Quick answer
Copy € above. On Windows with a numeric keypad, use Alt + 0128. Many European layouts use AltGr + E. On a U.S. Mac layout, open Character Viewer; other Mac layouts may have a direct key combination.
Euro-sign shortcuts
The euro sign is a dedicated Unicode currency character. The fastest shortcut depends heavily on the active keyboard layout, because many European keyboards print € on a key while U.S. layouts often do not.
| Platform | Common method |
|---|---|
| Windows numeric keypad | Alt + 0128 |
| Many European Windows layouts | AltGr + E |
| Microsoft Word | 20AC, then Alt + X |
| Mac | Character Viewer, or the shortcut shown by Keyboard Viewer |
| Phone | Press and hold the currency key and select € |
Type € on Windows
With Num Lock on, hold Alt, type 0128 on the numeric keypad, and release Alt. On layouts that show € on the E key, AltGr + E may be the more natural method. Ctrl + Alt + E sometimes acts like AltGr, but it can conflict with application shortcuts.
If neither method works, confirm the input language shown in the Windows taskbar. The physical labels on a keyboard do not change the active software layout. Character Map and copy/paste remain reliable fallbacks.
Type € on a Mac
Mac shortcuts vary by keyboard layout. Open Keyboard Viewer from the Input menu, hold Option and Shift, and observe which key displays €. You can also open Character Viewer with Control + Command + Space and search “euro.”
This layout-first approach is safer than memorizing a U.S.-specific combination and assuming it works on British, French, German, or international layouts.
Insert € in Word, Docs, and spreadsheets
In Word, type 20AC and press Alt + X. Insert → Symbol is another option. In Google Docs, choose Insert → Symbols → Special characters and search “euro.”
Excel and Google Sheets can store € as text, but financial values should normally remain numeric and use currency formatting. Formatting lets the spreadsheet calculate, sort, and change locale correctly. Typing €25 as text may prevent formulas from treating the cell as the number 25.
Format euro amounts correctly
The symbol’s position and spacing depend on language and regional convention. English-language documents often use €25. Some European styles use 25 € or locale-specific spacing and decimal separators. For software, use the locale-aware internationalization features of the programming language rather than concatenating the symbol manually.
The currency code EUR is useful in tables, bank data, and contexts where several dollar- or pound-based currencies could be confused.
Use the euro sign on the web
UTF-8 HTML can contain € directly. The named entity is €, decimal is €, and hexadecimal is €. Set the page charset to UTF-8 and use locale-aware number formatting when amounts are dynamic.
Troubleshooting
If AltGr + E types something else, the active layout does not map that combination to euro. If Alt + 0128 fails, use the numeric keypad and enable Num Lock. If the sign is missing from a legacy export, select UTF-8 rather than an old code page.
When the problem is only visual alignment, use a font with well-drawn currency symbols instead of replacing € with the letters “EUR” inside running prose.
References and compatibility
These platform references explain the input methods used above. Availability varies by app and keyboard layout; a Unicode value is not automatically a numeric-keypad Alt code.
Editorial note: Shortcuts can vary by keyboard layout and app. Check the stated platform and use the copy-and-paste fallback when needed. Report a correction with your device, layout, and application; see our editorial policy for limitations.