The Israeli shekel symbol (₪) is the New Sheqel Sign at Unicode code point U+20AA. The fastest way to get it is the copy button below.
There is no standard Windows Alt code for the shekel sign, so on a desktop your reliable options are the emoji panel (Win+. ), the Mac Character Viewer, or, in Word, typing 20AA and pressing Alt+X.
That one glyph stands for Israel’s currency, the new shekel, also written with the ISO code ILS or the abbreviation NIS. Below you’ll find every code for it and the exact steps for each device, from Windows and Mac to Google Sheets and Discord.
Shekel sign codes at a glance
Alt codes use a decimal number. The Unicode code point and the Word, Chromebook, and CSS methods use hexadecimal, so the table labels each value to keep the two apart.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Symbol | ₪ |
| Unicode name | NEW SHEQEL SIGN |
| Unicode code point (hex) | U+20AA |
| Decimal value | 8362 |
| Windows Alt code | No standard Windows Alt code (see note) |
| Decimal Alt code, Unicode-aware apps only | 20AA then Alt+X in Word |
| Word (Alt+X, hex) | Type 20AA, then press Alt+X |
| Mac | No Option shortcut; use the Character Viewer (Ctrl+Cmd+Space) |
| HTML entity (decimal) | ₪ |
| HTML entity (hex) | ₪ |
| CSS escape (hex) | \20AA |
| Chromebook / Linux (hex) | Ctrl+Shift+U, then 20aa |
| Excel / Google Sheets | =UNICHAR(8362) |
Windows Alt codes below 256 read from the Western (CP1252) and DOS (CP437) character tables, and the shekel sign is in neither. The decimal code 20AA then Alt+X in Word works only in Unicode-aware apps such as Word or WordPad, typed on the numeric keypad, and it does nothing in most other programs. For everything else, paste it or use one of the methods below.
You’ll also see the currency written as “sheqel,” the official Unicode spelling, or “shekel,” and shortened to NIS or ILS. All of them refer to the same ₪, and the symbol stays the same whatever the amount.
How to type the Israeli shekel symbol on every platform
Windows
There is no dependable Alt code, so use the built-in picker. Press Win+. (the Windows key plus period) to open the emoji and symbol panel, click the symbols tab, and search “shekel.
” Or open Character Map by searching “charmap” in the Start menu, find code U+20AA, and copy it. In Word and WordPad only, 20AA then Alt+X in Word on the numeric keypad also works.
Mac
macOS has no Alt codes and no Option shortcut for this sign. Open the Character Viewer with Ctrl+Cmd+Space, type “shekel” or “sheqel” in the search box, and double-click the glyph to insert it. Pasting it once is just as quick.
Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
In Word (and Outlook and OneNote), type 20AA and press Alt+X, and the four characters turn into ₪. That trick does not work in Excel or PowerPoint.
In Excel, put =UNICHAR(8362) in a cell. In PowerPoint, use Insert → Symbol, set the subset to Currency Symbols, choose the shekel, or simply paste it.
Google Docs and Sheets
In Google Docs, go to Insert → Special characters, then search “shekel” or draw the shape in the sketch box. Google Sheets has no symbol menu at all, so type =UNICHAR(8362) in a cell instead, or paste the glyph. If you paste into a cell, press F2 first to enter edit mode.
iPhone and Android
Neither mobile keyboard shows the shekel on its default symbol layout. The quickest fix is a text replacement: set a short trigger like “shk” to expand to ₪. On iPhone, that’s Settings → General → Keyboard → Text Replacement.
On Android, it’s Settings → System → Languages & input → Personal dictionary. Otherwise, copy it once and reuse it.
Chromebook
ChromeOS has no Alt codes. Press Ctrl+Shift+U, type 20aa, 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. If a web text field swallows the shortcut, paste the symbol instead.
Notion, Slack, Discord, and Canva
None of these apps has a currency-symbol picker, so paste ₪ straight in. To avoid hunting for it each time, set up a text replacement in your operating system so a trigger like “shk” expands to ₪ everywhere you type, including inside these apps. In Canva, add a text box and paste; the glyph shows in any font that includes it.
Where the shekel sign is used
You’ll see ₪ on Israeli price tags, invoices, and receipts, in banking and payment apps, and in spreadsheets that track the new shekel against other currencies. Online it turns up in shop listings, currency converters, travel budgets, and social profiles.
In Israel the symbol usually follows the amount, as in 100 ₪, sometimes with a space and sometimes without, though writing it first (₪100) is also understood. Grab it from the button above or our copy-paste symbol tool whenever you need it.
What the shekel sign means and where it comes from
The new shekel sign is a ligature of two Hebrew letters, shin (ש) and het (ח), the first letters of sheqel ẖadash, meaning “new shekel.” The glyph came into use after the new shekel replaced the old shekel as Israel’s currency in 1985.
Shekel is one of the oldest names for money, starting as a unit of weight in the ancient Near East, but the modern printed sign only dates to the 1980s. It sits alongside the dollar, euro, and pound in the full world currency symbols list.
Related currency guides
If you work with more than one currency, these guides cover the symbols people most often need next to the shekel:
- Browse more currency symbol guides
- Polish Zloty Symbol (zł): copy, paste and type guide
- How to type the Ghana Cedi Symbol (₵) fast
- How to type the Saudi Riyal Symbol (﷼) fast
- Bitcoin Symbol (₿): copy, paste and type guide
- UAE Dirham Symbol (د.إ): how to type it on your keyboard
Frequently asked questions
Why does the shekel symbol show up as a box or blank square?
That empty box (called tofu) means the font you’re using doesn’t include U+20AA. Switch to a font with wide coverage, such as Arial, Times New Roman, Segoe UI, or Noto Sans, and the ₪ will appear. The character is fine; only the font was missing it.
Is there a Windows Alt code for the shekel sign?
Not in the standard set. The usual Alt-code tables (CP1252 and CP437) don’t contain it. 20AA then Alt+X in Word works only in Unicode-aware apps like Word, typed on the numeric keypad.
For everything else, use the Win+. emoji panel, Character Map, or paste.
What’s the difference between ₪, ILS, and NIS?
They all point to the same money. ₪ is the currency symbol, ILS is the three-letter ISO code used in banking and exchange rates, and NIS (“new Israeli shekel”) is the common written abbreviation. Use ₪ for display and ILS for transactions.
Can I use ₪ in a username or bio?
Usually yes. Most social platforms accept it in a display name, bio, or post because it’s a standard Unicode character. Some systems that allow only plain ASCII will strip or reject it, so test it before you rely on it in a handle.
Does the shekel symbol go before or after the amount?
In Israel it most often follows the number, as in 50 ₪, sometimes with a space and sometimes without. Writing it before the amount (₪50) is also understood. Pick one style and keep it consistent within a document.