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.

Table of Contents

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