How to Make the Degree Sign on Any Device

The degree symbol (°) is one of those characters you rarely think about until you suddenly need it — typing a temperature, referencing an angle, or formatting a scientific document. It's not on any standard keyboard key, but it's far from difficult to produce once you know where to look. The method varies depending on your operating system and device, and a few approaches work better in certain contexts than others.

Why the Degree Sign Isn't on Your Keyboard

Standard keyboards follow layouts optimized for the most frequently typed characters in everyday writing. Symbols like °, ©, and ™ are used often enough to be useful but not often enough to earn a dedicated key. Instead, they live inside Unicode — the universal character encoding standard — and every modern operating system provides at least one way to access them.

The degree sign has its own Unicode code point: U+00B0. Knowing this matters if you work in code editors or need consistent, cross-platform character rendering.

How to Type the Degree Sign on Windows ⌨️

Windows offers several methods, and the right one depends on how you prefer to work.

Alt Code (Numeric Keypad Required)

Hold Alt and type 0176 on the numeric keypad (not the number row), then release Alt. The ° symbol will appear. This only works if your keyboard has a dedicated numeric keypad and Num Lock is on.

Windows Character Map

1. Press Win + S and search for "Character Map"
2. Open the app, find the degree symbol, and click Copy
3. Paste it wherever you need it

This is slower but doesn't require memorizing anything.

Unicode Input (Word and Some Apps)

In Microsoft Word and a handful of other applications, type 00B0 then press Alt + X. Word converts the code into the ° symbol. This method won't work in plain text editors like Notepad.

Copy-Paste Shortcut

Some users simply keep a notes file with commonly used symbols. Copying ° once and pasting it repeatedly is low-friction and works everywhere.

How to Type the Degree Sign on Mac

Mac keyboards make this straightforward with a consistent keyboard shortcut across most apps.

Standard Keyboard Shortcut

Press Option + Shift + 8. On most Mac keyboards and in most applications, this immediately inserts °.

Special Characters Viewer

Go to Edit → Emoji & Symbols (or press Control + Command + Space) to open the character picker. Search "degree" and click the symbol to insert it.

How to Type the Degree Sign on iPhone and iPad

Apple's mobile keyboard includes the degree sign, but it's tucked away.

1. Tap the 123 key to switch to the number keyboard
2. Press and hold the 0 (zero) key
3. A popup appears with the ° symbol — slide your finger to it and release

This works in most apps including Notes, Messages, and Mail.

How to Type the Degree Sign on Android

Android keyboard behavior varies by manufacturer and keyboard app, but the most common approach is:

1. Switch to the number keyboard by tapping ?123
2. Look for a ° key — on many keyboards it appears directly, especially on the symbols page
3. If not visible, press and hold the 0 key, which often reveals the degree symbol as an option

If you're using a third-party keyboard like Gboard or SwiftKey, the exact placement may differ slightly, but the long-press on zero is a reliable fallback on most Android devices.

How to Insert the Degree Sign in Specific Software

A Note on the Degree Sign vs. Similar Symbols 🔍

It's worth distinguishing between characters that look similar:

• ° Degree sign (U+00B0) — used for temperature (°C, °F) and angles
• º Masculine ordinal indicator (U+00BA) — looks similar but is a different character entirely, used in some languages for ordinal numbers
• ˚ Ring above (U+02DA) — a diacritic mark, not a degree sign

In casual typing these often go unnoticed, but in technical documents, code, or academic work, using the correct Unicode character matters. Copy-pasting from a reliable source or using a keyboard shortcut that maps directly to U+00B0 ensures you get the right one.

What Actually Determines Which Method Works for You

Several factors shape which approach is practical day-to-day:

• Operating system and version — shortcuts differ between Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android
• Keyboard type — desktop keyboards with a numeric keypad unlock Alt code methods unavailable on laptops
• Application context — a code editor, word processor, and messaging app each have different input behaviors
• Keyboard app on mobile — third-party keyboards may reorganize symbol layouts
• How frequently you use the symbol — someone typing temperatures constantly benefits from learning a keyboard shortcut; someone who needs it once a month might just copy-paste

The method that's fastest and most reliable for one person's workflow can be awkward for another's — and that gap between knowing the options and knowing which one fits your setup is worth thinking through based on how and where you actually work.