The pound sign £ is Alt+0163 on Windows and Option+3 on a Mac. On a UK keyboard it has its own position at Shift+3. It marks the pound sterling, and the shape is a stylised capital L from libra, the Roman unit of weight that also gave us the abbreviation lb.
01 All shortcuts at a glance
| Platform | Shortcut | |
|---|---|---|
| Windows (Alt code) | Hold Alt, type 0163 on the numpad |
|
| Windows (any app) | Win+. or Win+; emoji/symbol picker, or Character Map (Win+R → charmap) |
|
| Mac | Control+Command+Space to open Character Viewer, search "Pound Sterling Sign" |
|
| Word / Outlook | Type 00A3, then press Alt+X |
|
| Linux (IBus) | Ctrl+Shift+U, then 00a3, then Enter |
|
| HTML / CSS | £ · \00a3 (CSS) |
02 Step by step, per platform
A real, followable procedure for every platform, not a thin restatement of the shortcut.
Windows
- Make sure Num Lock is on.
- Hold Alt and type 0163 on the numeric keypad.
- Release Alt, £ appears.
Mac
- Press Control+Command+Space to open the Character Viewer.
- Type "Pound Sterling Sign" in the search field.
- Double-click the result to insert it.
Microsoft Word
- Type 00A3.
- 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+0023) | Number sign, also called the pound sign in America | The name collides. In British usage the pound sign always means the currency symbol. |
| ₤ (U+20A4) | Lira sign, with two crossbars | An older Italian currency symbol. It is not a variant of sterling. |
| £ with two bars | A font design choice, the same character | Some typefaces draw one crossbar and some draw two. Both are U+00A3. |
05 FAQ
What is the Unicode code point for the pound sign?
It is U+00A3, decimal 163. Alt+0163 types it on Windows.
Why does my keyboard type # instead of £?
You are on a US layout, where Shift+3 gives the hash. Switch the input language to English UK, or use Alt+0163 on Windows and Option+3 on a Mac.
Is the pound sign the same as the hash?
No. They are separate characters that share a name in American English, where # was read as "pounds" of weight. The currency symbol is £ at U+00A3, and the hash is # at U+0023.
Why does the symbol look like an L?
It is a capital L with a crossbar, from the Latin libra, meaning a pound in weight. The same word is behind the abbreviation lb and the old British shorthand £sd.
Where does the pound sign go in an amount?
In front of the figure with no space, as in £42.50. For a round sum you can drop the pence entirely, as in £42.