Euro Sign
The euro sign is U+20AC. It was added to Unicode in 1998, later than the other major currency signs, which is why very old systems and very old fonts show it as a box while the pound and yen render fine.
| Symbol | € | |
|---|---|---|
| Unicode | U+20AC | |
| Name | Euro Sign | |
| HTML (named) | € | |
| HTML (decimal) | € | |
| HTML (hex) | € | |
| CSS content | \20AC | |
| JavaScript / JSON | \u20AC | |
| UTF-8 bytes | 0xE2 0x82 0xAC | |
| UTF-16 units | 0x20AC | |
| Windows alt code | Alt 0128 |
How do you type the euro sign on each platform?
| Where | How to type it |
|---|---|
| Any device | Click the € at the top of this page. It goes straight to your clipboard, and you paste it with Ctrl+V on Windows or Cmd+V on a Mac. This is the only method that behaves identically everywhere. |
| Windows | Hold Alt and type 0128 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt. The number row above the letters does not work for this. |
| macOS | Add Unicode Hex Input under Keyboard settings, switch to it, then hold Option and type 20AC. Without that input source, open the Character Viewer with Control+Command+Space and search for euro sign. |
| Linux and ChromeOS | Press Ctrl+Shift+U, type 20ac, then press Enter or the space bar. This works in GTK applications and with IBus. |
| Microsoft Word | Type 20AC in the document, then press Alt and X together with the cursor immediately after the last digit. Word replaces the digits with €. |
| Google Docs | Insert, then Special characters, then paste U+20AC or type euro sign in the search box. You can also draw the shape in the sketch pad on the right. |
| Excel and Google Sheets | Use the formula UNICHAR(8364) in a cell. Copy the cell and paste it as a value if you want the character rather than the formula. |
| HTML | Write €, or the numeric reference €, or €. On a page served as UTF-8 the character itself also works. |
| CSS | Use content: "\20AC" inside a ::before or ::after rule. Terminate the escape with a space if the next character is also a hexadecimal digit. |
| JavaScript | The escape \u20AC produces this character inside a string literal, and the same escape is valid in JSON. |
More detail per platform: Windows alt codes, special characters on a Mac, special characters in Word and HTML entities.
Which characters look like the euro sign?
Several characters render almost identically to this one, and picking the wrong one breaks search, sorting and screen readers even when it looks right on screen. The euro sign € is U+20AC. These are the ones it is confused with.
| Character | Code point | Name | What it is really for |
|---|---|---|---|
| ℮ | U+212E | Estimated Symbol | The e-shaped mark on packaging that means the stated quantity is an average. Not a currency sign at all. |
| € | U+20AC | Euro Sign | This character. |
| ₠ | U+20A0 | Euro-Currency Sign | A pre-euro placeholder character that was never used in practice. Do not use it for the euro. |
Frequently asked questions
Does the euro sign go before or after the amount?
It depends on the language, not on the character. English and Dutch conventions put it before the amount; French and German conventions put it after, with a space. The character is identical either way.
How do I copy the euro sign symbol?
Click the € above or the copy button and it is placed on your clipboard. Paste it anywhere with Ctrl+V or Cmd+V. It is a real text character, so it works in documents, chats and code.
What is the Unicode code point for euro sign?
The euro sign has the Unicode code point U+20AC. In HTML you can write it as € or €, or with the named entity €.
What is the alt code for the euro sign symbol?
On Windows, hold the Alt key and type Alt 0128 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt. Copying the € from this page is quicker and works on any device.
Is the euro sign an emoji or a text character?
It is a plain Unicode text character, not an image or an emoji sticker. That means the € inherits the surrounding font, size and color wherever you paste it, and it works in places emoji often do not, such as usernames, file names and code.
Related symbols
Browse the full currency symbols hub, or return to the searchable symbol grid.