Less Than or Equal Sign ≤ Copy and Paste

Tap ≤ to copy the sign for "at most". It appears in inequalities (0 ≤ x ≤ 1), in rules ("ages ≤ 12 free") and in every spec sheet. The table shows how to type it, and the notes cover ⩽, ≦ and the <= used in code.

≤

LESS-THAN OR EQUAL TO

U+2264 · tap the symbol to copy

How to Type the Less Than or Equal Sign

UnicodeU+2264 LESS-THAN OR EQUAL TO
HTML&le; or &#8804;
WindowsWin + . (emoji panel) → Symbols, or type 2264 then Alt + X in Word; the legacy Alt + 243 works in many apps
MacOption + ,
iPhoneOpen the #+= keyboard and hold the < key; ≤ is in the pop-up with «
AndroidGboard: switch to ?123 and hold the < key, then slide to ≤
LaTeX\leq or \le (\leqslant for ⩽ with amssymb)

Less Than or Equal Sign Variants and Lookalikes

Using the Less Than or Equal Sign

The less than or equal sign combines the strict < with an underbar meaning "or equal". Written a ≤ b, it says a is at most b, so the two may coincide. It is the everyday inequality of maths: interval definitions (0 ≤ t ≤ 1), limits on a variable (n ≤ 100), triangle inequalities and constraints in optimisation all rely on it. The open end always faces the larger value, which is the easy way to remember which way round it goes.

Three shapes, one meaning

Fonts and traditions draw the sign differently. ≤ has one bar beneath the angle, and it is the form used in most English-language books and in Unicode's basic Mathematical Operators block. ⩽ slants the bar parallel to the lower stroke of the angle; British, French and Russian publishers favour it, and LaTeX produces it with \leqslant. ≦ stacks a full equals sign under the angle and is what Japanese and Korean schoolchildren learn. All three mean the same thing, so pick the one that matches the house style and keep it consistent through a document.

Spacing and pairing

As a relation, ≤ takes a space on both sides. A chain such as 1 ≤ x ≤ 10 reads left to right as "x lies between one and ten inclusive". Its partner is the greater than or equal sign; flipping the direction is the only difference, so a ≤ b and b ≥ a are the same statement. The strict version < carries the extra claim that the two sides differ, which is why a ≤ b is often written when a proof needs to allow equality.

In code and spreadsheets

Programming languages type it as two characters, <=, and so do Excel and Google Sheets: =IF(A1<=B1, ...). Pasting ≤ into a formula returns an error. Ligature fonts such as Fira Code draw <= as ≤ on screen, but the underlying text is still ASCII. Regular expressions, URL parameters and command-line tools likewise want the two-character form. The Unicode sign belongs in comments, documentation, user-facing labels and anywhere a human reads rather than a parser.

Typing it

macOS pairs it with the comma key: Option + , gives ≤ and Option + . gives ≥. Windows has no Latin-1 Alt code, but the old DOS code Alt + 243 still functions in many programs, and Word converts 2264 to ≤ after Alt + X. The iPhone keyboard and Gboard both hide it under a long-press of the < key on the symbols page, alongside the « guillemet. In HTML, use &le;.

Everyday writing

Beyond textbooks the sign turns up in dosage instructions ("≤ 4 tablets a day"), event rules ("bags ≤ 40 × 20 cm"), price filters and fitness logs ("≤ 20 g sugar"). It is also a favourite of the arrow symbols crowd, who use ≤ and ≥ as pointed dividers in bios, and it pairs with the not equal sign in maths-flavoured display names.

Less Than or Equal Sign FAQ

How do I type ≤ on a Mac?

Press Option + , (the comma key). The neighbouring Option + . gives ≥, so the two inequality signs sit side by side on the keyboard.

Is there an Alt code for less than or equal to?

No Latin-1 code exists, but the legacy Alt + 243 from the DOS character set works in many Windows programs when typed on the numeric keypad. In Word, type 2264 and press Alt + X. Otherwise use the Win + . panel or copy from this page.

What is the difference between ≤ and ⩽?

Nothing in meaning. ≤ draws the bar horizontally and ⩽ slants it to match the angle. American and most English-language publishers use ≤; British, French and Russian typesetting traditions prefer ⩽, and LaTeX gives it with \leqslant from amssymb.

Can I use ≤ in Excel or Google Sheets?

Only as text. Formulas need <=, so write =A1<=B1 rather than =A1≤B1, which gives an error. In a header or a note, the real sign is fine and looks tidier.

How do I type ≤ on an iPhone or Android?

On the iPhone, tap 123, then #+=, and hold the < key; slide to ≤ in the pop-up. Gboard on Android does the same on the ?123 page. Both also offer the « guillemet in that pop-up, so make sure you pick the right one.

Which way does the less than or equal sign point?

The narrow point faces the smaller quantity and the open side faces the larger one, just like <. In a ≤ b the wide end faces b, so b is at least as large as a.