The black square ■ is a solid filled square used as a bullet, a legend marker or a diagram element. Type 25A0 then Alt+X in Word. Smaller and larger variants exist, and the emoji version at U+2B1B is a different character that renders in colour.
01 All shortcuts at a glance
| Platform | Shortcut | |
|---|---|---|
| Windows (any app) | Win+. or Win+; emoji/symbol picker, or Character Map (Win+R → charmap) |
|
| Mac | Control+Command+Space to open Character Viewer, search "Black Square" |
|
| Word / Outlook | Type 25A0, then press Alt+X |
|
| Linux (IBus) | Ctrl+Shift+U, then 25a0, then Enter |
|
| HTML / CSS | ■ · \25a0 (CSS) |
02 Step by step, per platform
A real, followable procedure for every platform, not a thin restatement of the shortcut.
Windows
- Open Character Map: Win+R, type charmap, press Enter.
- Search or scroll for Black Square (U+25A0).
- Select it, click Copy, then paste where you need it.
Mac
- Press Control+Command+Space to open the Character Viewer.
- Type "Black Square" in the search field.
- Double-click the result to insert it.
Microsoft Word
- Type 25A0.
- Press Alt+X immediately after, it converts the hex code to ■.
03 Characters in this set
04 Troubleshooting & confusables
| Looks like it | But it's actually | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| ⬛ (U+2B1B) | Black large square, usually shown as an emoji | For a coloured emoji block that ignores the surrounding text colour. |
| ▪ (U+25AA) | Black small square | A smaller filled square, better sized for use as an inline list bullet. |
| █ (U+2588) | Full block, a box-drawing character | For solid fills in terminal graphics, where it tiles with no gaps. |
05 FAQ
What is the Unicode code point for the black square?
It is U+25A0, decimal 9632. There is no Windows Alt code for it.
Which size should I use as a bullet?
The small square at U+25AA usually sits better beside text. The standard black square is often too heavy for a list marker.
Why does an empty box appear instead?
That is a missing-glyph placeholder, sometimes called tofu, meaning the font lacks the character. It is not the same as the white square, which is a real shape.
How do I get a solid block with no gaps?
Use the full block at U+2588 from the block elements range. Box-drawing characters are designed to tile seamlessly, which the geometric square is not.
Can I colour it with CSS?
Yes, the text-colour property applies, since it is an ordinary glyph. The emoji square at U+2B1B ignores colour on most platforms.