Empty Checkbox Symbol (☐)
The empty checkbox symbol ☐ is Unicode U+2610, an open square glyph used to represent an unchecked option, to-do item or ballot choice. Press Copy to put it on your clipboard.
- Unicode
U+2610- HTML
☐- Word
2610 Alt+X
How to type the empty checkbox symbol (☐)
The quickest way is to press Copy above and paste. To type ☐ yourself, use the method for your device below.
Windows
- In Word or Outlook, type 2610 and press Alt + X. Alt + X converts the hex code before the cursor into the character, and back again.
- Press Win + R, type charmap and press Enter. Tick “Advanced view”, search for Ballot Box, then Select and Copy. Character Map is built into every version of Windows.
Mac
- Press Control + Command + Space to open the Character Viewer, search for ballot box and double-click it.
- With the Unicode Hex Input keyboard enabled (System Settings → Keyboard → Input Sources), hold Option and type 2610.
Linux & ChromeOS
- Press Ctrl + Shift + U, type 2610, then press Enter or Space. Works in GTK and IBus apps (GNOME, Firefox, Chrome, LibreOffice) and on ChromeOS.
iPhone & iPad
- Copy ☐ from this page, then go to Settings → General → Keyboard → Text Replacement and add it with a shortcut such as ;empt. The shortcut then turns into the symbol as you type, in every app.
Android
- Copy ☐ here, then open Gboard settings → Dictionary → Personal dictionary and add it with a shortcut.
Microsoft Word
- Type 2610, then press Alt + X.
- Insert → Symbol → More Symbols. Set “from” to Unicode (hex), type 2610 in “Character code” and click Insert.
Google Docs
- Insert → Special characters, then search for “ballot box” or draw it in the box.
Excel & Google Sheets
- Enter
=UNICHAR(9744)in a cell. It works in Excel 2013 and later and in Google Sheets.
HTML
- Write
☐or☐in your HTML.
What does ☐ mean?
The empty checkbox symbol ☐ (officially named BALLOT BOX in Unicode, U+2610) represents an unselected option, an unfilled form field, or an incomplete task. Positioned in the Miscellaneous Symbols block since Unicode 1.1, it has served as the universal standard for paper ballots, administrative questionnaires, and printed checklist sheets for over a century.
In modern digital workflows, the empty ballot box remains indispensable. While interactive web forms rely on HTML input elements (<input type="checkbox">), documents created in PDF, plain text, Markdown, or word processing software require a static character to depict printable forms. Writers, event planners, and educators insert ☐ directly before list items so readers can print out the document and mark each item with a physical pen.
Typographically, the ballot box differs from geometric squares such as the white square □ (U+25A1). Whereas geometric shapes are designed for mathematical symmetry and centered against uppercase letters, the ballot box is proportioned specifically to align with baseline text and accommodate a check mark or cross mark inside its boundary. It pairs naturally with its filled counterparts, the ballot box with check ☑ (U+2611) and ballot box with X ☒ (U+2612).
To produce an empty checkbox on Windows, type 2610 and press Alt + X in Microsoft Word, or use the Windows Character Map. On macOS, search for "ballot box" in the Character Viewer (Control + Command + Space). Web authors can output it reliably using the HTML entity ☐ or hex reference ☐.
Common uses
- Printable to-do lists: providing a box for readers to physically tick off tasks
- Paper surveys and questionnaires: offering multiple-choice selection squares
- Legal contracts: marking optional clauses, disclosures, or acknowledgments
- Classroom worksheets: formatting quiz choices and assignment checklists
Empty Checkbox Symbol 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 point | U+2610 | |
|---|---|---|
| HTML decimal | ☐ | |
| HTML hex | ☐ | |
| CSS content | content: "\2610"; | |
| JavaScript | "\u2610" | |
| Python | "\u2610" | |
| Python (by name) | "\N{BALLOT BOX}" | |
| Java / C# | "\u2610" | |
| UTF-8 bytes | E2 98 90 | |
| UTF-16 | 2610 | |
| URL encoded | %E2%98%90 |
☐ 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.
| Char | Name | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
White SquareU+25A1 | White square (U+25A1), a geometric outline square not tuned for form ballots. | |
Ballot Box with CheckU+2611 | Ballot box with check (U+2611), the checked state containing a tick mark. | |
Ballot Box with XU+2612 | Ballot box with x (U+2612), the marked state containing a cross mark. | |
SquareU+25A0 | Black square (U+25A0), a solid filled geometric shape. |
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 BOX
- Also known as
- ballot box, empty checkbox, square box, unchecked box, blank checkbox
- Code point
- U+2610
- Unicode block
- Miscellaneous Symbols (U+2600–U+26FF)
- 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
How do I insert an empty checkbox in Microsoft Word?
Type 2610 and press Alt + X. Alternatively, use the Developer tab in Word to insert an interactive clickable checkbox form control.
Why use ☐ instead of the geometric white square □?
The ballot box ☐ is specifically proportioned to harmonize with text font baselines and match its sibling checked box characters ☑ and ☒.
What is the HTML entity for the empty checkbox?
Use ☐ (decimal) or ☐ (hexadecimal). Both work reliably in all modern web browsers.
Is there an alt code for the empty checkbox symbol?
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 2610 then Alt + X in Word, or find it in Character Map.
How do I type the empty checkbox symbol 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 box” and double-click it, or copy it from this page.
What is the HTML code for the empty checkbox symbol?
☐ has no named HTML entity. Use the numeric reference ☐ or ☐, or paste the character directly into a UTF-8 page.
What is the Unicode for the empty checkbox symbol?
☐ is U+2610, officially named BALLOT BOX, in the Miscellaneous Symbols block. It has been part of Unicode since version 1.1 (1993).