The fastest way to type a degree sign

The degree symbol (°) does not have its own key on most keyboards, but you can type it in seconds using a keyboard shortcut. On Windows, hold Alt and type 0176 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt. On Mac, hold Shift and Option together and press the number 8. On Chromebook, hold Ctrl and Shift and press U, then type 00b0 and press Space.

If your keyboard does not have a numeric keypad — common on laptops — Windows offers an alternative: use the Character Map application or copy the symbol from another source. The method that works for you depends on what device you are using and what you are typing into.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows users can type the degree symbol by holding Alt and pressing 0176 on the numeric keypad, then releasing Alt.
  • Mac users hold Shift and Option together and press 8 to produce the degree symbol.
  • Chromebook users hold Ctrl and Shift, press U, type 00b0, and press Space.
  • Laptops without a numeric keypad can use the Windows Character Map tool or copy the symbol from a web search result.

Windows: Using the numeric keypad shortcut

The numeric keypad method is the fastest route on a desktop Windows computer. Look for the numeric keypad on the right side of your keyboard — it is a separate block of number keys with a Num Lock indicator light above it. Make sure Num Lock is turned on; the light should be lit.

Hold down the Alt key on the left side of your keyboard. While holding Alt, type 0176 on the numeric keypad using the number keys in that section only, not the numbers across the top of the keyboard. Release Alt. The degree symbol should appear where your cursor was.

This method works in most programs: email, word processors, web browsers, and text editors. If nothing appears, check that Num Lock is on and that you used the numeric keypad, not the top row of numbers.

Windows laptops without a numeric keypad

Many laptops do not have a dedicated numeric keypad. If your keyboard has number keys only across the top, you have two working options: use the Character Map tool built into Windows, or copy the symbol from a search result.

To use Character Map, press the Windows key and type charmap, then open the Character Map application. In the search box at the bottom, type degree. The degree symbol will appear in the results. Double-click it to copy it, then paste it into your document using Ctrl+V.

The faster option for most people is to open a web browser, search for "degree symbol," right-click the symbol in the search results, select Copy, and paste it into your document. This takes about 10 seconds and works everywhere.

Mac: The Shift-Option-8 shortcut

On a Mac, the degree symbol shortcut is consistent across all models and does not require a numeric keypad. Hold down Shift and Option at the same time, then press the number 8. Release all three keys. The degree symbol will appear.

This works in any Mac application: Mail, Pages, Google Docs, web browsers, and text editors. If you forget the shortcut, you can also open Spotlight by pressing Command+Space, type degree symbol, and copy it from the search results.

Chromebook: The Ctrl-Shift-U method

Chromebooks use a different input method because they do not have the same keyboard shortcuts as Windows or Mac. Hold Ctrl and Shift together and press U. You will see a u with an underline appear on your screen. Type 00b0 (that is zero-zero-b-zero), then press Space. The degree symbol will replace the underlined u.

This method works in most Chromebook applications, including Google Docs, Gmail, and web-based text editors. If it does not work in a specific app, that app may not support Unicode input. In that case, search for the degree symbol online and copy it instead.

Copying from the web when shortcuts do not work

If you are using a program where keyboard shortcuts do not work, or if you cannot remember the shortcut, the copy-and-paste method works everywhere. Open any web browser, search for degree symbol, and you will see the ° symbol in the search results. Right-click it, select Copy, then go back to your document and paste it using Ctrl+V on Windows or Command+V on Mac.

This method is slower than a keyboard shortcut but takes less than a minute and requires no memorization. It works in every program on every device, including phones and tablets.

Where you will use the degree symbol

The degree symbol appears most often when writing about temperature (72°F or 25°C), angles in geometry (a 90° angle), or geographic coordinates (40°N latitude). In professional writing, always place the degree symbol directly after the number with no space between them.

Some programs, like Microsoft Word, have autocorrect features that may convert certain text into a degree symbol automatically. If you type something like "degrees" or use certain formatting, Word may replace it. You can undo this by pressing Ctrl+Z if it happens by mistake.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Alt+0176 not work on my Windows laptop?

Your laptop likely does not have a numeric keypad. Use the Character Map tool instead: press the Windows key, type charmap, open the application, search for degree, double-click the symbol, and paste it into your document. Or search for "degree symbol" online and copy it from the results.

Can I type the degree symbol on a phone or tablet?

Yes. On most phones, hold down the number 0 key and a menu of symbols will appear, including the degree symbol. On tablets with keyboards, use the same shortcuts as your computer (Alt+0176 on Windows, Shift+Option+8 on Mac). If those do not work, search for the symbol online and copy it.

Is there a degree symbol in Microsoft Word's Insert menu?

Yes. Click Insert, then Special Character or Symbol (the name varies by version), search for degree, and click Insert. This is slower than the keyboard shortcut but works if you forget the shortcut. Word also remembers your recent symbols, so after you insert it once, it may appear in your recent list.

What if I need to type many degree symbols in one document?

Use the keyboard shortcut for your device — it is much faster than copying and pasting each time. After a few uses, the shortcut becomes automatic. If you type degree symbols constantly, you could also create a text replacement: in Windows, use AutoCorrect; on Mac, use Text Replacements in System Preferences. Set a short code like "deg" to automatically become °.

Does the degree symbol look different in different fonts?

Slightly. The symbol is the same, but the size and exact shape may vary depending on the font you are using. In most fonts it appears as a small circle above the baseline. If it looks wrong in your document, check that you are using a standard font like Arial, Times New Roman, or Calibri.