Symbol· Math & Numbers
⅜ Vulgar Fraction Three Eighths
U+215C
⅜ is the Unicode character “Vulgar Fraction Three Eighths” (U+215C, decimal 8540) in the Math & Numbers collection on Free Text Symbols. It pastes as plain text into bios, usernames, messages, docs, and code comments — not as an image sticker. It sits in the Number Forms block and was added in Unicode 1.1.
PNG image
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SVG image
Pick a size from 64 to 1024 px and a transparent or solid background. Download the SVG file or copy the markup to paste into design tools and HTML. Created in your browser — nothing is uploaded.
Codes for developers
- Unicode
- U+215C
- Decimal
- 8540
- UTF-8
- E2 85 9C
- HTML entity
- ⅜
- HTML hex
- ⅜
- CSS escape
- \215c
- JavaScript
- \u215C
- URL
- %E2%85%9C
- Unicode block
- Number Forms
- Unicode version
- 1.1
What is Vulgar Fraction Three Eighths?
⅜ is the Unicode character “Vulgar Fraction Three Eighths” (U+215C, decimal 8540) in the Math & Numbers collection on Free Text Symbols. It pastes as plain text into bios, usernames, messages, docs, and code comments — not as an image sticker. It sits in the Number Forms block and was added in Unicode 1.1.
When to use ⅜
Use Vulgar Fraction Three Eighths when you want a compact Math & Numbers glyph that survives copy-paste across phones and apps. Pair it with other Math & Numbers symbols, or drop it into a fancy-text line for Instagram, Discord, TikTok, or email signatures.
How to copy and paste
Tap the large glyph or the Copy button to put ⅜ on your clipboard, then paste with Ctrl+V or Cmd+V. Open the parent Math & Numbers page for more related characters, or the guide for PNG download tips.
Where ⅜ fits
"Vulgar fraction" is the traditional name for a simple fraction written as one number over another. ⅜ (U+215C) is one of the few fractions Unicode gives its own single character. It's handy anywhere inches and cups are written:
- Tools and hardware: ⅜-inch drive ratchets and sockets, ⅜" drill bits, bolt sizes.
- Recipes: ⅜ cup or ⅜ teaspoon.
- Woodworking and sewing: thicknesses and seam allowances written in inches.
Which fractions exist as one character
Unicode has single characters for halves, thirds, quarters, fifths, sixths and eighths, plus ⅐ (1/7), ⅑ (1/9), ⅒ (1/10) and ↉ (0/3), which were added in Unicode 5.2. The eighths are ⅛ ⅜ ⅝ ⅞. There's no single character for something like 5/16. For those, Unicode provides the fraction slash ⁄ (U+2044), whose character notes say it's "for composing arbitrary fractions". Combine it with a superscript and a subscript: ⁵⁄₁₆.
⅜ vs 3/8 vs ³⁄₈
| Form | Characters | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ⅜ | 1 (U+215C) | A single character |
| 3/8 | 3 (digit, slash U+002F, digit) | Plain ASCII; works in code, formulas and search |
| ³⁄₈ | 3 (superscript 3, fraction slash, subscript 8) | The same build works for any fraction |
Under Unicode compatibility normalization (NFKC), ⅜ breaks down into "3⁄8" using the fraction slash U+2044, not the ordinary slash. So even after normalization, ⅜ doesn't equal the ASCII text "3/8".
For calculations, use 0.375 or 3/8
⅜ has the Unicode numeric value 0.375, but it's in the "Other Number" category, not a digit. Ordinary number parsing rejects it; for example, Python's float("⅜") raises an error. If a value needs to be calculated, type 0.375 or 3/8 and keep ⅜ for display.
Typing ⅜
Related Math & Numbers symbols
FAQ
Vulgar Fraction Three Eighths FAQ
Short answers about copying ⅜ (Vulgar Fraction Three Eighths).
How do I copy Vulgar Fraction Three Eighths (⅜)?
Click the large ⅜ glyph or the Copy button on this page. The character is copied as Unicode text you can paste into any app that accepts plain text.
What is the Unicode code for Vulgar Fraction Three Eighths?
Vulgar Fraction Three Eighths is U+215C (decimal 8540, UTF-8 E2 85 9C). HTML entity: ⅜. HTML hex: ⅜. CSS escape: \215c.
Where can I paste ⅜?
Paste Vulgar Fraction Three Eighths into social bios, usernames, chat apps, documents, and websites. It is free Unicode text from the Math & Numbers set on Free Text Symbols.
How do I download Vulgar Fraction Three Eighths (⅜) as a PNG?
Use the PNG image panel on this page. Choose a size from 64 to 1024 pixels and a transparent or solid background, then press Download PNG. The file is created in your browser.
How do I download or copy Vulgar Fraction Three Eighths (⅜) as an SVG?
Use the SVG image panel on this page. Choose a size from 64 to 1024 pixels and a transparent or solid background, then press Download SVG or Copy SVG. The file and the markup are created in your browser.
How much is ⅜ as a decimal?
0.375. In millimetres, ⅜ inch is 9.525 mm (0.375 × 25.4).
Can I write 5/16 as a single symbol like ⅜?
No, Unicode has no single 5/16 character. Use superscript and subscript digits with the fraction slash: ⁵⁄₁₆.
Why doesn't my search for 3/8 find ⅜?
⅜ is one character. Even when it's normalized, it becomes 3⁄8 with a fraction slash (U+2044), not the keyboard slash, so it never matches "3/8" exactly. Search for both forms.