Tap × to copy the real times sign rather than a letter x. Use it for 1920 × 1080, 3 × 4 m or a 2× zoom, and check the table for the shortcut on your device.
×
MULTIPLICATION SIGN
U+00D7 · tap the symbol to copy
How to Type the Multiplication Sign
Unicode
U+00D7 MULTIPLICATION SIGN
HTML
× or ×
Windows
Alt + 0215 (numeric keypad); or type 00D7 then Alt + X in Word
Mac
No default key on the US layout; press Control + Command + Space and search "multiplication", or set up a text replacement in System Settings → Keyboard
iPhone
Not under any long-press key; add a Text Replacement in Settings → General → Keyboard, or copy from this page
Android
Gboard: tap ?123, then =\< for the second symbols page; × is on the top row next to ÷
LaTeX
\times
Multiplication Sign Variants and Lookalikes
x
Latin Small Letter XWhat most people type; narrower and lower than × and read aloud as the letter
X
Latin Capital Letter XToo tall for a times sign in running text
✕
Multiplication XA bigger dingbat cross, common on close buttons
✖
Heavy Multiplication XThe bold version, and the base of the ✖️ emoji
⨯
Vector or Cross ProductA maths-specific cross for vectors
⋅
Dot OperatorThe multiplication dot preferred in algebra: a ⋅ b
·
Middle DotTypographic dot often used as a substitute for ⋅
*
AsteriskThe programming multiplication operator
⊗
Circled TimesTensor product
❌
Cross MarkThe red emoji cross for "wrong" or "no"
Using the Multiplication Sign
The multiplication sign is a small cross that sits at the middle of the line, centred vertically on the same axis as + and =. That position is what separates it from the letter x, which rests on the baseline and, in many typefaces, has thinner strokes that taper toward the ends. William Oughtred adopted the cross for multiplication in 1631, and it remains the standard way to write products of numbers: 6 × 7 = 42.
Where × is the right choice
Dimensions and resolutions: 1920 × 1080, 210 × 297 mm, a 4 × 4 vehicle.
Magnification and scale: 10× zoom, 2× playback speed, 100× objective.
Scientific notation: 6.022 × 10²³.
Genetics and breeding: a cross between two strains is written A × B.
Scores and events: "3× champion" in sports bios, or "2× platinum" on a record.
In algebra, letters usually stand for variables, so writing a × b invites confusion with a letter; textbooks switch to a ⋅ b or simply ab. The asterisk is a computing convention (2 * 3) and looks out of place in printed prose.
Spacing
Between two numbers, surround the sign with spaces: 3 × 4, not 3×4, although tight settings like 1024×768 are widely accepted in technical labels. When × attaches to a single number to express a multiplier, it is closed up: 5× faster. The division sign follows the same rules, and the two are often taught together with the plus-minus symbol.
Typing it
× belongs to Latin-1, so Windows recognises Alt + 0215 in nearly every program, and Word converts 00D7 to × when you press Alt + X immediately after the code. macOS surprisingly has no dedicated Option combination on the US keyboard, so use the Character Viewer or set up a text replacement in System Settings → Keyboard that turns something like "xx" into ×. Gboard on Android places it on the second symbols page beside ÷; the iPhone keyboard omits it, which is why so many iOS users type a letter instead.
Emoji and lookalikes
✖️ is the emoji form and renders as a coloured cross on phones, while ❌ is a separate red mark meaning "wrong". Neither should stand in for the arithmetic sign inside a formula or a product spec. Conversely, if you want a decorative cross for a bio divider, the cross symbols collection has dozens of shapes that look better than × at large sizes, and the heavier ✕ and ✖ read more clearly in a caption than the delicate maths glyph.
Multiplication Sign FAQ
How do I type the multiplication sign on Windows?
Hold Alt and type 0215 on the numeric keypad, then let go. In Microsoft Word you can also type 00D7 and press Alt + X. The Win + . emoji panel has it under Symbols → Math Symbols if you have no keypad.
Is there a Mac shortcut for ×?
Not on the standard US or UK layout, unlike ÷ (Option + /). Open the Character Viewer with Control + Command + Space, search for "multiplication sign" and double-click it, or create a text replacement in System Settings → Keyboard so a short code expands to ×.
Should I use × or the letter x for dimensions?
Use the real sign. In 8 × 10 the cross is centred and evenly weighted, whereas an x sits on the baseline and looks like a typo. Screen readers also announce × as "times" but read x as the letter.
What is the difference between ×, ✕ and ✖️?
× is the arithmetic operator from the Latin-1 block. ✕ and ✖ are dingbats from the Dingbats block, larger and drawn as plain crosses; ✖ with a variation selector becomes the ✖️ emoji. Use × in numbers and the dingbats for icons and decoration.
How do I write × in Excel formulas?
You cannot; Excel and Google Sheets only accept * as the multiplication operator, so =A1*B1 is correct and =A1×B1 returns an error. The × character is fine inside text cells and labels such as "10 × 12 cm".
Why does 2x sometimes appear as 2× in articles?
Editors replace the letter with the proper multiplier sign because "2×" means "two times" while "2x" could be read as a variable. Style guides such as those of major newspapers and journals prefer the closed-up form 2× for multipliers.