Singapore Dollar Symbol (S$)
The Singapore Dollar (S$ or SGD) is the official currency of the Republic of Singapore. Managed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) through an exchange-rate-based monetary policy rather than domestic interest rates, the Singapore dollar is one of the world's most stable and heavily traded Asian currencies.
Dollar Family Disambiguation Guide
Like over 30 currencies worldwide, Singapore 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 Singapore Dollar.
| Format | Value / Code | Description | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raw Symbol | S$ | 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 S) | DOLLAR SIGN (PREFIX S) | |
| HTML Representation | S$ | Standard text in HTML documents (No dedicated entity) | |
| CSS Content String | "S$ " | CSS content string for pseudo-elements |
How to Type Singapore Dollar Symbol (S$) on Any Device
Windows PC
Type S$ directly as standard letters on your physical keyboard.
Mac / macOS
Type S$ directly as plain letters on your keyboard.
iPhone & iPad (iOS)
Type S$
Android (Gboard)
Type S$
Formatting Rules & Real-World Examples
Symbol Placement: Before Amount
In standard financial notation, the Singapore Dollar symbol is positioned immediately before the numerical amount.
Typography & International Usage Guidelines
In Singapore, the currency is written domestically with '$' before the amount ($100). In international trade and digital platforms, 'S$' or 'SGD' is prefixed. In Chinese characters, it is written as 新加坡元 (Xīnjiāpōyuán) or 星币 (Xīngbì).
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Claiming Singapore and Malaysia still share currency interchangeability (Malaysia exited the agreement in 1973; only Brunei remains).
- Inventing fake HTML entities like S$ (write as plain text 'S$').
- Assuming MAS sets domestic benchmark interest rates (MAS manages the Singapore dollar against an undisclosed trade-weighted basket of foreign currencies).
Historical Background & Monetary Evolution
Following the political separation of Singapore from the Federation of Malaysia in August 1965, the two nations initially continued sharing a common currency under the Malaya and British Borneo currency union. On June 12, 1967, the currency union was dissolved, and Singapore established the Board of Commissioners of Currency, issuing the independent Singapore dollar at par with the Malaysian Ringgit and Brunei Dollar. While the interchangeability agreement with Malaysia ended in May 1973, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam have continuously maintained their historic Currency Interchangeability Agreement of 1967: the Brunei Dollar (BND) and Singapore Dollar (SGD) are mutually accepted at par (1:1) in both countries.
Countries & Jurisdictions Using S$
Related Tools & Guides for Singapore 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 ($) →Standards Verification & Official Registry Specifications
This specification has been verified against official international standards registries (ISO 4217 Maintenance Agency, Unicode Consortium 16.0, and Unicode CLDR).
Frequently Asked Questions about Singapore Dollar (S$)
Common questions and direct answers regarding currency symbols, typing shortcuts, and international formatting.
Can you spend Brunei Dollars in Singapore?
Yes. Under the 1967 Currency Interchangeability Agreement between the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Brunei Darussalam Central Bank (BDCB), Brunei currency notes are legal tender and accepted at 1:1 parity without exchange fees throughout Singapore, and vice versa.
When did the currency union between Singapore and Malaysia split?
Singapore and Malaysia issued separate national currencies beginning on June 12, 1967, while maintaining mutual currency interchangeability at par until Malaysia terminated the agreement on May 8, 1973.
How does the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) control inflation?
Unlike most central banks that set domestic benchmark interest rates, MAS conducts monetary policy by managing the trade-weighted exchange rate of the Singapore Dollar (the S$NEER band) against a secret basket of major trading partners' currencies.