How to Type a Less Than or Equal To Sign on PC and Mac

Whether you’re a student tackling complex equations, a programmer working on conditional statements, or simply someone creating a document with mathematical expressions, knowing how to type the less than or equal to (≤) sign can be a huge time-saver. Although it’s not immediately visible on standard keyboards, typing this character is fairly simple once you know the right commands for your operating system.

In this article, we’ll walk you through different methods to type the “less than or equal to” sign on both Windows PCs and Mac computers. We’ll also offer tips for using it in Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and even programming contexts. Let’s dive right in!

What Is the Less Than or Equal To Sign?

The “less than or equal to” (≤) symbol is a mathematical operator that denotes that the value on the left is either smaller than or equal to the value on the right. It’s commonly used in algebra, spreadsheets, and even computer programming for comparisons.

Its Unicode code point is U+2264, and it’s referred to as “LESS-THAN OR EQUAL TO” in the Unicode standard.

Typing Less Than or Equal To on Windows PC

Depending on your keyboard setup and the software you’re using, there are several ways to insert the ≤ symbol on a Windows PC.

1. Using Alt Code

This is one of the most popular methods for typing special characters on Windows:

• Ensure that the Num Lock is turned on.
• Hold down the Alt key.
• Type 243 using the numeric keypad.
• Release the Alt key.

This will instantly insert the ≤ symbol into your document.

Note: This only works on the numeric keypad of a full-sized keyboard. It won’t work with the numeric keys found at the top of most laptops.

2. Using Character Map

Windows includes a helpful tool called Character Map for inserting special symbols:

1. Go to Start and search for Character Map.
2. Open the app and check the box that says “Advanced view.”
3. In the search box, type “less than or equal to”.
4. Select the ≤ character, hit Select, and then click Copy.
5. Paste the symbol where needed (Ctrl + V).

This is particularly useful if you need to use the symbol occasionally and prefer visual selection over keyboard shortcuts.

3. Using Microsoft Word Shortcut

In Microsoft Word, you can insert the sign by using the built-in symbol feature:

1. Go to the Insert tab.
2. Click on Symbol > More Symbols.
3. Locate and select ≤ from the available characters.
4. Click Insert.

You can also assign a custom shortcut for it in Word for faster access in the future.

Typing Less Than or Equal To on Mac

If you’re a Mac user, the process is equally straightforward though slightly different from a PC.

1. Keyboard Shortcut (Using Unicode Hex Input)

To use Unicode Hex Input:

1. Go to System Settings > Keyboard and enable “Show input menu in menu bar.”
2. Switch your keyboard input method to Unicode Hex Input via the input menu.
3. Hold down the Option key and type 2264.
4. Release the Option key, and the ≤ sign will appear.

This method allows you to type any character in the Unicode standard, provided you know the code.

2. Using Emoji & Symbols Viewer

Mac also provides a user-friendly way to insert symbols through the built-in Emoji & Symbols viewer:

1. Press Control + Command + Space to open the character viewer.
2. Search for less than or equal to.
3. Click on the ≤ symbol to insert it into your text field or document.

This is especially handy when you’re using applications such as Pages, Notes, or Safari.

Using Less Than or Equal To in Programming

While the actual ≤ character is used in mathematics and documents, in most programming languages, an equivalent representation is used using ASCII characters: <=.

Here are a few examples:

• Python: if x <= y:
• JavaScript: if (a <= b) { }
• C++: while (num <= 100) { }

This ASCII representation is universally supported, making it suitable for conditional logic across virtually all programming languages.

Typing the Symbol in Google Docs

Google Docs doesn’t support Alt codes directly, but it allows you to insert symbols in the following way:

1. Go to Insert > Special Characters.
2. In the search bar, type “less than or equal to”.
3. Click on the ≤ symbol to insert it.

You can also draw the symbol in the drawing tab if you can’t find it through search. It’s quite user-friendly and handy.

Copy & Paste as a Quick Solution

If all else fails, the easiest way to insert the ≤ sign is to copy and paste it from this article or from a reliable source.

≤

Simply highlight it, press Ctrl + C (or Command + C on Mac), and then paste it with Ctrl + V or Command + V.

Pro Tips

• Create a shortcut or text replacement in your operating system for frequently used symbols like ≤.
• In documents that support LaTeX (such as Overleaf or Markdown), you can use \leq to generate the symbol.
• For Excel or Google Sheets, you’ll often resort to the ASCII form <= for logic functions since formulas require it.

Conclusion

Typing the less than or equal to sign doesn’t have to be complicated, whether you’re on a PC or a Mac. Once you get familiar with the relevant shortcuts and tools, inserting this mathematical symbol becomes second nature. Whether you’re writing a math paper, preparing code, or just need a quick symbol insertion, there’s a method that’s right for you.

So the next time you catch yourself Googling “how do I type ≤,” remember that with the right technique, this symbol is just a few keystrokes away!