Square & shape symbols
Square Symbol
Tap ■ or □ to copy a square, or grab ² for squared units. Click or tap to copy a solid ■ or outline □ square, a triangle, diamond or circle, or the squared sign ² for units like ft² and m².
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Solid ■ vs outline □ squares
■ (U+25A0, black square) is filled and □ (U+25A1, white square) is an outline. In Unicode names, "black" means filled and "white" means outlined, not the color. The same pairing works for ▲ △, ◆ ◇ and ● ○.
Use smaller squares such as ▪ and ▫ as list bullets, and larger ones such as ■ □ for headings or simple progress bars like ■■■□□. □ is only a shape; it isn't a clickable checkbox.
Squared symbol ² and area units
The squared sign ² is superscript two (U+00B2). Type it after a number or unit: 5², ft², m². The cubed sign ³ (U+00B3) works the same way for volume, as in ft³.
On Windows with a numeric keypad, hold Alt and type 0178 for ² or 0179 for ³. In Word you can also select a 2 and press Ctrl + Shift + = to make it superscript. On a Mac, choose Edit > Emoji & Symbols and search for superscript. In HTML, write ² or ³.
How to type a square symbol
Most keyboards don't have a square key, so copying from this page is quickest. These built-in options also work.
- Word for Windows: type 25A0 for ■ or 25A1 for □ and press Alt + X.
- Windows 10 or 11: press Windows key + . (period), open the Symbols tab and browse the geometric shapes.
- Mac: choose Edit > Emoji & Symbols (or press Fn/Globe + E), expand the viewer and search for square.
- iPhone and Android: the emoji keyboard has ⬛ ⬜ 🟥 🟦 and other colored squares; copy text squares like ■ □ from this page.
Text shapes vs shape emoji
Text shapes such as ■ □ ▲ ◆ ● follow your font color and size, so they stay consistent in documents and code. Shape emoji such as 🟥 🔶 🔺 are colored images that look different on each platform.
Some characters, such as ▪ and ▫, can appear as text or as emoji depending on the app. The emoji version adds an invisible selector (U+FE0F); this page includes both versions of ▪ and ▫.
Sources and standards
- Unicode — Geometric Shapes code chart (U+25A0–U+25FF)
- Unicode — Miscellaneous Symbols and Arrows code chart (U+2B00–U+2BFF)
- Unicode — C1 Controls and Latin-1 Supplement code chart
- Unicode — Emoji test data
- Microsoft — Keyboard shortcuts in Word
- Microsoft — Windows keyboard tips and tricks
- Apple — Use emoji and symbols on Mac
Frequently asked questions
How do I copy and paste a square symbol?
Click or tap ■ or □ and wait for the copied message, then paste it. If clipboard access is blocked, select the symbol and copy it manually.
How do I type the squared symbol ²?
Copy ² from this page, or on Windows hold Alt and type 0178 on the numeric keypad. In HTML use ². In Word you can also format a 2 as superscript with Ctrl + Shift + =.
What's the difference between ■ and □?
■ is a filled (black) square and □ is an outline (white) square. "Black" and "white" are Unicode's words for filled and outlined, not colors.
How do I write square feet with a symbol?
Write ft² or sq ft; real estate listings usually use sq ft. Copy ft² from the Area units group, or type ft followed by ². To calculate an area, use the square footage calculator.
Can I use □ as a checkbox?
It looks like one, but □ is just text and can't be checked. For forms and to-do lists, use your app's built-in checkbox feature.
Why does a square show up as a box with a question mark?
The app's font doesn't include that shape. Basic squares ■ □ ▪ ▫ work almost everywhere; rarer patterned or half-filled shapes may need a different font.