Braille Numbers Chart
How numbers work in braille: the number sign, digits 0–9, multi-digit numbers, decimals, and commas, plus a full dot-pattern chart and a free text-to-braille tool.
TL;DR - Key Takeaways
- • Digits 1–9 and 0 reuse the letters a–j
- • A number sign (⠼, dots 3-4-5-6) tells the reader the cells are numbers
- • One number sign covers a whole multi-digit number
- • Advanced math uses dedicated codes (Nemeth or UEB math)
In this article
Braille, the tactile reading system created by Louis Braille, represents numbers using the same six-dot cells as the first ten letters of the alphabet, the letters a through j. Rather than inventing new patterns for digits, the system reuses a–j and adds a special marker, the number sign, to signal that the cells should be read as numbers. This keeps braille compact, so learning braille numbers is straightforward once you know the alphabet.
If you already know the braille alphabet, you effectively already know the digits. To convert numbers automatically, use our braille translator.
The Braille Number Sign
Because digits share their cells with letters, braille needs a way to tell them apart. Each braille character is a configuration of up to six dots, and the same dot pattern can represent either a braille letter or a number depending on context. The number sign, dots 3-4-5-6 (⠼), is placed directly in front of a digit or number. Everything after it is read as a number until a space or a letter breaks the sequence.
Without the number sign, ⠁ means the letter a. With it, ⠼⠁ means the digit 1.
The number sign is written once and covers the whole number that follows.
Braille Digits 0–9
Each digit below uses the same braille dots as its matching letter (shown in the caption): the digit 1 is dot 1, exactly like the braille letter a. Because the digits reuse the braille letters a through j, anyone who can write braille letters can already write braille numbers. The one exception to remember is the number sign, which uses dot 3 along with dots 4, 5, and 6. In real text each digit is preceded by that number sign.
Writing Multi-Digit Numbers
For a number with several digits, write one number sign and then each digit in order. You do not repeat the number sign between digits.
Number 25
number sign + b (2) + e (5)
⠼⠃⠑
Number 2026
number sign + b + j + b + f
⠼⠃⠚⠃⠋
Number 100
number sign + a + j + j
⠼⠁⠚⠚
Decimals, Commas, and Fractions
Decimal point
A decimal point is written with dots 4-6 (⠨) inside the number. Number mode continues across it, so 3.14 needs only one number sign.
Thousands separator
A comma between groups of digits uses dot 2 (⠂), the same cell as a literary comma, placed within the number. For example 1,000 stays a single number after one leading number sign.
Simple fractions
In basic literary braille, a fraction like 1/2 is written as the numerator, a line sign, and the denominator using lower-cell digits. Complex fractions belong to dedicated math codes (see below).
Mathematics in Braille
Everyday numbers in text use the literary braille shown on this page. Serious mathematics, such as equations, exponents, and matrices, uses a specialised notation layered on top of the basic digits.
Nemeth Code
The dominant math braille code in North America. It defines cells for operators, fractions, exponents, and advanced symbols, and is used from arithmetic through university mathematics.
UEB Math
Unified English Braille includes its own math notation, used across the UK, Australia, and increasingly elsewhere. It integrates with literary braille so one code covers both text and math.
Convert Numbers to Braille
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Braille Numbers FAQs
Common questions about numbers in braille