Copy, type, and use

Plus or Minus Symbol (±)

The plus or minus symbol is ±. The plus or minus symbol indicates two possible values, a tolerance range, or an uncertainty around a measured value.

Character
±
Unicode
U+00B1
HTML
±

Plus Or Minus Symbol Copy and Paste

Select Copy to place the plus or minus symbol ± on your clipboard. Move the cursor to the destination and use Ctrl+V on Windows, Command+V on Mac, or the Paste command on mobile.

Copy the plus or minus symbol One click copies the exact Unicode character.
  1. 1
    Copy

    Press the button to copy ±.

  2. 2
    Place the cursor

    Open the message, document, form, or profile where you need it.

  3. 3
    Paste

    Use Ctrl+V, Command+V, or the mobile Paste command.

Measurement tolerancesStatistical uncertaintyPaired algebraic solutionsEngineering specifications

What Is the Plus Or Minus Symbol?

The plus or minus symbol indicates two possible values, a tolerance range, or an uncertainty around a measured value.

Measurement tolerances

Statistical uncertainty

Paired algebraic solutions

Engineering specifications

How to Type the Plus Or Minus Symbol

Choose your device or app to insert the plus or minus symbol without copying it from another page.

Plus Or Minus Symbol on Windows

In Microsoft Word, type 00B1 and press Alt + X. In other Windows apps, use Character Map, the Symbols panel, or the copy button on this page.

Plus Or Minus Symbol on Mac

On many U.S. Mac layouts, press Option + Shift + =. Otherwise use Character Viewer.

Plus Or Minus Symbol on iPhone and iPad

Use the copy button on this page, then paste the plus or minus symbol into the target app. For repeated use, save it as a keyboard text-replacement shortcut.

Plus Or Minus Symbol on Android

Use the copy button on this page, then paste the plus or minus symbol into the target app. For repeated use, save it as a keyboard text-replacement shortcut.

Plus Or Minus Symbol on Chromebook

Use the Copy button to copy ±, then press Ctrl+V to paste it. You can also open the Chromebook emoji and symbols picker when it is available in the current app.

Plus Or Minus Symbol on Microsoft Word

In Microsoft Word, type 00B1 and press Alt+X to convert the code to ±. You can also use Insert > Symbol.

Plus Or Minus Symbol on Google Docs

Use the Copy button and paste ± into Google Docs, or choose Insert > Special characters and search by the symbol name.

Plus Or Minus Symbol Unicode and HTML Codes

Use these values when you need the plus or minus symbol in HTML, CSS, source code, or a character reference.

Unicode U+00B1
Unicode name PLUS-MINUS SIGN
HTML entity ±
HTML decimal ±
HTML hex ±
CSS escape 0B1

How to Use and Format the Plus Or Minus Symbol

The plus-or-minus sign ± is Unicode U+00B1. Use it when an expression represents both a positive and a negative case, or when a measured value is followed by a symmetric tolerance or uncertainty. In technical prose, it is normally treated as a mathematical operator with spacing around it, as in 10 ± 0.5 mm.

Make the scope of the sign clear. In x = ±3, the sign applies to 3; in a longer expression, use parentheses or an equation layout when readers could misunderstand which terms are affected.

  • Use ± for paired positive and negative values, as in x = ±3.

  • Use spaces around ± when it separates a value from a tolerance or uncertainty.

  • Include the unit after the uncertainty expression according to the governing technical style.

  • Use parentheses when the sign applies to a multi-term expression.

  • Do not replace ± with the three-character sequence +/− when the Unicode symbol is available.

  • Distinguish ± from ∓, which reverses the order of the paired signs.

Plus Or Minus Symbol Examples

  • 10 ± 0.5 mm
  • 20 °C ± 1 °C
  • x = ±3
  • y = 5 ± 2
  • 100 ± 5%
  • μ ± σ
  • 1.00 ± 0.01
  • 12 V ± 0.2 V
  • 50 Hz ± 0.1 Hz
  • a ± b

Common Plus Or Minus Symbol Mistakes

  • Do not confuse ± (U+00B1 PLUS-MINUS SIGN) with ∓ (U+2213 MINUS-OR-PLUS SIGN).
  • Do not replace ± with +/− when the exact character is required.
  • Do not use ± without stating whether it means alternatives, tolerance, or uncertainty.
  • Do not assume ± automatically denotes a statistical confidence interval.
  • Do not omit units from an uncertainty or tolerance when the quantity requires units.
  • Do not use ±5% without clarifying whether the percentage is relative or refers to percentage points.
  • Do not interpret x = ±3 as one value; it represents two alternatives, +3 and −3.
  • Do not replace the minus part with a hyphen-minus when typographic accuracy matters.

More About the Plus Or Minus Symbol

The plus or minus symbol ± is a Unicode text character, not an image. The plus or minus symbol indicates two possible values, a tolerance range, or an uncertainty around a measured value. Because it remains selectable text, it can be copied into documents, messages, spreadsheets, source code, usernames, captions, and other fields that support Unicode. Its appearance can change with the active font or operating system, while the stored character remains U+00B1 (PLUS-MINUS SIGN).

Supporting searches such as “plus minus symbol in latex”, “plus minus symbol on keyboard”, and “plus or minus symbol alt code” usually describe the same core task from different angles: identifying the correct character, copying it, or learning how to enter it with a keyboard. This page keeps those intents together so you do not need separate pages for small wording differences. Use the copy control for the fastest method, then check the platform rows when you need a repeatable shortcut on a specific device or app.

Queries such as “symbol for plus or minus” and “plus and minus symbol” are covered by the keyboard, application, and character-code sections. The Windows and Mac instructions explain practical input methods, while the Microsoft Word and Google Docs rows cover document editing. Unicode, HTML, hexadecimal, and CSS values are listed separately so developers can insert the exact character without confusing it with a similar-looking mark.

Choose ± when its documented meaning matches the surrounding text, and compare the related-symbol links below when another character may be more precise. Spacing and visual style can vary by context, so follow the style guide of the document or platform. For example: 10 ± 0.5 mm

Plus Or Minus Symbol FAQ

What is the plus or minus symbol?

The plus or minus symbol is ±. The plus or minus symbol indicates two possible values, a tolerance range, or an uncertainty around a measured value.

How do I copy and paste ±?

Select the copy button next to ±, then paste it with Ctrl+V on Windows, Command+V on Mac, or the Paste command on mobile.

What is the Unicode for ±?

The Unicode code point is U+00B1 and its Unicode name is PLUS-MINUS SIGN.

How do I type ± on a keyboard?

In Microsoft Word, type 00B1 and press Alt + X. In other Windows apps, use Character Map, the Symbols panel, or the copy button on this page. On Mac, On many U.S. Mac layouts, press Option + Shift + =. Otherwise use Character Viewer.