Math Symbols on Keyboard (Windows & Mac) + Alt Codes

Math symbols are characters like ±, √, π, ∞, ≤ and ∑. People use them for homework, Microsoft Word documents, Excel formulas, Google Docs, science notes, and coding.

Need to type any of these maths symbols? Here are some quick ways.

1-Minute Answer (fastest ways)

Windows (fastest)

• Alt codes (best if you have a numeric keypad): Hold Alt → type the code on the numpad → release Alt. (Turn Num Lock on.) Alt codes for these maths symbols are provided in the Alt codes section.
• Symbol panel: Press Win + . (or Win + ;) → Symbols → click the symbol.
• Copy/paste: Copy from the tool below and paste anywhere.

Mac (fastest)

• Character Viewer: Press Control + Command + Space → search by name (example: “square root”, “pi”, “infinity”) → double-click to insert.
• Option shortcuts (examples): ≠ = Option + =, ÷ = Option + / (shortcuts can vary by keyboard layout).

Microsoft Word (Windows + Mac)

• Insert Symbol: Insert → Symbol → More Symbols.
• Unicode method (Word): Type the code → press Alt + X (example: type 221A, then Alt+X → √).

Google Docs

• Insert → Special characters → search by name (example: “square root”, “pi”, “infinity”, “not equal”).

Phone (iPhone / Android)

• Use the symbols keyboard and press-and-hold for variations. If you can’t find it, copy/paste from the tool.

Quick Reference (most common symbols)

Quick Reference (8–12 most common math symbols)

• ± (plus-minus) — Windows: Alt+0177 (numpad) • Mac: Character Viewer (“plus minus”) • Word: 00B1 then Alt+X
• × (multiplication) — Windows: Alt+0215 (numpad) • Mac: Character Viewer (“multiplication”) • Word: 00D7 then Alt+X
• ÷ (division) — Windows: Alt+0247 (numpad) • Mac: Option + / (or Character Viewer) • Word: 00F7 then Alt+X
• √ (square root) — Windows: Win + . → Symbols (or copy/paste) • Mac: Character Viewer (“square root”) • Word: 221A then Alt+X
• π (pi) — Windows: Win + . → Symbols (or copy/paste) • Mac: Character Viewer (“pi”) • Word: 03C0 then Alt+X
• ∞ (infinity) — Windows: Win + . → Symbols (or copy/paste) • Mac: Character Viewer (“infinity”) • Word: 221E then Alt+X
• ≠ (not equal) — Windows: Win + . → Symbols (or copy/paste) • Mac: Option + = (or Character Viewer) • Word: 2260 then Alt+X
• ≤ (less than or equal) — Windows: Win + . → Symbols (or copy/paste) • Mac: Character Viewer (“less than or equal”) • Word: 2264 then Alt+X
• ≥ (greater than or equal) — Windows: Win + . → Symbols (or copy/paste) • Mac: Character Viewer (“greater than or equal”) • Word: 2265 then Alt+X
• ≈ (approximately equal) — Windows: Win + . → Symbols (or copy/paste) • Mac: Character Viewer (“approximately equal”) • Word: 2248 then Alt+X
• ° (degree) — Windows: Alt+0176 (numpad) • Mac: Character Viewer (“degree”) • Word: 00B0 then Alt+X
• ∑ (summation) — Windows: Win + . → Symbols (or copy/paste) • Mac: Character Viewer (“summation”) • Word: 2211 then Alt+X

Windows: Type math symbols (best methods)

Method 1: Alt codes (Windows)

Alt codes work on Windows with a numeric keypad. You must type the numbers on the numpad (not the number row above the letters).

1. Turn on Num Lock.
2. Click where you want the symbol.
3. Hold Alt.
4. Type the code using the numpad.
5. Release Alt.

Laptop without a numpad? Many laptops don’t support Alt codes the usual way. Try one of these instead:

• Win + . symbol panel
• Character Map
• Copy/paste from the tool on this page
• External USB keypad (simple fix if you use Alt codes a lot)

Common Windows Alt codes (numpad):

• Alt+0177 = ±
• Alt+0215 = ×
• Alt+0247 = ÷
• Alt+0176 = °
• Alt+0188 = ¼
• Alt+0189 = ½
• Alt+0190 = ¾

Method 2: Windows symbol panel (Win + .)

1. Press Win + . (or Win + ;).
2. Choose Symbols.
3. Click the symbol to insert it.

Method 3: Character Map (built-in)

1. Open Start and search Character Map.
2. Choose a font (try a common symbol-friendly font).
3. Click the symbol → Select → Copy.
4. Paste into your document.

Mac: Type math symbols

Method 1: Character Viewer (best for any symbol)

1. Click where you want the symbol.
2. Press Control + Command + Space.
3. Search by name (example: “square root”, “infinity”, “less than or equal”).
4. Double-click the symbol to insert it.

Method 2: Option shortcuts (mini list)

• ≠ = Option + =
• ÷ = Option + /

If a shortcut doesn’t work, use Character Viewer (keyboard layouts differ).

Microsoft Word (Windows + Mac)

Method 1: Insert → Symbol

1. Go to Insert → Symbol → More Symbols.
2. Look under subsets like Mathematical Operators.
3. Select your symbol → Insert.

Method 2: Unicode + Alt+X (Word-only method)

Type the code, then press Alt + X.

• 00B1 → ±
• 00D7 → ×
• 00F7 → ÷
• 221A → √
• 03C0 → π
• 221E → ∞
• 2260 → ≠
• 2264 → ≤
• 2265 → ≥
• 2248 → ≈
• 00B0 → °
• 2211 → ∑

Note: Some symbol input methods work best inside Word only. If something works in Word but not elsewhere, use copy/paste or your device’s symbol picker.

Excel / Google Sheets

Windows Alt codes (if you have a numpad)

Alt codes can work in cells for common characters, but not every math symbol has a reliable Alt code in every app.

CHAR() examples (common symbols)

• =CHAR(177) → ±
• =CHAR(176) → °
• =CHAR(215) → ×
• =CHAR(247) → ÷
• =CHAR(189) → ½

UNICHAR() examples (more math symbols)

• =UNICHAR(8730) → √
• =UNICHAR(960) → π
• =UNICHAR(8734) → ∞
• =UNICHAR(8800) → ≠
• =UNICHAR(8804) → ≤
• =UNICHAR(8805) → ≥
• =UNICHAR(8776) → ≈
• =UNICHAR(8721) → ∑

Insert Symbol (Excel desktop)

Use Insert → Symbol and select your math symbol.

Google Docs

1. Go to Insert → Special characters.
2. Search by name, for example:
   • square root
   • pi
   • infinity
   • not equal
   • less than or equal
   • greater than or equal
   • approximately equal
3. Click the symbol to insert it.

iPhone / Android (brief)

• Open the symbols keyboard (often 123 then #+=).
• Try press-and-hold for extra symbol options.
• If you can’t find it, use copy/paste from the tool.

Most searched math symbols (mini guides)

± Plus-minus

• Windows: Alt+0177 (numpad) or Win + .
• Mac: Character Viewer → search “plus minus”
• Word: 00B1 then Alt+X
• Google Docs: Insert → Special characters → search “plus minus”

× Multiplication sign

• Windows: Alt+0215 (numpad) or Win + .
• Mac: Character Viewer → search “multiplication”
• Word: 00D7 then Alt+X
• Google Docs: search “multiplication”

÷ Division sign

• Windows: Alt+0247 (numpad) or Win + .
• Mac: Option + / (or Character Viewer)
• Word: 00F7 then Alt+X
• Google Docs: search “division”

√ Square root

• Windows: Win + . or copy/paste
• Mac: Character Viewer → search “square root”
• Word: 221A then Alt+X
• Google Docs: search “square root”

π Pi

• Windows: Win + . or copy/paste
• Mac: Character Viewer → search “pi”
• Word: 03C0 then Alt+X
• Google Docs: search “pi”

∞ Infinity

• Windows: Win + . or copy/paste
• Mac: Character Viewer → search “infinity”
• Word: 221E then Alt+X
• Google Docs: search “infinity”

≠ Not equal

• Windows: Win + . or copy/paste
• Mac: Option + = (or Character Viewer)
• Word: 2260 then Alt+X
• Google Docs: search “not equal”

≤ Less than or equal

• Windows: Win + . or copy/paste
• Mac: Character Viewer → search “less than or equal”
• Word: 2264 then Alt+X
• Google Docs: search “less than or equal”

≥ Greater than or equal

• Windows: Win + . or copy/paste
• Mac: Character Viewer → search “greater than or equal”
• Word: 2265 then Alt+X
• Google Docs: search “greater than or equal”

≈ Approximately equal

• Windows: Win + . or copy/paste
• Mac: Character Viewer → search “approximately equal”
• Word: 2248 then Alt+X
• Google Docs: search “approximately equal”

∑ Summation

• Windows: Win + . or copy/paste
• Mac: Character Viewer → search “summation”
• Word: 2211 then Alt+X
• Google Docs: search “summation”

° Degree

• Windows: Alt+0176 (numpad) or Win + .
• Mac: Character Viewer → search “degree”
• Word: 00B0 then Alt+X
• Google Docs: search “degree”

Curated cheat-sheet tables

Table 1: Basic operations

Symbol	Name	Word (Unicode → Alt+X)
+	Plus	002B
−	Minus	2212
±	Plus-minus	00B1
×	Multiplication	00D7
÷	Division	00F7
=	Equals	003D
·	Middle dot	00B7
∕	Division slash	2215
%	Percent	0025
‰	Per mille	2030
∗	Asterisk operator	2217
!	Factorial	0021

Table 2: Comparison / equality

Symbol	Name	Word (Unicode → Alt+X)
≠	Not equal	2260
≤	Less than or equal	2264
≥	Greater than or equal	2265
≈	Approximately equal	2248
≡	Identical to	2261
∝	Proportional to	221D

Table 3: Fractions + superscripts

Symbol	Name	Word (Unicode → Alt+X)
¼	One quarter	00BC
½	One half	00BD
¾	Three quarters	00BE
²	Superscript 2	00B2
³	Superscript 3	00B3
ⁿ	Superscript n	207F

Table 4: Greek letters used in math/science (tight list)

Symbol	Name	Word (Unicode → Alt+X)
π	pi	03C0
Δ	delta (capital)	0394
Ω	omega (capital)	03A9
µ	mu / micro	00B5

Table 5: Calculus / set / geometry (tight list)

Symbol	Name	Word (Unicode → Alt+X)
∂	Partial derivative	2202
∫	Integral	222B
∑	Summation	2211
∏	Product	220F
∈	Element of	2208
∉	Not an element of	2209
∩	Intersection	2229
∪	Union	222A
∅	Empty set	2205
∠	Angle	2220
⟂	Perpendicular	27C2

Troubleshooting

Alt codes not working

• Your keyboard may not have a numpad.
• Num Lock may be off.
• You may be using the top number row instead of the numpad.
• Use Win + ., Character Map, or copy/paste from the tool instead.

Works in Word but not elsewhere

• Some methods are Word-only (example: Unicode code → Alt + X).
• For other apps, use the symbol picker or copy/paste.

Can’t find a symbol in Google Docs

• Insert → Special characters → search by full names like “less than or equal”, “approximately equal”, “square root”.

Mac shortcuts not working

• Keyboard layouts differ. Use Character Viewer and search by name.

FAQ

What are Alt codes?

Alt codes are a Windows method where you hold Alt and type numbers on the numeric keypad to insert a character.

Why do some Alt codes work only in Word?

Some “codes” and shortcuts are tied to Word-only features (like Unicode → Alt+X). Other programs may not support the same behavior.

How do I type math symbols on Mac?

Use Character Viewer: Control + Command + Space, then search by name.

How do I type √ / π / ∞ / ≤ / ≥ in Word and Google Docs?

• Word: type the Unicode then press Alt + X (example: 221A → √).
• Google Docs: Insert → Special characters → search the symbol name.

Quick recap

• Windows: Alt codes (numpad) or Win + . symbol panel, or copy/paste.
• Mac: Character Viewer (search by name).
• Word: Insert → Symbol or Unicode → Alt+X.