Prime Symbols (′ ″) for Feet, Inches and Minutes: How to Type Them

How-To Guides · 2 min read · Published October 25, 2026

Quick answer: feet and inches are marked with the prime ′ and double prime ″, as in 5′ 9″. They have no Windows Alt code: in Word type 2032 (′) or 2033 (″) and press Alt+X, on a Mac use the Character Viewer, and anywhere else copy them from this page. If you cannot use primes, the straight ' and " are acceptable; curly quotes ’ and ” are not.

Quick reference: every method

Every Alt code below is verified against the real Windows code pages — where none exists we say so, rather than list one that won’t work.

What primes are for

• Feet and inches: 6′ 2″ (six feet two inches).
• Minutes and seconds of arc in angles and coordinates: 40° 26′ 46″ N.
• Maths: derivatives f′(x), f″(x), and "a prime" variables such as A′.
• The triple prime ‴ (2034) is used for third derivatives.

Prime vs apostrophe vs curly quote

Word processors usually turn the straight keys into curly quotes as you type, which is why measurements so often end up as 5’ 9”. Our guide to straight vs curly quotes explains how to control that.

How to type them

• Word (Windows): type 2032 and press Alt+X for ′, 2033 for ″. If AutoFormat has already curled a quote, press Ctrl+Z straight away to undo it. See how to insert symbols in Word.
• Windows (other apps): copy from this page, or use a text replacement such as ;ft → ′.
• Mac: Control+Command+Space, search "prime". The Mac has no Option shortcut for primes.
• Google Docs: Insert → Special characters → search "prime".
• HTML: ′ (′) and ″ (″), or ′ and ″.
• Phones: copy and save a text replacement; standard keyboards do not include primes.

Writing measurements well

• No space between the number and the mark: 5′ 9″, not 5 ′ 9 ″.
• A space (or no space, consistently) between feet and inches: 5′ 9″ or 5′9″.
• For angles, combine with the degree sign: 12° 30′.
• In formal or international documents, "5 ft 9 in" or metric units avoid confusion altogether.

Frequently asked questions