Euro Symbol (€)
The Euro (€) is the official currency of the Eurozone, which encompasses 21 member states of the European Union (with Bulgaria joining on 1 January 2026), four European microstates with official monetary agreements, and two unilateral adopters. It is the second most traded currency and second largest reserve currency in the world.
Typographic & Developer Encoding Codes
Quickly copy HTML entities, CSS content escape sequences, and Unicode code points for Euro.
| Format | Value / Code | Description | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raw Symbol | € | Standard plain text character or abbreviation | |
| Unicode Code Point | U+20AC | EURO SIGN (Currency Symbols) | |
| Windows Input / Alt Code | Alt + 0128 | Keyboard shortcut for Windows PC | |
| HTML Named / Decimal Entity | € | HTML5 named character entity | |
| HTML Hex Entity | € | Hexadecimal HTML character reference | |
| CSS Escape Code | \20AC | For CSS ::before or ::after pseudo-elements |
How to Type Euro Symbol (€) on Any Device
Windows PC
Hold the Alt key and type 0128 on the numeric keypad.
Mac / macOS
Press Option + Shift + 2 on your macOS keyboard.
iPhone & iPad (iOS)
Tap 123, long-press $ and select €
Android (Gboard)
Tap ?123, long-press $ and select €
Formatting Rules & Real-World Examples
Symbol Placement: Varies by Locale
In standard financial notation, the Euro symbol is positioned either before or after the amount depending on language and regional convention.
Typography & International Usage Guidelines
Placement of the euro symbol depends strictly on national language rules. In English and Irish contexts, the symbol is placed before the number without a space (€100.00). In French, German, Spanish, Italian, and Dutch usage, the symbol is placed after the number preceded by a non-breaking space (100,00 €).
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Assuming the symbol position is uniform across Europe (it varies: €100 in English vs 100 € in French and German).
- Using a regular space instead of a non-breaking space ( ) when placing € after the numerical amount.
- Thinking the UK or Switzerland use the Euro (the UK uses the British Pound £ and Switzerland uses the Swiss Franc CHF).
Historical Background & Monetary Evolution
The design of the euro symbol was officially unveiled by the European Commission on December 13, 1996. Created by an internal design team led by Alain Billie, the glyph was inspired by the Greek letter epsilon (ϵ), honoring the cradle of European civilization and the first letter of 'Europe'. The two parallel horizontal bars running through the center symbolize the internal economic stability of the single European currency. The physical banknotes and coins entered circulation on January 1, 2002, replacing legacy national currencies including the Deutsche Mark, French Franc, and Italian Lira.
Countries & Jurisdictions Using €
Related Tools & Guides for Euro
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 Euro (€) →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 Euro (€)
Common questions and direct answers regarding currency symbols, typing shortcuts, and international formatting.
How many EU countries use the Euro as of 2026?
21 European Union member states belong to the Eurozone following Bulgaria's scheduled accession on 1 January 2026. In addition, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City use the euro under official monetary agreements, and Kosovo and Montenegro use it unilaterally.
Why do some countries put € before the amount and others after?
Symbol placement follows national language conventions rather than European Union mandates. English and Irish language style guides place € before the amount (€50), while Continental European languages (German, French, Spanish) position currency marks after the numeric value (50 €).
What is the official keyboard shortcut for the Euro symbol on Windows?
On standard US/International keyboards, hold Alt and type 0128 on the numeric keypad, or press Ctrl + Alt + E / AltGr + E on European keyboard layouts.