Check Mark Symbols ✓ ✔ ☑ — Copy and Paste Guide

Check marks. They're everywhere. To-do lists, checkboxes in forms, completion indicators, verified badges. Something about that little tick mark just screams "done" — satisfying, clean, final. But there's way more to check mark symbols than the basic ✓ you see everywhere.

Whether you're making a to-do list, designing a UI, or just want to add some visual clarity to your content, the right check mark can make all the difference. Let me walk through every type of check mark symbol, what they mean, and when to use each one.

Basic Check Marks (Tick Marks)

These are your go-to check marks for everyday use:

• ✓ — Basic check mark. Simple, classic, works everywhere. This is the default when you just need a tick.
• ✔ — Bold check mark. Heavier, more prominent. Great for UI elements and things you want to stand out.
• ☑ — Checkbox with check. This one has a square box around the check. Perfect for forms and checkboxes where you need the visual cue of a box.
• ✓️ / ✔️ — These are the emoji versions (they render as actual emoji on most platforms). Good for casual use, but can look inconsistent across devices.

Personally, I use ✓ for most things, and switch to ✔ when I need more visual weight. The emoji versions ️ are fine for social media but I avoid them in anything professional or design-focused — they just look a bit too cartoony.

X Marks (Crosses)

X marks represent the opposite of check marks — incomplete, incorrect, or canceled. Here's what each one means:

• ✗ — Basic X mark. The standard "no" or "incorrect" symbol. Clean and simple.
• ✘ — Bold X mark. Heavier version, more prominent. Use when you need to be more emphatic.
• ☒ — Checkbox with X. Like ☑ but crossed out. This is "unchecked" in checkbox form language.
• ❌ — Red X emoji. This is an actual emoji that typically renders red. Very clear "no" signal.
• ✖️ — Multiplication X emoji. Can mean "multiply" or just serve as an X mark depending on context.

The X marks pair naturally with check marks — ✓ and ✗ are the classic duo. Use them together when you're showing completion status, quiz results, or correct/incorrect answers.

Empty Boxes and Squares

These represent empty checkboxes or squares — not completed yet, but ready to be filled. They're the "unchecked" counterparts:

• ☐ — Empty checkbox. Classic square box, perfectly matches ☑ when filled.
• ▢ — Rounded square. Slightly softer corners, looks a bit more modern.
• ⬜ — White square. Simple, minimal, works as a placeholder or empty indicator.
• ⬛ — Black square. Filled version, can represent "filled" or just serve as a design element.
• ◻️ / ◼️ — Emoji squares. White and black square emoji, respectively.

I use ☐ paired with ☑ most often — they're designed to go together. For more minimal designs, ⬜ and ⬛ look cleaner.

Circle Checks and Crosses

Circular versions of checks and crosses are common in UI design and forms:

• 🔘 — Radio button (selected). The filled circle you see in radio button inputs.
• ⚪ — White circle. Empty state, unselected, not done.
• ⚫ — Black circle. Filled state, selected, or complete.
• 🟢 / 🔴 — Colored circle emoji. Green often means "good" or "complete," red means "error" or "incomplete."
• ⭕ — Large circle. Can represent "no" or just serve as a neutral indicator.

These work great for status indicators, especially in dashboards and apps. The color-coding of 🟢 and 🔴 is a language most users already understand — green good, red bad. Simple.

All Check Mark Symbols Reference

Using Check Marks in Different Contexts

To-Do Lists and Checklists

This is the most obvious use, and honestly where check marks shine the most. A good checklist needs clear visual cues:

I prefer ☐ and ☑ for checklists because they look like actual checkboxes. The visual language is universal — people instantly understand what to do with it.

Form Inputs and UI Design

When designing forms, checkbox style matters:

For form checkboxes, the ballot box style ☐/☑ is most appropriate. It's clear, standard, and users know exactly what it means.

Quizzes and Assessments

Check marks and X marks are perfect for showing quiz results:

The ✓ / ✗ pairing is clean and universally understood. For emphasis on wrong answers, you might use ✘ instead of ✗.

Task Completion and Progress

Showing what's done and what's pending:

For progress indicators, the colored circles 🟢 and 🔴 are ideal. Color-coding adds instant visual meaning that plain symbols can't match.

Document Editing and Review

Marking changes and approvals:

The mixed use of ✓, ✗, and ☐ gives a complete picture of document status. This is perfect for shared documents and approvals.

Verified and Authenticity Indicators

Check marks have become symbols of verification:

Social platforms have made the check mark iconic for verification. Using it in this way taps into that established meaning — people instantly understand "verified" when they see ✓.

Typing Check Marks on Different Devices

Windows

• Emoji panel: Win + ., click the Ω tab, search "check"
• Alt codes: Alt + 10003 → ✓, Alt + 10004 → ✔
• Character Map: Search for "check mark" and copy

Mac

• Character Viewer: Control + Command + Space, search "check"
• Keyboard shortcuts: None built-in for check marks specifically — use Character Viewer

iPhone & iPad

Long-press doesn't give you check marks directly. You'll need to switch to the emoji keyboard or copy from a site like ours. For frequent use, create a text replacement in Settings → General → Keyboard → Text Replacement.

Android

Similar to iOS — emoji keyboard has check mark emoji (✅), but for the text symbols ✓ and ✔, you're better off copying and pasting.

Design Tips

Keep it consistent: Pick one style and stick with it throughout your document or app. Mixing ✓ and ✔ looks messy.

Match the weight: If you're using a bold font, use ✔ (heavy check). For regular text, ✓ (light check) looks more natural.

Consider color: Check marks don't have to be black. Green for complete, red for incomplete, yellow for in progress. Color adds instant meaning.

Avoid overuse: Don't put a check mark on everything. Use them strategically where they add actual value — completions, approvals, confirmations.

Test accessibility: Color shouldn't be the only indicator. If you use 🟢 for "complete," also consider adding text or a symbol so colorblind users understand.

Related Symbols

Check marks often work alongside these other symbols:

Combine check marks with arrows for workflow steps, stars for priority, or hearts for favorites. The combinations are endless.

Unicode Info for Developers

If you're working programmatically, here are the Unicode code points:

• U+2713 — ✓ Check mark
• U+2714 — ✔ Heavy check mark
• U+2611 — ☑ Ballot box with check
• U+2717 — ✗ Ballot X
• U+2718 — ✘ Heavy ballot X
• U+2612 — ☒ Ballot box with X
• U+2610 — ☐ Ballot box

These work across virtually all modern systems and fonts. You can safely use them in web content, mobile apps, and documents without worrying about rendering issues.

Wrapping Up

Check marks are one of those simple, universally understood symbols that do their job perfectly. There's a version for every use case — from minimal ⬜ for clean designs to the iconic ☑ for checkboxes.

The key is using the right symbol for the right context. Think about what you're trying to communicate: completed task? Form selection? Verification? Pick the check mark that matches.

Got your check mark? ✓ Good. Now go check something off your list.