooks use a Unicode shortcut:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + U. A small underlined u appears.
- Type 00a3.
- Press Enter (or Space). The £ appears.
If nothing happens, make sure you’re in a normal text field using the US keyboard input — some apps handle Unicode entry differently. Full walkthrough in our Chromebook symbols guide.
Linux
Two reliable methods on most Linux desktops (GNOME, KDE, and others):
- Unicode input: Press Ctrl + Shift + U, type 00a3, then press Enter or Space.
- Compose key: Press your Compose key, then L, then – (hyphen) → £. You may need to enable a Compose key first in your keyboard settings.
Exact behavior depends on your input method (IBus, Fcitx, etc.), but one of these two works on nearly every distro.
On a phone
The steps are nearly identical on iPhone and Android:
- Open the numbers/symbols keyboard (tap 123).
- Press and hold the $ (dollar) key.
- A popup shows other currencies — usually £ € ¥ ¢. Slide to £ and release.
The exact currencies in the popup can vary slightly by keyboard app (Gboard, SwiftKey, default iOS), but £ is almost always there.
Word, Google Docs, and the web
- Word: any method above, or Insert → Symbol.
- Google Docs: Insert → Special characters, then search “pound.”
- HTML: use the entity
£(or£). Both render as £.
Excel and Google Sheets
For actual money, don’t type the symbol as text — format the cell so the value stays numeric: Ctrl + 1 → Currency, then choose the £ (English, United Kingdom) symbol. The number stays a number you can calculate with.
For a literal £ in text, use Alt + 0163 or the formula =UNICHAR(163). UNICHAR is the more portable choice because it works straight from the Unicode code point; =CHAR(163) also returns £ in both Windows and Mac Excel, so either works for this particular symbol. (Same trick as our degree symbol in Excel guide.)
Examples
£20 · £9.99 · “the deposit is £500” · £1,250.00
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Shift + 3 gives me # instead of £ | That’s correct on a US layout — Shift + 3 is the hash/number sign. Use Option + 3 (Mac), Alt + 0163 (Windows), copy £, or switch to the UK layout. |
| Alt + 0163 does nothing | You need the numeric keypad with Num Lock on. On a laptop, copy £, use Word’s Alt + X, or try Win + . |
| Option + 3 gives a different symbol (Mac) | Your keyboard is set to a non-US layout (on a UK Mac, £ is Shift + 3). Check System Settings → Keyboard → Input Sources. |
| Ctrl + Shift + U doesn’t work (Chromebook/Linux) | Make sure you’re in a normal text field with a US input method; some apps and input systems don’t support Unicode entry. |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I type the pound sign on a US keyboard?
On a Mac, press Option + 3. On Windows, press Alt + 0163 on the numeric keypad with Num Lock turned on. In Microsoft Word, type 00A3 and then press Alt + X. You can also copy and paste the pound sign (£).
What is the Alt code for the pound sign?
Hold Alt and type 0163 on the numeric keypad with Num Lock turned on. Alt + 0163 inserts the pound sign (£).
How do I type £ on a Mac?
Press Option + 3. If you get a different symbol, your keyboard may be using a non-US layout. On many UK keyboard layouts, the pound sign is typed with Shift + 3.
How do I type the pound sign on my phone?
Open the numbers and symbols keyboard, then press and hold the $ key. A popup menu of currency symbols will appear—slide to £ and release.
Why does Shift + 3 give me # instead of £?
On a US keyboard layout, Shift + 3 types the # (hash or number sign). The £ symbol is on Shift + 3 only on a UK keyboard layout. Otherwise, use Option + 3 on a Mac, Alt + 0163 on Windows, or copy and paste £.
How do I type the pound sign in Excel?
For currency values, keep the cell numeric by pressing Ctrl + 1, choosing Currency, and selecting the £ symbol. For a literal pound sign, use Alt + 0163 or the formula =UNICHAR(163).
Recap
The fastest routes: Option + 3 on Mac, Alt + 0163 on Windows, Ctrl + Shift + U → 00a3 on Chromebook/Linux, or hold $ on a phone. For the web use £; for spreadsheet money, format the cell as £ currency.
Related Currency symbols: Euro € · Yen ¥ · Cent ¢ · Rupee ₹ · Peso ₱ · Bitcoin ₿ Up to the pillar: All Currency symbols → Need another symbol? Open the copy-and-paste tool →
Written by Igor R. Shortcuts tested on Windows 11, macOS, and iOS. Last updated July 2026. The pound sign is U+00A3 in the Unicode Standard.