How to Make the Degree Symbol on Any Device

The degree symbol (°) is one of those characters that shows up constantly — in weather reports, cooking recipes, angle measurements, and scientific notation — yet it's not printed on any standard keyboard key. That small omission causes a surprising amount of frustration. The good news: every major operating system and device has at least one reliable method to produce it, and most have several.

What Exactly Is the Degree Symbol?

The degree symbol is the small raised circle used to indicate temperature (32°F, 100°C), angles (90°), and geographic coordinates. It's a distinct Unicode character (U+00B0) — not a superscript letter O, not a masculine ordinal indicator (º), and not a zero. Using a lookalike can cause formatting issues or display incorrectly in certain fonts and systems, so it's worth knowing how to produce the real thing.

How to Type the Degree Symbol on Windows

Windows offers several approaches depending on how your keyboard is configured and which application you're working in.

Alt Code Method Hold Alt and type 0176 on the numeric keypad (with Num Lock on). Release Alt, and ° appears. This works in most Windows applications — word processors, browsers, text fields — but requires a full keyboard with a dedicated numeric keypad.

Character Map Open the Start menu, search for Character Map, locate the degree symbol, and copy it to your clipboard. Slower, but works on any keyboard including laptop chiclets without a numpad.

Copy-Paste from a Search Typing "degree symbol" into any search engine returns the character directly in results. Copy it once, paste it wherever you need it.

AutoCorrect / Text Replacement In Microsoft Word and other Office apps, you can set a custom AutoCorrect entry — for example, typing (deg) automatically converts to °. Useful for anyone who types temperatures or angles frequently.

How to Type the Degree Symbol on Mac

Mac keyboards are generally more shortcut-friendly for special characters.

Keyboard Shortcut Press Option + Shift + 8. That's the fastest method on macOS and works system-wide in virtually any text field or application.

Character Viewer Go to Edit > Emoji & Symbols (or press Control + Command + Space) to open the Character Viewer. Search "degree" and double-click to insert it. This method also shows the Unicode value, which helps confirm you're inserting the correct character.

How to Type the Degree Symbol on iPhone and iPad 📱

Apple's mobile keyboard doesn't show the degree symbol by default, but it's accessible:

1. Open any text field and tap the 123 key to switch to numbers.
2. Press and hold the 0 (zero) key.
3. A pop-up appears with the degree symbol ° — slide your finger to it and release.

This works in Messages, Notes, Mail, and most third-party apps. No settings change required.

How to Type the Degree Symbol on Android

Android keyboards vary by manufacturer and app, but the general method is similar to iOS:

1. Switch to the numeric keyboard (tap ?123 or 123).
2. Press and hold the 0 key — on most Android keyboards (Gboard, Samsung Keyboard, SwiftKey), this produces a pop-up with °.
3. If your keyboard doesn't respond to a long-press on 0, look under symbols (sometimes labeled #+= or sym) for a dedicated symbol page.

Gboard users can also enable the degree symbol directly by going to Gboard settings > Text correction > Personal dictionary and creating a shortcut.

Using Unicode and HTML for Developers or Web Writers 🖥️

If you're writing HTML, markdown, or working with code:

These are especially important for web publishing, where pasting a "degree symbol" that's actually a visual lookalike can break rendering or screen readers.

When Copy-Paste Makes More Sense Than Shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts reward repetition — they're worth learning if you type degrees regularly. But if you use the symbol once a month, the fastest path is often just copying it directly from a browser or a notes file you keep open. Neither approach is wrong. The right one depends on how frequently you need the character.

Variables That Affect Which Method Works for You

The "best" method isn't universal — it shifts based on several factors:

• Keyboard type — Laptops without a numpad can't use Alt codes reliably on Windows, making shortcuts or Character Map more practical.
• Operating system version — Older Windows versions may lack quick-access symbol tools. macOS has been consistent with Option + Shift + 8 for many versions.
• Application context — Some web-based tools (older CMS platforms, form fields with limited character support) may not accept certain input methods; direct Unicode entry or HTML entities become necessary.
• Frequency of use — Heavy users benefit from AutoCorrect rules or custom keyboard layouts; occasional users are better served by a simple copy-paste workflow.
• Mobile keyboard brand — Samsung, Gboard, and SwiftKey each have slightly different symbol layouts and long-press behaviors. What works on one device may require an extra tap on another.

The degree symbol itself is always the same character. What varies is the fastest path to it — and that path runs directly through your specific device, operating system, and typing habits. ⌨️