SymbolHub

Cross Mark (✗)

The cross mark ✗ is Unicode U+2717, the classic cross mark used to denote errors, cancellation or rejection. Press Copy to put it on your clipboard.

Unicode
U+2717
HTML
✗
Word
2717 Alt+X

How to type the cross mark (✗)

The quickest way is to press Copy above and paste. To type ✗ yourself, use the method for your device below.

Windows

  1. In Word or Outlook, type 2717 and press Alt + X. Alt + X converts the hex code before the cursor into the character, and back again.
  2. Press Win + R, type charmap and press Enter. Tick “Advanced view”, search for Ballot X, then Select and Copy. Character Map is built into every version of Windows.

Mac

  1. Press Control + Command + Space to open the Character Viewer, search for ballot x and double-click it.
  2. With the Unicode Hex Input keyboard enabled (System Settings → Keyboard → Input Sources), hold Option and type 2717.

Linux & ChromeOS

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + U, type 2717, then press Enter or Space. Works in GTK and IBus apps (GNOME, Firefox, Chrome, LibreOffice) and on ChromeOS.

iPhone & iPad

  1. Copy ✗ from this page, then go to Settings → General → Keyboard → Text Replacement and add it with a shortcut such as ;cros. The shortcut then turns into the symbol as you type, in every app.

Android

  1. Copy ✗ here, then open Gboard settings → Dictionary → Personal dictionary and add it with a shortcut.

Microsoft Word

  1. Type 2717, then press Alt + X.
  2. Insert → Symbol → More Symbols. Set “from” to Unicode (hex), type 2717 in “Character code” and click Insert.

Google Docs

  1. Insert → Special characters, then search for “ballot x” or draw it in the box.

Excel & Google Sheets

  1. Enter =UNICHAR(10007) in a cell. It works in Excel 2013 and later and in Google Sheets.

HTML

  1. Write ✗ or ✗ in your HTML.

What does ✗ mean?

The cross mark ✗ (officially designated by Unicode as BALLOT X, U+2717) is the universal typographic counterpart to the check mark. While check marks indicate correctness, inclusion, or success, the cross mark serves to flag incorrect answers, deleted items, disabled features, and rejected submissions. It stems from the ITC Zapf Dingbats font family and joined the Unicode standard in version 1.1.

Despite its reputation as an indicator of negation or failure in classrooms and modern software, the symbol carries a very different historical and civic meaning in electoral systems. In the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and many other parliamentary democracies, voters mark paper ballots with a cross mark inside a ballot box to indicate their choice of candidate. Because of this voting heritage, Unicode categorized the glyph as "BALLOT X" alongside corresponding ballot box symbols.

Cross marks must not be conflated with the standard lowercase Latin letter "x" or the mathematical multiplication sign ×. The cross mark possesses asymmetrical brush strokes reminiscent of hand-drawn ink pen marks, giving it a deliberate human touch. In digital design, pairing green check marks with red cross marks creates immediately recognizable affirmative and negative comparison matrices in feature pricing tables.

Typing the cross mark is straightforward across platforms. In Microsoft Word on Windows, typing 2717 followed by Alt + X immediately renders ✗. On macOS, users can insert it directly via the Character Viewer (Control + Command + Space). For web development, the character can be rendered safely using the HTML numeric entity ✗ or hex code ✗.

Common uses

  • Grading and education: marking wrong answers or points deducted on exams
  • Pricing comparison tables: indicating unsupported or unavailable tier features
  • Voting ballots: selecting a preferred candidate in traditional paper voting
  • Form error validation: indicating invalid input in text fields

Cross Mark codes for HTML, CSS and programming

Every code below produces ✗. Use the HTML entity in web pages, the CSS escape in content, and the escape sequence in source code.

Unicode code pointU+2717
HTML entity (named)✗
HTML decimal✗
HTML hex✗
CSS contentcontent: "\2717";
JavaScript"\u2717"
Python"\u2717"
Python (by name)"\N{BALLOT X}"
Java / C#"\u2717"
UTF-8 bytesE2 9C 97
UTF-162717
URL encoded%E2%9C%97

✗ vs look-alike characters

These characters look similar to ✗ but have a different meaning and code. Pasting the wrong one can break search, sorting and screen readers.

CharNameWhen to use it
Multiplication
U+00D7		Multiplication sign (U+00D7), symmetrical arithmetic operator aligned at center.
X
U+0078		Latin small letter x (U+0078), alphabetic text character.
Heavy Ballot X
U+2718		Heavy ballot x (U+2718), a thicker, heavier stroke cross mark.
Ballot Box with X
U+2612		Ballot box with x (U+2612), boxed ballot mark.

Symbols similar to ✗

Click to copy, or open a symbol for its codes. See the full check mark symbols collection.

✗ character properties

Official Unicode name
BALLOT X
Also known as
ballot x, x mark, cross symbol, rejection mark
Code point
U+2717
Unicode block
Dingbats (U+2700–U+27BF)
General category
Other symbol (So)
Added in
Unicode 1.1 (1993)
Plane
Basic Multilingual Plane (0)
Emoji
No, it is a text symbol

Frequently asked questions

Why is ✗ named BALLOT X in Unicode?

Historically, citizens marked paper voting slips with an X to choose their preferred candidate, so early typographic dingbat collections named the cross mark after voting ballots.

What is the difference between ✗ and the letter x?

The letter x is balanced and aligned with the font alphabet metrics, whereas ✗ features calligraphic pen strokes with varying thickness intended as a freestanding graphic mark.

How do I type ✗ in Microsoft Word?

Type 2717 on your keyboard and press Alt + X. Word instantly converts the hex code into the cross mark.

Is there an alt code for the cross mark?

No. ✗ is outside the Windows-1252 and code page 437 character sets, so no Alt + number code produces it. Copy it from this page, type 2717 then Alt + X in Word, or find it in Character Map.

How do I type the cross mark on a Mac?

There is no single Option shortcut for ✗ on the US layout. Press Control + Command + Space to open the Character Viewer, search for “ballot x” and double-click it, or copy it from this page.

What is the HTML code for the cross mark?

Use the named entity ✗ or the numeric reference ✗ (hex ✗). All three display ✗ in every browser.

What is the Unicode for the cross mark?

✗ is U+2717, officially named BALLOT X, in the Dingbats block. It has been part of Unicode since version 1.1 (1993).