To insert pound sign in Word, open Insert → Symbol → More Symbols and select £, or type 00A3 and press Alt + X. The Unicode route is faster once the code is in your head, and the same conversion works when you insert tick marks in Word.
In this guide, you’ll learn 2 easy methods to insert pound sign in Word, why £ hides under Latin-1 Supplement rather than Currency Symbols, and the keyboard shortcuts that work when your layout has no £ key.
What Is the Pound Sign in Word?
The British pound sign is £, and its Unicode value is U+00A3. It sits in the Latin-1 Supplement block rather than the Currency Symbols block — which is exactly why most people cannot find it when they go looking under Currency Symbols in the Symbol window.
Three routes get it into a document:
- The Symbol menu, when you want to see the character before committing to it.
00A3followed by Alt + X, when you want speed.- Copy and paste, once £ already exists somewhere in the file.
Watch the Video Tutorial
If you prefer to see this in action, the full video walkthrough is below, showing each method step by step.
How to Insert Pound Sign in Word: Step-by-Step
Method 1 uses the Symbol window and takes about fifteen seconds. Method 2 uses the Unicode code and takes about two. Learn Method 2 if £ appears more than once in your work.
Method 1: How to Insert Pound Sign in Word Using the Symbol Menu
Use the Symbol menu when you want to browse the available characters and confirm you have the right one before inserting it.
Open the Symbol Menu
- Place the cursor where £ should appear.
- Open the Insert tab.
- Select Symbol.
👉 Word keeps recently used characters in this short list. If £ is already there, select it and you are finished.
Find the Pound Sign in More Symbols
- Select More Symbols.
- Check that from is set to Unicode (hex).
- Open the Subset list and select Latin-1 Supplement.
- Select £ — the Character code box should read
00A3. - Select Insert, then Close.
👉 Word inserts £ at the cursor. Checking the character code before you insert is worth the extra second — several similar-looking characters sit nearby in the same subset.
Copy and Paste the Pound Sign
Once £ is in the document, select it and press Ctrl + C, then Ctrl + V wherever else you need it. Faster than reopening the Symbol window each time, and the character keeps the formatting of wherever you paste it.
Method 2: How to Insert Pound Sign in Word with Unicode 00A3
This is the fast way to insert pound sign in Word. Rather than opening any menu, you type the Unicode value straight into the document and let Word convert it.
- Place the cursor where £ should appear.
- Type
00A3with no spaces. - Leave the cursor immediately after the code.
- Press Alt + X.
👉 00A3 becomes £. Press Alt + X again to toggle it back to the code if you need to check it.
This conversion works for any Unicode character, not just currency — the same technique handles maths notation, as in how to type a square root symbol in Word.
Keyboard Shortcuts for the Pound Sign
If you type £ constantly, skip Word’s menus entirely:
- UK keyboard layout: press Shift + 3.
- Any Windows layout: hold Alt and type 0163 on the numeric keypad with Num Lock on.
- Mac: press Option + 3.
On a US layout, Shift + 3 produces # rather than £ — that is a keyboard layout difference, not a Word problem.
Which Method Should You Use?
| Approach | Best For | What You Do |
|---|---|---|
| Method 1 — Symbol menu | Finding and verifying the character | Insert → Symbol → More Symbols → Latin-1 Supplement |
| Method 2 — Unicode 00A3 | Regular use, no menus | Type 00A3, press Alt + X |
| Keyboard shortcut | Typing £ every day | Shift + 3 on a UK layout, or Alt + 0163 |
Best choice: Method 2. One code, no menus, and it works on every keyboard layout regardless of where you are.
Common Problems When Inserting the Pound Sign
You Cannot Find £ Under Currency Symbols
It is not there. The pound sign lives in Latin-1 Supplement, alongside the accented European letters. The Currency Symbols subset only holds the newer signs added later, such as ₹ and ₱. Change the Subset list and £ appears.
Alt + X Does Not Convert the Code
Check for a space between the code and the shortcut, and make sure the cursor sits directly after the final 3. The two leading zeros matter — A3 alone converts to a different character entirely.
The Wrong Character Appears
A neighbouring letter or number was pulled into the conversion. Word reads backwards from the cursor and hexadecimal codes use the letters A to F, so a preceding “a”, “b” or “c” gets absorbed. Select only 00A3 before pressing Alt + X.
Pressing Shift + 3 Types a Hash
Your keyboard is set to a US layout, where that key produces #. Either use Alt + 0163 on the numeric keypad, or switch the layout in Windows under Settings → Time & language → Language & region.
Pro Tips for Inserting the Pound Sign
- Use a non-breaking space (Ctrl + Shift + Space) between £ and a figure so they never split across a line break.
- Build an AutoCorrect entry if you type £ daily — and if Word starts changing things you did not ask it to, see how to turn off AutoCorrect in Word.
- £ exists in every standard Windows font, so it will not turn into an empty box the way newer currency signs sometimes do.
- Latin-1 Supplement is worth remembering — it also holds €, ¢, ¥, © and the accented characters.
- Keep
00A3to hand until it sticks. It is the only thing you need to memorise.
FAQs
How do I insert pound sign in Word?
To insert pound sign in Word, open Insert → Symbol → More Symbols, choose the Latin-1 Supplement subset and select £, or type 00A3 and press Alt + X.
What is the Unicode code for the British pound sign?
The British pound sign is Unicode U+00A3. In Word, type 00A3 without the U+ prefix, then press Alt + X.
What is the keyboard shortcut for the pound sign?
On a UK layout press Shift + 3. On any Windows layout hold Alt and type 0163 on the numeric keypad with Num Lock on.
Why can’t I find the pound sign under Currency Symbols?
£ sits in the Latin-1 Supplement subset, not Currency Symbols. Currency Symbols holds the signs added to Unicode later, such as ₹ and ₱.
Why does Shift + 3 give me a hash instead of £?
Your keyboard is using a US layout, where that key produces #. Use Alt + 0163 instead, or switch the layout in Windows language settings.
Can I copy and paste the pound sign in Word?
Yes. Select £, press Ctrl + C, then Ctrl + V wherever you need it. The character adopts the formatting of its new location.
How do I type the pound sign in Word for Mac?
Press Option + 3. Word for Mac does not support the Alt + X conversion, so use the shortcut or the Symbol menu.
Is the pound sign the same as the hash symbol?
No. £ is the British currency sign at U+00A3. The # symbol is separately called the pound sign in American usage, which is why searches for the two get confused.
Conclusion
To insert pound sign in Word, type 00A3 and press Alt + X. If you would rather see the character first, take the Symbol window route and look under Latin-1 Supplement — not Currency Symbols, which is where most people waste their time.
Learn the one code and you will never open the Symbol window for £ again. For everything else worth committing to muscle memory, keep the Microsoft Word Keyboard Shortcuts Cheat Sheet to hand.
Related Tutorials
- How to Insert Peso Sign in Word: 2 Easy Methods
- How to Insert Tick Marks in Word: 3 Easy Methods
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