Home › Currency Symbols › Pound Sign
Pound Sign (£)
The pound sign (£) is the symbol for the British pound sterling — a stylised letter L from the Latin word 'libra', meaning a pound in weight.
Pound Sign codes
| Code | Value |
|---|---|
| Unicode code point | U+00A3 |
| Unicode name | Pound Sign |
| HTML named entity | £ |
| HTML decimal | £ |
| HTML hex | £ |
| CSS content code | \A3 |
| JavaScript / JSON | \u00A3 |
| Windows Alt code | Alt+0163 |
| LaTeX | \pounds |
Pound Sign variants (5)
5 related glyphs — click any tile to copy it. Tiles with a page open that symbol's own page.
Meaning & usage
£ began as a fancy capital L for 'libra', the Roman pound of silver that gives the currency its name. It is the oldest currency symbol still in daily use and belongs to the world's oldest currency still circulating.
Americans call # the 'pound sign', but in Britain # is 'hash' and £ is unmistakably money. Type it with Alt+0163 on Windows, Option+3 on a Mac, or Shift+3 on a UK keyboard.
Examples in use
- The jacket costs £45
- £1 = 100 pence
- Budget: £2,500 per month
How to type the pound sign
Windows
Hold the Alt key and type 0163 on the numeric keypad (Num Lock on), then release Alt. The code is Alt+0163. It also works in Word with the same keys.
Mac
Press Option+3 (Mac, US keyboard layout).
iPhone & Android
On iPhone and Android keyboards, long-press the $ key to reveal £, € and ¥.
Linux
Press Ctrl+Shift+U, type 00a3 and press Enter (works in most GTK apps and terminals with IBus). Or copy it from this page.
Frequently asked questions
How do I type £ on a US keyboard?
On Windows, hold Alt and type 0163 on the numeric keypad. On a Mac, press Option+3. Or copy £ from this page.
Why is the pound symbol an L?
It stands for 'libra', Latin for a pound weight of silver — a pound sterling was originally worth exactly that. The same root gives 'lb' for pounds in weight.
Is the pound sign the same as the hashtag?
No. In the US, # is nicknamed the 'pound key', but the pound sterling symbol is £. In the UK # is called hash and never means money.
Why does £ sometimes show as a box or question mark?
The box (called tofu) means the device or font viewing it has no drawing for U+00A3 (Pound Sign). The character itself is fine — try a different font or a newer device, or use one of the variants on this page.
Is the Pound Sign free to use?
Yes. £ is a standard Unicode text character published in the Unicode Character Database. You may use it in personal and commercial documents, designs and products without permission or payment.
Related symbols
More in Currency Symbols · All symbols
Data: Unicode Character Database · Page updated 2026-11-13