Different currency symbols and signs of the world

Every world currency has an assigned code, used on currency exchange markets, and a currency code symbol which is typically used when pricing goods in a store, or dishes in a restaurant for example. Some of them might be familiar - some less so. If you’re wondering which currency symbol you need, we have you covered.

Wherever you’re off to, here’s all you need to know about some of the different currency symbols of the world.

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Different currency symbols and signs of the world

Currency symbols are a quick and easy way to show specific currency names in a written form. It’s a convenient shorthand, replacing the words with a graphic symbol for ease - for example $40 instead of the full version - 40 US dollars. It’s worth noting that currency symbols are fairly standardised, but do have small variations. For example, the symbol for USD could be written with 2 vertical lines instead of 1, without any change to the meaning.

When travelling somewhere new, it’s helpful to recognise the currency symbol as you’re likely to see it on restaurant menus, or in stores. You might also need to know how to type currency symbols - as only a small number are displayed on the average computer keyboard.

Do I write the currency symbol before or after the sum?

This depends on the currency and the local custom. Some currencies are fairly consistently written before the amount - especially in English-speaking countries and South America. So in the US, for example, you’d see an amount written as $100.

However, in some European countries it is common to use the symbol at the end of the amount - so you might see 50€ written in France or Germany.

In other places, you’ll find the currency symbol in the place you might expect a decimal separator, so 20$00, for example.

List of currency symbols: Europe

List of currency symbols: the Americas

List of currency symbols: Middle East

List of currency symbols: Africa

List of currency symbols: Asia & The Pacific region

List of currency symbols: Cryptocurrencies

Most cryptocurrencies like Monero, Litecoin and Ethereum use existing characters to mark their currency.

List of currency symbol shortcuts on keyboard

Check out some popular currencies Wise supports for payment, holding, or sending across borders.

How to insert currency symbols in MS Word and Excel

If you need to enter an unfamiliar currency symbol into a Word document, it can be done pretty simply with just a few steps.

Here’s how to insert a currency symbol:

1. Open a document
2. Click Insert, and then choose Symbol or Advanced Symbol on iOS
3. Select a common symbol or click on More Symbols
4. Choose Currency Symbols from the drop down box
5. Click on the symbol you wish to enter

If you’re using an Excel document, you have 2 options; you can either follow the steps above, or you can format the cell.

Here’s how to format the cell to show currency symbols:

1. Open a document
2. Select the cell you want to format
3. Right click and choose Format Cells
4. Choose Currency from the drop down list
5. Find the symbol you need
6. Click OK

If you format your cell, you can type in a number, and hit return. You’ll see it’s turned into a currency format, with the symbol you selected. So for example, if you chose the £ sign, and typed in 54, the cell would show £54.00. Smart, huh?

If you struggle to find a currency symbol, it could be because the font you’re using isn’t set up to handle that particular symbol. Try switching to a different font and follow the steps again.

How to insert currency signs in Google Docs and Sheets

Adding currency symbols in Google Docs and Sheets is quite straightforward. However, there’s a slightly different route you need to take for both. So, let’s take a look.

Here’s a step-by-step guide for Google Docs:

1. Open a document
2. Click Insert and choose Special characters
3. Pick Currency from the second drop down menu
4. Click on the symbol to insert it

It’s a bit different in Google Sheets. Instead of using the Insert function, you need to format the cell instead.

Here’s how to add currency symbols in Google Sheets:

1. Open a document
2. Choose a cell or cells you want to format
3. Click Format, navigate to Number and choose Custom currency
4. Choose the correct currency and click Apply

For more information on HTML and Unicode characters, check out these resources:

Toptal's HTML characters

Compart's Unicode characters

Whether you're travelling abroad and curious about the local currency or just were looking for how to add a currency symbol to your document - hopefully you’ve found it.