How to Type the Approximately Equal To Symbol (≈) on Keyboard (Windows & Mac)

The approximately equal to symbol (≈) means “about” or “close to, but not exactly equal.”
People also call it the squiggly equals sign or almost equal to sign.

You’ll see ≈ in math, science, engineering, and everyday writing when you want to show an estimate.

Examples:

• 3.14 ≈ π
• 50 ≈ “about 50”

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1-Minute Answer (fastest ways to type this symbol)

Windows (fastest)

• Alt code: Hold Alt and type 247 on the numeric keypad → ≈
  (If Alt+247 gives you ÷ instead, use the Word method below or Win + .)
• Windows symbol panel: Press Win + . (or Win + ;) → Symbols → Math → choose ≈
• Copy/paste: Copy ≈ from this page → paste with Ctrl + V

Mac (fastest)

• Keyboard shortcut: Press Option + X → ≈
• Character Viewer: Press Control + Command + Space → search approx → insert ≈

Word / Excel / PowerPoint (fastest)

• Insert → Symbol (works in all three apps)
• Word bonus (super fast): Type 2248, then press Alt + X → ≈

Google Docs + Google Sheets (fastest)

• Google Docs: Insert → Special characters → search almost equal → insert ≈
• Google Sheets: easiest is copy/paste (Sheets doesn’t have the same picker as Docs)

iPhone + Android (fastest)

• Best option: copy & paste ≈
• Optional: create a text shortcut like “approx” → “≈”

Chromebook (short)

• Best option: copy & paste
• Optional Unicode input (if supported): Ctrl + Shift + U, type 2248, press Enter

You can also copy this symbol from the tool below and paste it anywhere.

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Quick Reference Table (≈ and the common look-alikes)

Symbol	Name	Meaning (simple)	Windows method	Mac method	App notes (Word/Docs)
≈	Approximately equal to	“about / close to”	Alt+247 (numpad) or Win+. → Symbols → Math	Option+X	Word: 2248 + Alt+X; Docs: Insert → Special characters
≃	Asymptotically equal / Similar to	“roughly similar” (math)	Win+. → Symbols → Math or Character Map	Character Viewer search “similar”	Word: 2243 + Alt+X; Docs special characters
≅	Approximately equal / Congruent to	“congruent” or “approx equal”	Win+. → Symbols → Math or Character Map	Character Viewer search “congruent”	Word: 2245 + Alt+X; Docs special characters
≒	Approximately equal / Image of	another “approx” relation	Win+. → Symbols → Math or Character Map	Character Viewer search “approx”	Word: 2252 + Alt+X; Docs special characters
~	Tilde	informal “about” / “around” (not ≈)	Often Shift + ` (varies by keyboard)	Varies by layout	Not the same as ≈
=	Equals	exactly equal	on keyboard	on keyboard	Used in formulas/calculations

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Step-by-step: How to type Approximately Equal symbol on every device/app

A) Windows

Method 1: Alt code (Alt + 247)

1. Click where you want the symbol.
2. Hold down the Alt key.
3. Type 247 using the numeric keypad (numpad).
4. Release Alt → ≈

If Alt+247 gives you ÷ instead of ≈:
Use one of these reliable options:

• Win + . → Symbols → Math
• Word: type 2248, then press Alt + X

Method 2: Windows Emoji/Symbol panel (Win + .)

1. Click where you want the symbol.
2. Press Win + . (or Win + ;).
3. Click Symbols.
4. Choose Math.
5. Click ≈ to insert it.

Method 3: Character Map

1. Open Start and search Character Map.
2. Open Character Map.
3. If you see it, tick Advanced view.
4. In the search box, try:
   • approximately
   • approx
   • almost equal
5. Click the symbol → Select → Copy → paste where you need it.

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B) Mac

Method 1: Keyboard shortcut (fastest)

• Press Option + X → ≈

Method 2: Character Viewer (Control + Command + Space)

1. Click where you want the symbol.
2. Press Control + Command + Space.
3. Search approx or approximately equal.
4. Double-click ≈ to insert.

Tip: Add it to Favorites

1. Open Character Viewer and search approx.
2. Click ≈ once.
3. Choose Add to Favorites (or drag it into Favorites depending on your macOS version).
4. Next time, open Favorites and insert it in one click.

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C) Microsoft Word

Method 1: Insert → Symbol

1. Go to Insert → Symbol → More Symbols.
2. Look for a subset like Mathematical Operators.
3. Select ≈ → click Insert.

Method 2: Word “2248 + Alt+X” (very fast)

1. Type 2248
2. Press Alt + X
3. Word converts it to ≈

You can also do the look-alikes in Word:

• Type 2243 then Alt+X → ≃
• Type 2245 then Alt+X → ≅
• Type 2252 then Alt+X → ≒

Method 3 (optional): Equation shortcut

1. Insert an equation: Insert → Equation (or press Alt + =).
2. Type \approx
3. Press Space → ≈

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D) Excel

Method 1: Insert → Symbol

1. Click the cell where you want ≈.
2. Go to Insert → Symbol.
3. Find ≈ (often under math symbols) and insert it.

Note about Excel formulas

Excel uses = for formulas. It does not use ≈ to calculate anything.
People usually use ≈ in Excel for:

• notes
• labels
• explanations (example: “Total ≈ 10,000”)

CHAR() method?

Excel’s CHAR() is not a reliable universal method for ≈ across systems/fonts, so it’s better to use:

• Insert → Symbol
• copy/paste
• or the Windows symbol panel (Win + .)

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E) PowerPoint

1. Click in a text box.
2. Go to Insert → Symbol.
3. Select ≈ and insert it.

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F) Google Docs + Google Sheets

Google Docs: Insert → Special characters

1. Click where you want the symbol.
2. Go to Insert → Special characters.
3. Search almost equal or approximately equal.
4. Click ≈ to insert.

Google Sheets

Sheets is easiest with copy & paste:

1. Copy ≈ from this page.
2. Paste into your cell.

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G) iPhone + Android

Best method: copy & paste

1. Copy ≈ from the Copy & Paste section above.
2. Tap and hold in your app.
3. Tap Paste.

Optional: create a text shortcut (recommended)

If you type approx often, set a shortcut so it turns into ≈ automatically.

• iPhone: Settings → General → Keyboard → Text Replacement
• Android: depends on your keyboard, but look for Personal dictionary or Text shortcuts

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H) Chromebook (short)

Option 1: Copy & paste (best)

Copy ≈ and paste it into your document, email, or spreadsheet.

Option 2: Unicode input (if supported)

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + U
2. Type 2248
3. Press Enter → ≈

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Common confusion (≈ vs ~ vs = vs ≅/≃)

≈ vs ~ (tilde)

• ≈ = approximately equal to (math/technical)
• ~ = tilde (often used informally to mean “about”)

Examples:

• 3.14 ≈ π
• ~50 (informal “about 50”)

≈ vs = (equals)

• = means exactly equal
• ≈ means close, but not exact

Example:

• π = 3.14159265…
• 3.14 ≈ π

≈ vs ≅ or ≃

These look similar but are used differently in math:

• ≈: approximately equal (most common)
• ≅: often “congruent” in geometry (can also mean approximate equivalence in some contexts)
• ≃: similar / asymptotically equal (more advanced math)

If you’re not sure which one to use, ≈ is usually the right choice.

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Troubleshooting

“I can’t find it in Character Map / Special characters”

Try searching:

• approx
• approximately
• almost equal
• congruent
• similar

Also try switching fonts (some fonts show more symbols than others).

“Alt code isn’t working”

Common reasons:

• You’re not using the numeric keypad
• Your laptop needs Num Lock on
• You’re typing the numbers on the top row (that often won’t work)

Fix: use Win + ., Character Map, or Word: 2248 + Alt+X.

“It shows as a box (□)”

That’s usually a font issue.

• Change the font to a common one that supports math symbols (many do).
• If it’s in Office, try a different font and re-check.

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FAQ

What is the squiggly equals sign called?

It’s most commonly called the approximately equal to symbol (≈).

How do I type ≈ on Windows?

Try Alt + 247 (numeric keypad). If that doesn’t work, use Win + . → Symbols → Math or copy/paste.

How do I type ≈ on Mac?

Press Option + X.

Is ≈ the same as ~?

No. ≈ is a math symbol meaning approximate equality. ~ is tilde and is often used informally.

What does ≈ mean in math?

It means two values are close, but not exactly equal.

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Quick recap

• Fastest overall: copy/paste ≈
• Windows: Alt+247 (numpad) or Win + . → Symbols → Math
• Mac: Option + X
• Word: 2248 + Alt+X
• Google Docs: Insert → Special characters → search “almost equal”