Bulgarian lev Symbol (лв)
лв is the symbol for the Bulgarian lev, currency code BGN. Click it below to copy it, then paste it into your invoice, spreadsheet, price list or message.
The Bulgarian lev is used in Bulgaria. Its subunit is the stotinka.
Cyrillic letters, lowercase.
Bulgarian lev symbol codes
| Detail | Value | Notes | Copy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Symbol | лв | The Bulgarian lev sign | |
| ISO 4217 code | BGN | Use this in accounting systems and APIs | |
| Characters | л + в | Written as ordinary letters, no special character needed | |
| Where it goes | 100 лв | The symbol goes after the amount, separated by a space: 1 250,00 лв. |
No symbol on this page matches that search. Try a shorter word.
Other currency symbols
See the full list on the currency symbols page.
How to type the Bulgarian lev symbol
лв is written with ordinary keyboard characters (л, в), so no special code is needed. Type it exactly as shown.
On a phone, the letters are on the standard keyboard, so nothing extra is required.
In HTML, write the characters directly. In a UTF-8 document you can simply paste лв into the source and it will display correctly.
- Copy button above: fastest option on any device.
- Type the letters directly.
- Word: type it directly.
- Mac: Character Viewer with CTRL + CMD + SPACE.
Formatting BGN amounts correctly
The symbol goes after the amount, separated by a space: 1 250,00 лв.
Thousands separators and decimal marks change by country as well. Getting the symbol right and the separators wrong still looks wrong, so check both when you are writing for an audience in Bulgaria.
In a spreadsheet, do not type the symbol into the cell. Format the cell as currency and pick BGN instead, so the value stays a number you can calculate with.
Using лв in Excel and Google Sheets
In Excel, select the cells, press CTRL + 1, choose Currency or Accounting, then pick the Bulgarian lev from the symbol list. Accounting format lines the symbols up down the column, which is what you want on an invoice.
In Google Sheets, use Format, then Number, then Custom currency, and search for BGN. Sheets keeps the cell numeric, so SUM and other formulas keep working.
Why лв sometimes shows as a box
A box, a question mark or two odd letters means the font or the encoding is at fault, not the character. Make sure the document is saved as UTF-8 and use a font with wide coverage such as Arial, Segoe UI, Noto Sans or Helvetica.
Because this symbol is made of ordinary letters, it displays everywhere, which is one reason it is written that way.
Frequently asked questions
How do I copy the Bulgarian lev symbol?
Click the large лв at the top of this page. It goes straight to your clipboard, then press CTRL + V (CMD + V on a Mac) to paste it.
What is the currency code for the Bulgarian lev?
BGN. That is its ISO 4217 code, and it is what banks, payment systems and APIs expect.
Does лв go before or after the number?
The symbol goes after the amount, separated by a space: 1 250,00 лв.
Can I use лв in a filename or a URL?
Avoid it. Currency symbols are legal in many filenames but they are percent-encoded in URLs and can break older systems. Use the BGN code instead.