How to Type a Degree Symbol on Any Device
The degree symbol (°) is one of those characters that isn't on a standard keyboard — yet it shows up constantly in temperature readings, geographic coordinates, math, and scientific notation. Knowing how to type it quickly depends heavily on which device and operating system you're using, and sometimes on what you're typing into.
Why the Degree Symbol Isn't on Your Keyboard
Standard keyboards follow the QWERTY layout, which was designed around the most frequently typed characters in everyday English writing. Symbols like °, ©, and ™ didn't make the cut for dedicated keys. Instead, they live in extended character sets — specifically in Unicode, where the degree symbol is assigned the code point U+00B0.
Every modern operating system can produce this character. The method just varies.
How to Type the Degree Symbol on Windows
Windows offers several methods, and they work differently depending on how your keyboard is set up.
Using Alt Codes (Numeric Keypad Required)
The classic Windows method uses Alt codes:
- Make sure Num Lock is on
- Hold Alt
- Type 0176 on the numeric keypad
- Release Alt — the ° symbol appears
This only works on the dedicated numeric keypad, not the number row at the top of the keyboard. Laptops without a physical numpad may not support this at all, or may require enabling a software numpad through Fn key combinations — and that varies by manufacturer.
Using the Character Map
Windows includes a built-in Character Map utility (search for it in the Start menu). You can find the degree symbol, copy it, and paste it wherever you need. Slow for regular use, but reliable for one-off instances.
Keyboard Shortcut in Specific Apps
Some Windows applications have their own shortcut handling. In Microsoft Word, you can type 2109 followed by Alt+X to insert °. This is a Unicode input method specific to Word and won't work in most other apps.
How to Type the Degree Symbol on Mac 🍎
Mac has the most straightforward method for most users:
- Press Option + Shift + 8
That's it. Works system-wide, in virtually any text field.
You can also access it through Edit > Emoji & Symbols (or Control + Command + Space) and search for "degree." The macOS character viewer is particularly useful if you're working with multiple special characters at once.
How to Type the Degree Symbol on iPhone and iPad
On iOS, the degree symbol is hidden in the keyboard but accessible without installing anything:
- Open the keyboard
- Press and hold the 0 (zero) key
- A popup appears with the ° symbol
- Slide your finger to select it
This works in most apps. It's easy once you know it, but entirely invisible until you do — which is why so many people don't realize it's there.
How to Type the Degree Symbol on Android
Android keyboard behavior varies more than iOS because different manufacturers ship different default keyboards (Gboard, Samsung Keyboard, SwiftKey, etc.).
On Gboard (most common):
- Switch to the number keyboard by tapping ?123
- Then tap =< to access the symbols page
- The ° symbol appears there
On Samsung's default keyboard, the path is slightly different — tap !#1, then look for the symbol in the extended set.
If you switch between keyboards, the location may change. Long-pressing the period or zero key is worth trying on any Android keyboard, as some place ° there.
How to Insert the Degree Symbol in Specific Software
| Context | Method |
|---|---|
| Microsoft Word (Windows) | Alt+0176 or 2109 + Alt+X |
| Google Docs | Insert → Special Characters → search "degree" |
| Excel | Alt+0176 (numpad) or paste from Character Map |
| HTML / Web | Use ° or ° |
| LaTeX | Use degree (with gensymb package) or ^circ |
| macOS (any app) | Option + Shift + 8 |
In HTML, the ° entity is the standard approach for marking up temperature or angle data. Using an actual Unicode character (°) is also valid in modern HTML, but the named entity is more explicit and widely understood.
The Difference Between ° and Related Symbols
It's worth knowing that ° (degree) is not the same character as:
- º — the masculine ordinal indicator (used in some languages for abbreviations like 1º)
- ˚ — the modifier letter ring above (used in phonetics)
They look similar but are distinct Unicode characters. In most everyday typing — temperatures, angles, coordinates — the correct character is the degree sign (U+00B0). Copying from an unreliable source or using the wrong Alt code can occasionally insert the wrong lookalike symbol, which matters in data entry and code contexts.
The Variable That Changes Everything
The "fastest" method for typing a degree symbol isn't universal — it depends on your specific device, your keyboard layout, your operating system version, and what application you're typing in. A MacBook user and a Windows desktop user with a full numpad will have very different optimal workflows. Someone typing frequently in HTML works differently than someone drafting a document in Google Docs.
Your muscle memory, your hardware setup, and how often you actually need the symbol are what determine which method is genuinely worth learning. 🎯