How to type pound sign(£) using US keyboard, in Windows, Linux and Mac?

For US Keyboard:

  • Windows:

    1. Alt+0163 (on numpad with Num Lock on)

    2. Alt++ (numpad)a3

  • Mac: ⌥ Option+3

  • Linux:

    1. Compose L - / Compose - L

    2. Control-Shift(hold down) then ua3

To enable Windows 2., set the registry keyHKCU\Control Panel\Input Method\EnableHexNumpad to 1 (REG_SZ) and reboot.


On Windows and Linux, use the "U.S. International" keyboard layout, which is US with additional modifiers and characters used abroad. The £ is on RightAlt+Shift+4.

You can also get £ on Windows by entering Alt+0163 or Alt+156.


On Mac OS X, simply press Option-3 for £, or use the British layout, where £ and # are exchanged (Option-3 and Shift-3). Otherwise, they're very similar (check with Keyboard Viewer).


On a European keyboard on Linux type AltGr + Shift + 3.

You can always find it out by greping the keyboard layout config files under /usr/share/X11/xkb/symbols/* for sterling.