How to type % on Windows
The percent sign symbol has no short Alt code. The quickest option is to copy it from the top of this page and paste it with Ctrl+V.
No numeric keypad?
Press Win+. to open the emoji panel, choose the Symbols tab (Ω) and search for "percent sign". Or open Character Map from the Start menu, find %, click Select, then Copy.
How to type % on a Mac
There is no direct keyboard shortcut for % on a Mac.
For any symbol, the Character Viewer works: press Control+⌘+Space, type "percent sign" in the search box and double-click the result. It will be remembered under Frequently Used.
How to type % on iPhone and iPad
The iOS keyboard does not include %, so the reliable way is to copy it from this page, then press and hold in any text field and tap Paste.
If you use it often, create a shortcut: open Settings → General → Keyboard → Text Replacement, paste % in the Phrase field and type a short code such as ;percent in the Shortcut field. Typing that code will then insert % anywhere.
How to type % on Android
Copy the symbol from this page, then long-press in a text field and choose Paste. Gboard also keeps a clipboard history: tap the clipboard icon on the toolbar to paste it again later.
For a permanent shortcut, open Gboard settings → Dictionary → Personal dictionary, add % as the word and a short code as the shortcut.
How to type % in Microsoft Word
- Type the Unicode hex code 0025 where you want the symbol.
- Press Alt+X. Word converts the code into %.
This works on Windows in Word, Outlook and OneNote and needs no numeric keypad. You can also go to Insert → Symbol → More Symbols, set the font to a Unicode font and type 0025 in the Character code box. In Excel, the formula =UNICHAR(37) returns the symbol.
How to type % in Google Docs
Open Insert → Special characters, then either search for "percent sign" or draw the symbol in the sketch box. Click the result to insert it. In Google Sheets, use =CHAR(37).
% in HTML, CSS and code
| Format | Code |
|---|---|
| HTML entity | % |
| HTML decimal | % |
| HTML hex | % |
CSS content | "\0025" |
| JavaScript | "\u0025" |
| Python | "\u0025" |
| URL encoded | %25 |
Because % is a standard Unicode character (U+0025), you can also paste it directly into any UTF-8 file. The escaped forms above are only needed when the file encoding is uncertain or the symbol must be entered on a keyboard without it.
Where the percent sign symbol is used
It appears in math, finance, and statistics to show discounts, interest rates, and probabilities, such as "20% off" or "a 5% interest rate". It's also used in casual writing to express approximate amounts, like "90% done".
Frequently asked questions
What does the percent sign mean in math? +
It means a number out of one hundred, so 50% equals 50 out of 100, or 0.5 as a decimal.
Is there a space before the percent sign? +
In most style guides, no space is used between the number and the percent sign, as in "75%", though some scientific styles prefer a space.
What is the Alt code for the percent sign symbol? +
The percent sign symbol has no short Alt code. Copy it from this page, or in Word type 0025 and press Alt + X.
How do I type % on a Mac? +
There is no dedicated Mac shortcut for %. Open the Character Viewer with Control + Command + Space, search for "percent sign", and double-click it. Or copy it from this page.
How do I type the percent sign symbol on iPhone or Android? +
Phone keyboards do not include % by default. Copy it from this page and paste it, or add it as a text replacement shortcut in Settings so you can type it with a short abbreviation.
What is the HTML code for %? +
Use % in HTML. The numeric form % works too. In CSS use content: "\0025" and in JavaScript use "\u0025".