Pound Symbol Copy and Paste (£ ₤ 💷)
Pound sterling sign
Unicode U+00A3 · HTML £ · Alt code Alt+156 or Alt+0163 · Mac Option+3
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, emoji version)
| Symbol | Name | Unicode | HTML | Emoji version | Windows Alt code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | Pound sterling sign | U+00A3 | £ | - | Alt+156, Alt+0163 |
| ₤ | Lira sign | U+20A4 | ₤ | - | - |
| 💷 | Pound banknote emoji | U+1F4B7 | 💷 | 1.0 | - |
| # | Hash (US pound sign) | U+0023 | # | - | Alt+35 |
The pound symbol is £, the sign of the British pound sterling, and you can copy it from the box above with one tap. It is the UK currency symbol used in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and its code is GBP.
The word "pound" can confuse people because it also means a weight, and Americans call # the "pound sign". This page clears that up, explains why £ is a curly L, and shows how to type it on Windows, Mac, Word and your phone.
What Does the Pound Sterling Symbol Mean?
£ stands for the pound sterling, the money of the United Kingdom. It goes before the number with no space: £20 means twenty pounds. One pound is 100 pence, and pence are written with a small p, as in 50p.
The GBP symbol, the UK pound symbol and the British pound symbol are all the same thing, and there is no separate pounds symbol for plural amounts; GBP is just the three-letter ISO code (Great Britain + Pound). You may also see "sterling" on its own in banking and news, as in "the value of sterling". The sterling symbol is still £. In short, £ is the pound currency symbol and GBP is the GBP currency symbol code used by banks.
Some other countries also call their money a pound, such as Egypt. They usually add letters to make it clear, so check the code before you assume a price is in British pounds. The currency symbols list shows codes for many countries.
Why Is the Pound Sign an L?
The £ shape comes from the letter L, the first letter of the Latin word libra. A libra was a Roman unit of weight, and a "pound of silver" was once a real amount of money. The cross line through the L marks it as an abbreviation.
The same Latin root explains the short form lb for a pound of weight, from libra pondo. So:
- £5 means five pounds of money.
- 5 lb means five pounds of weight (about 2.27 kg).
For a long time British money was counted in pounds, shillings and pence. In 1971 the UK switched to the decimal system of 100 pence to the pound that is used today.
How to Type Pound Symbol in Keyboard and Apps
Where is the pound symbol on keyboard keys? It depends on your layout. On a UK pound symbol keyboard layout it is printed on the 3 key; on other layouts you use a code or the phone's long-press menu.
| Where | How |
|---|---|
| UK keyboard | Shift+3 |
| Windows Alt code | Alt+0163, or the older Alt+156 (number pad, Num Lock on) |
| MS Word | Type 00A3, then Alt+X |
| Mac (US layout) | Option+3 |
| Excel | Ctrl+1, Currency, Symbol: £ English (United Kingdom) |
| Android | Tap ?123, long-press the currency key, choose £ |
| iPhone | Tap 123, long-press the currency key, slide to £ |
On Indian and US keyboards, Shift+3 gives # instead of £, because those layouts follow the US design. Alt+0163 is the most reliable Alt code; Alt+156 comes from the old DOS table and may give a different character in some apps. Our Alt codes page explains the two tables.
Pound Sign # vs £: The American Meaning
In the United States, the # key is often called the "pound sign" or "pound key", especially on phone keypads ("press pound to continue"). This comes from the use of # after a number to mean pounds of weight in old American trade.
| Sign | UK and India call it | US often calls it |
|---|---|---|
| £ | Pound sign | Pound sterling sign |
| # | Hash or hashtag | Pound sign, number sign |
So if an American guide says "press pound", press #. For money, always use £. Learn more about # on the hashtag symbol page.
£ vs ₤ vs €: Similar-Looking Signs
- £ has one cross line. This is the correct pound sign.
- ₤ has two cross lines. It is the lira sign, used for the old Italian lira. Some old British print used it for pounds, but today £ is standard.
- € is the euro, a rounded E. See the euro symbol page for a full pound vs euro comparison.
For a transparent image of £, use the Download PNG button in the copy box.
Writing Pound Amounts Correctly
- £12.99, not 12.99£ or £ 12.99.
- Under one pound, write pence: 75p (not £0.75p).
- In banking or export papers: GBP 1,500.
- Avoid "£500 pounds"; the sign already says pounds.
- Showing a rupee value too? Write £100 (about ₹____) and add the rate and date from your bank. See the rupee symbol page for ₹ style.
This page gives general information only and shows no exchange rates.
Frequently asked questions
What is the pound sign symbol?
The pound sign symbol for British money is £. Its ISO code is GBP, its Unicode code point is U+00A3 and the HTML code is £.
What is the UK currency name and symbol?
The UK currency is the pound sterling and its symbol is £. One pound has 100 pence, written with p, like 20p.
How do I type the pound symbol on an Indian keyboard?
Indian laptops use a US-style layout, so Shift+3 gives #. Use Alt+0163 on the number pad, type 00A3 then Alt+X in Word, or copy £ from this page.
Is the pound sign £ or #?
For money it is £. In the US, # is also nicknamed the pound sign because it was used for weight in pounds, but it never means British money.
What does lb mean?
lb is the short form for a pound of weight, from the Latin libra pondo. It is not used for money; for money you write £.