Alt Codes & Keyboard Shortcuts
Pound Sterling Alt Code
The British pound sign, typed without opening a character picker.
£
- Windows
- Alt + 0163
- Mac
- Option + 3
- Unicode
- U+00A3
Try Pound Sterling Alt Code
Edit the text, then change the font and size.
About this entry
What it is
The British pound sign, typed without opening a character picker.
Prices, invoices and anything quoted in sterling.
Copy & use
How to copy and use pound sterling alt code
- 01
Copy the complete value
Use the copy button above so the value is captured without its label, description or surrounding page text.
- 02
Paste it where you need it
Prices, invoices and anything quoted in sterling.
- 03
Check the final result
Windows Alt codes may require a numeric keypad and Num Lock. Laptop keyboards, browser fields and regional layouts can behave differently, so copying is the dependable fallback.
What it is for
When to reach for £
The pound sign precedes the figure with no space: £20, never 20£. It comes from the Latin libra, which is also why the abbreviation is an L.
Getting the shortcut to work
The Windows code needs the numeric keypad with Num Lock on — the number row above the letters will not work. On a laptop without a keypad, use the copy button above or Windows Character Map.
Easily confused
Characters that look like £
These are separate characters. They may look almost identical on screen, but they sort, search and compare differently.
Lira sign
A distinct historical currency character with two crossbars in most fonts.
Number sign
Called a pound sign in American usage, which is a genuine source of confusion in international documentation.
Common questions
Using pound sterling alt code
What is pound sterling alt code?
The British pound sign, typed without opening a character picker. Prices, invoices and anything quoted in sterling.
How do I type Pound Sterling without copying it?
On Windows: Alt + 0163. On macOS: Option + 3. Windows Alt codes need the numeric keypad with Num Lock on, so laptops without one are usually quicker to serve by the copy button above.
Will pound sterling alt code work everywhere?
Windows Alt codes may require a numeric keypad and Num Lock. Laptop keyboards, browser fields and regional layouts can behave differently, so copying is the dependable fallback.
Can I customise pound sterling alt code after copying?
You can add a short label, repeat compatible symbols or trim the design to fit. Keep important spaces, line breaks and uncommon Unicode characters intact while editing.
Also known as
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