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Less Than or Equal To Symbol (≤): How to Type It on Any Keyboard (Windows, Mac, Word, Excel, Google Docs + Phone)

The less than or equal to symbol looks like this: ≤.

It’s used in maths and logic to mean:

  • less than (<)
  • or equal to (=)

So if you see x ≤ 10, it means x is 10 or less.

In this guide, you’ll learn all the reliable ways to type ≤ on Windows, Mac, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Google Docs, and phones — plus the Unicode and HTML codes for websites and coding.

Quick copy (fastest way)

Less Than or Equal To (≤) – Copy, Shortcuts & Codes

Click any button to copy the symbol, shortcut, or code. The “Copied!” tip appears above the button you clicked.

≤
Main Symbol
Means less than or equal to (example: x ≤ 10).
Related symbols (often used together)
Tip: Use ≤ when “equal” is allowed. If you only mean “strictly less than,” use <.

Quick Methods (How to type ≤)

Pick the method that matches your device or app. You can copy any shortcut below.

Windows Alt Code
Alt + 243
Mac Shortcut
Option + <
Word “Alt + X”
2264 + Alt + X → ≤
Google Docs
Insert → Special characters → “less than or equal”
Windows (Backup)
Character Map → copy ≤
Phone (Fastest)
Copy ≤ from this widget

Unicode + HTML Codes

Use these if you’re adding ≤ to a website, HTML block, or code editor.

Unicode
U+2264
HTML Decimal
&#8804;
HTML Hex
&#x2264;
HTML Entity Name
&le;

Paste:

  • Windows: Ctrl + V
  • Mac: Command + V
  • Phone: tap and hold → Paste

What does “≤” mean? (Beginner explanation)

The symbol ≤ combines two ideas:

  • < means “less than”
  • = means “equal to”

So ≤ means “less than or equal to.”

Examples:

  • 5 ≤ 5 (true, because they are equal)
  • 3 ≤ 5 (true, because 3 is smaller)
  • 9 ≤ 5 (false, because 9 is larger)

You’ll often see it in:

  • school maths (inequalities)
  • spreadsheets (“price ≤ 100”)
  • rules and conditions (“age ≤ 18”)

Method 1: Windows Alt code (type ≤ using the numeric keypad)

On Windows, Alt codes let you type symbols by holding Alt and typing numbers on the numeric keypad (the number pad on the right side of the keyboard).

Alt code for ≤

Alt + 243

Steps:

  1. Click where you want the symbol.
  2. Make sure Num Lock is ON.
  3. Hold down Alt.
  4. Type 243 on the numeric keypad.
  5. Release Alt → ≤ appears.

Beginner note: If your laptop doesn’t have a numeric keypad, this method may not work. Use Method 3 (Word Alt+X), Method 6 (Character Map), or copy/paste.

Method 2: Mac shortcut (fastest on Mac)

Mac has built-in keyboard shortcuts for many math symbols. For ≤, the shortcut is:

Option (⌥) + <

Steps:

  1. Click where you want the symbol.
  2. Hold Option (⌥).
  3. Press the , key (comma).
    • On many keyboards, Shift + , is <, so macOS uses the “less than key” for this shortcut.
  4. You get ≤.

If that doesn’t work: use Method 5 (Character Viewer), which works on every Mac.

Method 3: Microsoft Word “Alt + X” Unicode method (best for Word)

Microsoft Word can convert Unicode codes into symbols. You type the code and press Alt + X, and Word changes it into the symbol.

Unicode for ≤ is:

2264

Steps:

  1. In Word, type 2264
  2. Press Alt + X
  3. It converts into ≤

Why this is great:

  • Works on laptops
  • Very fast in Word
  • No menus needed

Method 4: Insert ≤ in Word (menu method)

If you prefer menus instead of shortcuts:

  1. Click where you want the symbol.
  2. Go to Insert → Symbol → More Symbols
  3. Find ≤
  4. Click Insert

Tip: After inserting once, it usually appears in “recent symbols.”

Method 5: Mac Character Viewer (most reliable Mac method)

Character Viewer lets you search and insert symbols by name.

  1. Click where you want the symbol.
  2. Press Control + Command + Space
  3. Search less than or equal
  4. Click ≤ to insert it.

Method 6: Windows Character Map (reliable for any app)

Character Map is a built-in Windows tool that lets you copy symbols.

  1. Click Start and search Character Map
  2. Open it
  3. Find ≤
  4. Click Select → Copy
  5. Paste it where you need it

Tip: If you can’t find it, try a font like Arial or Segoe UI Symbol.

Method 7: Google Docs (Insert → Special characters)

  1. Click where you want the symbol.
  2. Go to Insert → Special characters
  3. Search for less than or equal
  4. Click ≤

Method 8: Excel (easy ways)

Option A: Copy/paste (fastest)

Copy ≤ from this page and paste into your cell or formula.

Option B: Insert Symbol

  1. Click the cell.
  2. Go to Insert → Symbol
  3. Find ≤
  4. Click Insert

Method 9: iPhone and Android

Fastest method: Copy/paste

Copy: ≤
Paste into any app.

Pro tip: Create a shortcut

  • iPhone: Settings → General → Keyboard → Text Replacement
    • Shortcut: le → Phrase: ≤
  • Android: Add a shortcut in your keyboard’s dictionary
    • Shortcut: le → ≤

Unicode + HTML codes for ≤ (for websites and coding)

  • Symbol: ≤
  • Unicode: U+2264
  • HTML decimal: &#8804;
  • HTML hex: &#x2264;
  • HTML entity name: &le;

Common problems (quick fixes)

“My Alt code didn’t work”

Usually because:

  • Num Lock is off
  • You didn’t use the numeric keypad
  • Your laptop has no number pad

Fix: Use Word Alt+X (2264), Character Map, or copy/paste.

“I typed < but need ≤”

  • < means strictly less than
  • ≤ means less than or equal to

Best method summary (easy to remember)

  • Windows: Alt + 243
  • Mac: Option + <
  • Word: 2264 + Alt + X
  • Google Docs: Insert → Special characters → search
  • Phone: Copy/paste (or text replacement)

Related Math Symbols