Canadian Dollar Symbol (C$)
The Canadian Dollar (C$ or CAD) is the official currency of Canada and the seventh most traded currency globally. Colloquially known as the 'loonie' due to the solitary loon depicted on the one-dollar coin, it uses the dollar sign with national prefix disambiguation.
Dollar Family Disambiguation Guide
Like over 30 currencies worldwide, Canadian Dollar shares the universal DOLLAR SIGN (U+0024) glyph. While domestic retail stores write plain $, international financial contracts and software APIs require prefix disambiguation to prevent monetary ambiguity.
| Currency | ISO 4217 | Domestic Notation | International Prefix | Example Formatting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States Dollar | USD | $ | US$ | $100.00 / US$100.00 |
| Canadian Dollar | CAD | $ | C$ or CAD | C$100.00 (EN) / 100,00 $ (FR) |
| Australian Dollar | AUD | $ | A$ or AUD | A$100.00 / AU$100.00 |
| New Zealand Dollar | NZD | $ | NZ$ or NZD | NZ$100.00 |
| Hong Kong Dollar | HKD | $ | HK$ or HKD | HK$100.00 / 港元100 |
| Singapore Dollar | SGD | $ | S$ or SGD | S$100.00 |
| Mexican Peso | MXN | $ | Mex$ or MX$ | $100.00 / Mex$ 100.00 |
Typographic & Developer Encoding Codes
Quickly copy HTML entities, CSS content escape sequences, and Unicode code points for Canadian Dollar.
| Format | Value / Code | Description | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raw Symbol | C$ | Standard plain text character or abbreviation | |
| Encoding Classification | Plain Latin Letters | Written as standard text without a single dedicated Unicode point | |
| Base Character / Block | U+0024 (Prefix C) | DOLLAR SIGN (PREFIX C) | |
| HTML Representation | C$ | Standard text in HTML documents (No dedicated entity) | |
| CSS Content String | "C$ " | CSS content string for pseudo-elements |
How to Type Canadian Dollar Symbol (C$) on Any Device
Windows PC
Type C$ directly as standard letters on your physical keyboard.
Mac / macOS
Type C$ directly as plain letters on your keyboard.
iPhone & iPad (iOS)
Type C$
Android (Gboard)
Type C$
Formatting Rules & Real-World Examples
Symbol Placement: Before Amount
In standard financial notation, the Canadian Dollar symbol is positioned immediately before the numerical amount.
Typography & International Usage Guidelines
In English Canadian writing, the symbol is placed before the amount (C$100.00 or $100.00). In French Canadian notation, the symbol is placed after the amount with a comma decimal (100,00 $ or 100,00 $ CA). In international commerce, 'C$', 'CAD$', or 'CAD' is required to distinguish from US dollars.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Inventing fake HTML entities like C$ (written as plain ASCII 'C' followed by standard dollar sign).
- Using English formatting rules in French Canadian contexts (100,00 $ is standard French Canadian; $100.00 is English).
- Confusing Canadian cash rounding rules (electronic transactions calculate exact cents; only physical cash rounds to 5 cents).
Historical Background & Monetary Evolution
During the early 19th century, Canada used a mixture of British sterling, Nova Scotia pounds, and Spanish silver dollars. In December 1857, the Province of Canada passed legislation mandating that all government accounts be kept in decimal dollars. The federal Uniform Currency Act of April 1871 unified the currencies of the various Canadian provinces into a single national Canadian Dollar. Canada discontinued the production of the one-cent copper coin (penny) in May 2012, with cash transactions rounding to the nearest five cents.
Countries & Jurisdictions Using C$
Related Tools & Guides for Canadian Dollar
ISO 4217 Lookup
Search standard three-letter currency codes and ISO country pairings.
ToolCurrency Formatter
Calculate before/after position styles and international decimal notations.
GuideMac Option Key Shortcuts
How to configure and type international financial marks quickly on macOS.
GuideGoogle Docs & Sheets Guide
Insert special characters and configure currency formats in spreadsheets.
GuideiPhone & iPad Shortcuts
Quick long-press keyboard shortcuts on iOS to type monetary symbols.
SpecsUnicode Technical Standards
Master technical index for U+20A0–U+20CF blocks, HTML entities & CSS codes.
Similar & Related Currency Symbols
View all Dollar Sign Currencies ($) →Standards Verification & Official Registry Specifications
This specification has been verified against official international standards registries (ISO 4217 Maintenance Agency, Unicode Consortium 16.0, and Unicode CLDR).
Frequently Asked Questions about Canadian Dollar (C$)
Common questions and direct answers regarding currency symbols, typing shortcuts, and international formatting.
Why is the Canadian dollar called the 'loonie'?
When Canada introduced the gold-colored eleven-sided one-dollar coin in 1987 to replace the one-dollar paper note, the reverse side featured the common loon, a native water bird. Canadians immediately nicknamed the coin the 'loonie'.
How is the Canadian dollar formatted in Quebec French?
In French Canadian writing, the number precedes the dollar sign, separated by a non-breaking space, with a comma used for decimal separation: 125,50 $ (or 125,50 $ CA in disambiguated text).
Does Canada have a dedicated Unicode symbol for its dollar?
No. Canada shares the universal dollar sign (U+0024) with other dollar-using nations. Software systems represent the Canadian dollar using 'C$' or ISO 4217 code CAD.