How to Make the Degree Symbol on Any Keyboard

The degree symbol (°) is one of those characters that doesn't have its own dedicated key — yet you need it constantly for temperatures, angles, coordinates, and scientific notation. The method you use depends almost entirely on what device and operating system you're working with, and sometimes on what software you're typing into.

Here's a practical breakdown of every reliable method, organized by platform.

Why There's No Dedicated Degree Key

Standard keyboards — whether physical or virtual — follow layouts designed decades ago, optimized for letters, numbers, and common punctuation. Special characters like °, ©, or ™ were left off to keep keyboard size manageable. Instead, operating systems reserve these characters behind keyboard shortcuts, character maps, or alt codes, depending on the platform.

The degree symbol has a fixed position in the Unicode character set: U+00B0. Every modern OS knows what it is — getting it out just requires knowing the right input method for your environment.

How to Type the Degree Symbol on Windows ⌨️

Using the Alt Code (Numeric Keypad Required)

On a full-size Windows keyboard with a numeric keypad:

1. Make sure Num Lock is on
2. Hold Alt
3. Type 0176 on the numeric keypad (not the top-row numbers)
4. Release Alt

The ° symbol appears immediately. This is the fastest method for desktop users with a full keyboard.

Important: This does not work with the row of numbers at the top of the keyboard — it only works with the dedicated numeric keypad.

Using the Character Map

If you don't have a numeric keypad (common on laptops):

1. Press Windows key, type Character Map, and open it
2. Search for "degree"
3. Select the symbol, click Copy
4. Paste it where needed

Using Windows Emoji Panel

Press Windows key + . (period) or Windows key + ; to open the emoji and symbol panel. Search for "degree" — it appears under symbols.

Typing the Unicode Code Directly (Some Apps)

In some applications like Microsoft Word, you can type 00B0 and then press Alt + X to convert it directly to °.

How to Type the Degree Symbol on Mac

Mac makes this straightforward:

• Press Option + Shift + 8

That's it. Works system-wide in virtually every Mac application — text editors, browsers, email, spreadsheets — without any additional setup.

If you want to browse all special characters, press Control + Command + Space to open the Character Viewer, then search "degree."

How to Type the Degree Symbol on iPhone and iPad

Apple's mobile keyboard hides the degree symbol behind a long-press gesture:

1. Open any text field
2. Tap the 0 (zero) key and hold it
3. A pop-up row of options appears — slide to ° and release

No settings changes needed. This works on the default iOS and iPadOS keyboard in any app.

How to Type the Degree Symbol on Android

Android keyboards vary by manufacturer and app, but the most common path:

1. Tap the ?123 key to switch to the symbol keyboard
2. Look for ° directly, or tap =< for the extended symbol set where degree often appears
3. On Gboard (Google's keyboard): long-press the 0 key, similar to iOS

If your keyboard app doesn't surface it easily, the copy-paste method works reliably: find ° somewhere online, copy it, and paste it wherever you need it. You can also save it as a text shortcut in your keyboard settings — for example, setting "deg" to auto-expand to °.

How to Type the Degree Symbol in Google Docs and Microsoft Word

Both applications offer built-in symbol insertion:

In Google Docs specifically, you can also set up a substitution under Tools → Preferences → Substitutions, mapping something like (deg) to ° so it auto-replaces as you type.

The Copy-Paste Fallback

For any platform, device, or situation where shortcuts aren't working: ° — copy that symbol directly from this page. Paste it into a notes app, bookmark it, or create a keyboard shortcut from it. It's a completely valid approach and what plenty of professionals do routinely.

What Actually Affects Which Method Works for You 🖥️

A few variables change which of the above approaches is practical:

• Keyboard type: Full-size keyboards with numeric keypads open up Alt code options; laptop keyboards without them don't
• Operating system: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, and ChromeOS each have different shortcut conventions
• Keyboard app (mobile): Third-party keyboards like SwiftKey or Gboard may surface symbols differently than stock keyboards
• Application context: Some apps intercept keyboard shortcuts for their own functions, which can block system-level character input
• Typing frequency: Someone who types temperatures dozens of times daily has a different need than someone who types ° once a month

A shortcut that's seamless on one setup might require three extra steps on another. The right method isn't universal — it's whichever one fits into your specific workflow without friction.