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There are several ways to insert a check mark in Word. The fastest method is to type 2713 and then press Alt+X — this converts the number to a check mark symbol (✓). Alternatively, use the Insert > Symbol menu, the Wingdings font, or simply copy and paste the symbol from this guide.
Check marks are commonly used in checklists, forms, to-do lists, survey responses, and document reviews. Word supports multiple check mark styles including basic check ✓, heavy check ✔, check in box ☑, and decorative Wingdings check marks. This guide shows every insertion method with shortcuts you can memorize for daily use.
Type 2713 in your Word document, then press Alt+X. The number transforms into a ✓ check mark. Or copy this symbol and paste it: ✓
Method 1: Alt+X Unicode Shortcut
The fastest keyboard-only method for inserting check marks in Word on Windows.
Place Your Cursor Where You Want the Check Mark
Click at the position in your document where the check mark should appear.
Type the Unicode Code
Type one of these codes: 2713 for ✓ (check mark), 2714 for ✔ (heavy check), 2611 for ☑ (ballot box with check), 2612 for ☒ (ballot box with X).
Press Alt+X
Immediately after typing the code, press Alt+X. The number is replaced with the corresponding check mark symbol.
Tip: Make sure there is no space between the code and the cursor position when pressing Alt+X. If there is a space, Word may try to convert the wrong characters.
Method 2: Insert Symbol Menu
The Symbol dialog provides a visual browser for finding and inserting check marks and other special characters.
Click Insert Tab
Click the Insert tab in the ribbon.
Click Symbol > More Symbols
In the Symbols group on the right side of the ribbon, click Symbol, then click More Symbols at the bottom of the dropdown.
Find the Check Mark
In the Symbol dialog, change the Font dropdown to Wingdings. Scroll to find the check mark characters, or change the font to Segoe UI Symbol and type 2713 in the Character Code field.
Insert and Close
Select the check mark you want and click Insert, then Close. The symbol appears at your cursor position.
Method 3: Wingdings Font Shortcut
The Wingdings font contains check marks mapped to regular keyboard letters, providing another quick insertion method.
Change Font to Wingdings
Select the text area, then change the font to Wingdings using the font dropdown in the ribbon or by pressing Ctrl+D and typing Wingdings.
Type the Corresponding Letter
Press lowercase a for ✓ (check mark) or uppercase R for a boxed check mark in Wingdings. The letter displays as a check mark symbol.
Change Font Back
After inserting, change the font back to your document's regular font for subsequent text.
Method 4: Copy and Paste Check Mark Symbols
The simplest method — copy any of these symbols and paste them directly into your document:
✓ Check Mark | ✔ Heavy Check Mark | ☑ Ballot Box Check
☒ Ballot Box X | ✗ Ballot X | ✘ Heavy Ballot X
Select the Symbol Above
Highlight any check mark symbol from the list above using your mouse.
Copy It
Press Ctrl+C (or Cmd+C on Mac) to copy the symbol.
Paste into Word
Click in your Word document and press Ctrl+V (or Cmd+V) to paste the check mark.
Method 5: Create Interactive Checkboxes in Word
If you need clickable checkboxes (for fillable forms), use the Developer tab's checkbox content control.
Enable the Developer Tab
Right-click the ribbon, select Customize the Ribbon, and check the Developer checkbox. Click OK.
Insert a Check Box Content Control
Click the Developer tab, then click the Check Box Content Control icon in the Controls group. A clickable checkbox appears in your document.
Click to Toggle
Users can click the checkbox to toggle between checked and unchecked states in the final document.
Warning: Interactive checkboxes only work in Word documents (.docx). They do not function when exported to PDF — use static check mark symbols (✓ or ☑) if the document will be distributed as PDF.
Why Use Check Marks in Word Documents?
Check marks serve as universal visual indicators of completion, confirmation, or agreement. They make checklists scannable at a glance, add visual structure to forms, and communicate status without words. In professional documents, check marks are used in project tracking sheets, quality assurance checklists, compliance forms, meeting action items, and approval workflows. Using the correct symbol type matters — decorative check marks for printed documents, interactive checkboxes for fillable digital forms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Type 2713 then press Alt+X to insert ✓. For a heavy check mark, type 2714 then Alt+X. These shortcuts work in all versions of Word on Windows.
Go to Edit > Emoji & Symbols (or press Control+Command+Space), search for check mark, and double-click the symbol to insert it.
Yes. Go to Insert > Special Characters, search for check mark, and click the symbol. Or copy ✓ from this page and paste it directly.
Select the check mark symbol, then change its font color to green using the font color button in the ribbon (Home tab > Font Color dropdown > Green).
In Wingdings font, lowercase a produces ✓ and uppercase R produces a boxed check mark. In Wingdings 2, uppercase P produces a check mark.
In Excel, you can use the same Alt+X shortcut (type 2713 then Alt+X), use Insert > Symbol, or change the font to Wingdings and type the letter a.
Yes. Go to Home > Bullets dropdown > Define New Bullet > Symbol, select a check mark symbol, and click OK. Every bulleted item now starts with a check mark.
Word Online supports copy-paste for check marks. Copy ✓ from this page and paste it into your Word Online document. The Symbol dialog is limited in the web version.
✓ (U+2713) is a standard check mark. ✔ (U+2714) is a heavy (bold) check mark. Both mean the same thing but have different visual weights.
Yes. In Word, go to Insert > Symbol > More Symbols, select the check mark, click Shortcut Key, assign a key combination (like Alt+C), and click Assign.