The dollar symbol is $ (Unicode U+0024, DOLLAR SIGN). On a US or UK keyboard, press Shift+4.
It already sits on your keyboard, so you rarely need a code at all. If you just want the glyph, copy it below and paste it anywhere.
The rest of this guide covers the reference codes, the ways to type it on every platform, the currency signs people mix it up with, and a few fixes for when it shows up wrong.
Dollar symbol codes at a glance
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Glyph | $ |
| Unicode name | DOLLAR SIGN |
| Code point | U+0024 |
| Keyboard shortcut | Shift+4 (US / UK layout) |
| Windows Alt code (decimal) | Alt+0036 |
| Word Alt+X (hex) | type 0024, then Alt+X |
| Chromebook / Linux (hex) | Ctrl+Shift+U, then 0024 |
| Excel / Sheets formula | =UNICHAR(36) |
| HTML numeric (decimal) | $ |
| HTML numeric (hex) | $ |
| CSS escape | \0024 |
Note the column labels. The Alt code is a decimal value.
The Word, Chromebook, and CSS values are hexadecimal. For the dollar sign both happen to be small numbers, but never carry a hex code into an Alt code on symbols higher up the range.
The fastest way: Shift+4
On the standard US and UK QWERTY layout, the dollar sign is the shifted character on the number 4 key. Hold Shift and press 4. That is it, and it works in every app on every operating system.
Some non-English layouts move it. On German (QWERTZ) keyboards the dollar sign sits on its own key next to Enter.
On French AZERTY it shares a key near the top right. If Shift+4 gives you something else, look near the right side of the keyboard, or use one of the code methods below.
Type the dollar symbol on Windows
Beyond Shift+4, you have three routes on Windows.
- Alt code: hold Alt and type 0036 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt. This needs a real numeric keypad with Num Lock on. Laptops without one can use the methods on our copy-and-paste symbol tool instead.
- Emoji panel: press Win+. (Windows key plus period), then search “dollar” and click it.
- Character Map: open the Character Map app, find DOLLAR SIGN, copy, and paste.
Type the dollar symbol on Mac
Shift+4 is the normal method on a US Mac keyboard. Mac has no Alt codes, so if your layout puts the dollar sign elsewhere, open the Character Viewer with Ctrl+Cmd+Space, search “dollar,” and double-click the glyph to insert it.
Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
In Word (and Outlook and OneNote), Shift+4 is fastest. If you need it from a code, type 0024 and press Alt+X to convert it. That Alt+X trick does not work in Excel or PowerPoint.
In Excel, type it directly, or use the formula =UNICHAR(36) in a cell. Keep in mind that Excel treats $ specially in cell references: $A$1 locks the row and column when you copy a formula. That is number formatting and absolute references, not a typing problem.
In PowerPoint, just press Shift+4 in any text box. If you want a currency-formatted number, use Insert → Symbol and pick DOLLAR SIGN from the Currency Symbols subset.
Google Docs and Google Sheets
In Google Docs, Shift+4 works. To pick it from a menu, go to Insert → Special characters and search “dollar” or draw the shape.
Google Sheets has no Insert → Special characters menu. Type it with Shift+4, or use =UNICHAR(36) in a cell. If you use an OS-level input method inside a cell, press F2 first to enter edit mode.
iPhone and Android
On both phones, tap the 123 key to switch to the number and symbol layout. The dollar sign is on the first symbol screen, usually in the row of currency signs. Press and hold it on many keyboards to reveal other currency signs like £, €, and ¥ in a pop-up.
Chromebook
Shift+4 is the everyday method. ChromeOS has no Alt codes. For a code entry, press Ctrl+Shift+U, type 0024, then press Enter or Space.
An underlined u appears while you type to confirm the mode. You can also open the symbol picker with Launcher+Shift+Space.
Notion, Slack, Discord, and Canva
All four accept Shift+4 directly, since the dollar sign lives on the keyboard. Nothing special is needed. If your layout hides it, paste the glyph from the widget at the top of this page.
One thing to know in Slack and Notion: $ sometimes triggers math or code formatting. In Notion, a double dollar can start an inline equation block. If your text turns into a formula, undo with Ctrl+Z (Cmd+Z on Mac) and it reverts to a plain character.
Where the dollar symbol is used
Beyond prices, the dollar sign does a lot of technical work. It marks the end of a line in regular expressions, prefixes variables in PHP and shell scripts, and locks cell references in spreadsheets.
It is also the currency sign for dozens of countries, not just the United States. Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Mexico, and many others use it, often with a country prefix like CA$ or A$ to avoid confusion. See the full world currency symbols list for how each one is written.
Symbols people confuse with the dollar sign
A few glyphs look similar or share history with the dollar sign:
| Glyph | Name | Code point | How it differs |
|---|---|---|---|
| $ | Dollar sign | U+0024 | The standard sign, one vertical stroke through S |
| ₫ | Dong sign (Vietnam) | U+20AB | A d with a stroke, not an S |
| ¢ | Cent sign | U+00A2 | A c with a stroke, for fractions of a dollar |
| ₱ | Peso sign (Philippines) | U+20B1 | A P with two strokes |
| § | Section sign | U+00A7 | Two interlocked S shapes, used in legal text, not currency |
You may also see the sign drawn with two vertical strokes (a “cifrão”). Unicode encodes only one $; whether it shows one or two strokes depends entirely on the font, not on a separate character.
Troubleshooting
Shift+4 gives a different symbol. Your keyboard is set to a non-US layout. Check your language settings, or use one of the code methods above to insert it regardless of layout.
Alt+0036 does nothing. The Alt-code method needs a physical numeric keypad with Num Lock on. The number row across the top does not work.
On a laptop, use Shift+4 or the emoji panel (Win+. ) instead.
The dollar sign shows as a box or question mark. This is rare for U+0024, since almost every font includes it. If it happens, the text is likely using a broken or incomplete font; switch to a standard one like Arial or Times New Roman.
Related guides
If you work with more than one currency, these guides cover the signs most often typed alongside the dollar:
- How to type the euro symbol (€) fast
- Pound symbol (£) — copy, paste and type guide
- Japanese yen symbol (¥): how to type it
- How to type the Indian rupee symbol (₹) fast
- Korean won symbol (₩) — copy, paste and type guide
You can also browse every currency symbol guide or grab any sign quickly from the copy-and-paste symbol tool.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Alt code for the dollar symbol?
Hold Alt and type 0036 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt. In practice you rarely need it, because Shift+4 is faster and works everywhere.
Why does $ have one stroke sometimes and two other times?
Unicode has only one dollar sign, U+0024. The one-stroke and two-stroke forms are just font design choices. The underlying character is identical whichever way it is drawn.
How do I type a dollar sign on a keyboard without Shift+4?
Use the emoji panel (Win+.) on Windows, the Character Viewer (Ctrl+Cmd+Space) on Mac, Insert → Special characters in Google Docs, or Ctrl+Shift+U then 0024 on a Chromebook. Pasting from this page also works in any app.
Does the dollar sign work in a username or bio?
Usually yes, since $ is a basic ASCII character that most platforms allow. A few sites block symbols in usernames for security reasons, so check that platform’s rules if it gets rejected.
How do I show a dollar sign in Excel without it triggering a currency format?
Type the character normally in a text cell, or use =UNICHAR(36). To keep a leading dollar in a value from being read as currency, format the cell as Text first, or start the entry with an apostrophe.