Less Than or Equal To Symbol Copy and Paste (≤)
Less than or equal
Unicode U+2264 · HTML ≤ · Alt code Alt+243 · Mac Option+Comma
Tap any symbol to copy it. Each tap also adds it to the box above, so you can copy several together.
Codes for every symbol on this page (Unicode, HTML, Alt, Mac, Word)
| Symbol | Name | Unicode | HTML | Windows Alt code | Mac | MS Word |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ≤ | Less than or equal | U+2264 | ≤ | Alt+243 | Option+Comma | 2264 then Alt+X |
| ⩽ | Slanted equal version | U+2A7D | ⩽ | - | - | 2A7D then Alt+X |
| ≦ | Over equal version | U+2266 | ≦ | - | - | 2266 then Alt+X |
| <= | Typed form for Excel | U+003C U+003D | <= | - | - | - |
The less than or equal to symbol is ≤, and it means "this much or less". The statement x ≤ 10 tells you that x can be 10 or any number below 10. It is also called the less than equal to symbol or the smaller than equal to symbol.
Tap the copy box to grab ≤, or pick a variant from the grid. This page shows the Alt code, the Mac shortcut, the Word code and the Excel way of writing it, with examples from marks, weights and limits. For the plain sign without the line, see the less than symbol, and for every other comparison sign visit the maths symbols hub.
Meaning of ≤ with Examples
Look closely at ≤ and you will see a < sign sitting on a single line. The line adds "or equal". So the symbol of less than or equal to allows the limit itself.
Words that usually mean ≤ in questions and notices:
- at most: "at most 3 attempts" means attempts ≤ 3
- up to: "up to 15 kg check-in bag" means weight ≤ 15 kg
- maximum or not more than: "maximum 250 words" means words ≤ 250
A familiar school example: marks in a paper out of 100 follow 0 ≤ marks ≤ 100. A score of 100 is allowed, and so is 0, but 101 is not. Other names you will meet are the less or equal to symbol, the less than or equal symbol and the equal to or less than symbol; all of them point to the same ≤.
Less Than or Equal To Symbol on Keyboard
- Windows Alt code: switch Num Lock on, hold Alt, type 243 on the numeric keypad, then let go of Alt. This code is from the old DOS table, so a few programs may show a different character.
- Mac: press Option+, (Option and the comma key).
- Google Docs: go to Insert > Special characters and type "less-than or equal" in the search box.
- Android and iPhone: ≤ is not on the main symbol pages of most phone keyboards. Some keyboards show it when you long-press <; otherwise copy it from this page.
- LaTeX: write
\leq(or\le) in maths mode.
Less Than or Equal To Symbol in Word
Word gives you three ways to insert ≤:
- Type
2264and press Alt+X straight away. The four characters turn into ≤. - Use Insert > Symbol > More Symbols, set the subset to Mathematical Operators, select ≤ and click Insert.
- Use the Alt+243 code with the number pad, as on any Windows program.
Once you have inserted it, Word remembers it under Insert > Symbol in the recently used list, so the next time it is just two clicks away.
Less Than Equal To Symbol in Excel
In Excel and Google Sheets formulas, ≤ is written as two keys: <= with no space between them. Searching for the less than or equal to symbol in Excel usually means you need this pair.
| Task | Formula |
|---|---|
| Flag expenses within budget | =IF(B2<=5000,"Within budget","Over") |
| Count students with marks 40 or below | =COUNTIF(C2:C45,"<=40") |
| Average of orders up to ₹999 | =AVERAGEIF(D2:D200,"<=999") |
To show the ≤ character as a label in a cell, use =UNICHAR(8804) or the Alt code. Remember that the label is only text; Excel will not calculate with it.
Solving Problems with ≤
Example 1. Solve 3x − 4 ≤ 11. Add 4 to both sides: 3x ≤ 15. Divide by 3: x ≤ 5. Check: when x = 5, 3 × 5 − 4 = 11, and 11 ≤ 11 is true.
Example 2. A lift can carry at most 544 kg. If each person is taken as 68 kg, how many people can ride? Let n be the number of people: 68n ≤ 544, so n ≤ 8. At most 8 people.
Example 3. Solve −x ≤ 4. Multiply both sides by −1 and flip the sign: x ≥ −4. Flipping is needed whenever you multiply or divide by a negative. The result uses the greater than or equal to symbol.
Variants ⩽ and ≦
Two other characters mean the same thing. ⩽ has a slanted bottom line and is seen in some printed maths books from Europe. ≦ has a double bottom line and is common in Japanese. For school, exams and office work in India, stick with ≤. If you want to revise how the open and closed sides work, our greater than and less than symbol guide has quick tricks.
Frequently asked questions
How do I type the less than or equal to symbol on keyboard?
On Windows, use Alt+243 on the number pad with Num Lock on. On a Mac, press Option and comma together.
What is the less than equal to symbol in Excel?
Excel uses <= in formulas, for example =IF(A1<=10,"Yes","No"). The single character ≤ is not accepted as an operator.
Does x ≤ 7 include 7?
Yes. The line under the sign means "or equal", so 7 is allowed. If 7 should not be included, write x < 7.
What is the opposite of ≤?
The opposite of "less than or equal to" is "greater than", >. If a number is not ≤ 10, it must be > 10.
Is "not more than" the same as ≤?
Yes. "Not more than 20" means 20 or less, which is written ≤ 20.