SymbolHub

Estimated Sign (℮)

The estimated sign ℮ is Unicode U+212E, the European packaging mark certifying that prepackaged goods comply with EU average fill weight directives. Press Copy to put it on your clipboard.

Unicode
U+212E
HTML
℮
Word
212E Alt+X

How to type the estimated sign (℮)

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 212E 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 Estimated Symbol, 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 estimated and double-click it.
  2. With the Unicode Hex Input keyboard enabled (System Settings → Keyboard → Input Sources), hold Option and type 212E.

Linux & ChromeOS

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + U, type 212e, 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 ;esti. 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 212E, then press Alt + X.
  2. Insert → Symbol → More Symbols. Set “from” to Unicode (hex), type 212E in “Character code” and click Insert.

Google Docs

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

Excel & Google Sheets

  1. Enter =UNICHAR(8494) 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 estimated sign ℮ (Unicode name ESTIMATED SYMBOL, colloquially known as the e-mark) is a statutory certification mark found on prepackaged consumer goods manufactured and sold within the European Union and the United Kingdom. Defined by EEC Council Directive 76/211/EEC, the stylized lowercase "e" certifies that the package was filled using the "average system": the actual quantity of product inside matches the stated nominal weight or volume on average, within legally defined statistical tolerances. Placing the e-mark alongside nominal weight statements (such as "500 g ℮") grants goods the "free movement passport", exempting shipments from repetitive weights-and-measures customs inspections at internal borders. Categorized under Unicode letterlike symbols, it stands alongside consumer unit symbols and commercial trade marks in legal symbols.

Common uses

  • Food packaging and beverage bottles: 750 ml ℮ or 250 g ℮
  • Cosmetics, shampoo bottles, and personal care liquid containers
  • Pharmaceutical packaging indicating average net volume fills
  • Industrial supply packaging distributed across the European Economic Area

Estimated Sign 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+212E
HTML decimal℮
HTML hex℮
CSS contentcontent: "\212E";
JavaScript"\u212E"
Python"\u212E"
Python (by name)"\N{ESTIMATED SYMBOL}"
Java / C#"\u212E"
UTF-8 bytesE2 84 AE
UTF-16212E
URL encoded%E2%84%AE

℮ 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
E
U+0065		Standard Latin lowercase letter e, which lacks the exact legal geometric proportions.
Euro
U+20AC		Euro currency sign (U+20AC), representing European monetary currency.
Script Small E
U+212F		Script small e (U+212F), often used in mathematics to represent Euler’s natural base.

Symbols similar to ℮

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

  • Details
  • Details
  • Details

℮ character properties

Official Unicode name
ESTIMATED SYMBOL
Also known as
e-mark, e mark, estimated symbol, European estimated sign, quantite estimee
Code point
U+212E
Unicode block
Letterlike Symbols (U+2100–U+214F)
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

What does the ℮ mark mean on packaging?

The e-mark guarantees that the product was packed according to European average weight directives, ensuring the average package meets the stated net weight within strict statistical limits.

Is the ℮ mark mandatory on all products?

No. The e-mark is voluntary, but using it allows packers to export products freely throughout the European Single Market without local weights-and-measures inspections.

Can I use a regular letter "e" instead of ℮?

No. EU directives define exact geometric coordinates for the e-mark, and official packaging must use the precise proportioned symbol rather than standard font glyphs.

Is there an alt code for the estimated sign?

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 212E then Alt + X in Word, or find it in Character Map.

How do I type the estimated sign 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 “estimated” and double-click it, or copy it from this page.

What is the HTML code for the estimated sign?

℮ 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 estimated sign?

℮ is U+212E, officially named ESTIMATED SYMBOL, in the Letterlike Symbols block. It has been part of Unicode since version 1.1 (1993).