The quickest way depends on your device

The degree symbol (°) is not a dedicated key on most keyboards, so you type it using a keyboard shortcut or a character menu. On Windows, hold Alt and type 0176 on the numeric keypad. On Mac, hold Shift and Option together and press 8. On a Chromebook, hold Ctrl and Shift and press U, then type B0 and press Space or Enter. On Linux, the method depends on your input method, but Ctrl+Shift+U followed by B0 works on most systems.

If you do not have a numeric keypad or prefer not to memorize shortcuts, every operating system also has a character picker or symbol menu you can open with your mouse. This is slower but works the same way every time.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows users with a numeric keypad can type the degree symbol by holding Alt and pressing 0176.
  • Mac users hold Shift and Option together, then press 8 to produce the degree symbol.
  • Chromebook and Linux users can hold Ctrl+Shift+U, type B0, then press Space or Enter.
  • Every operating system has a character picker or symbol menu accessible through the Settings or system menu if you prefer not to use keyboard shortcuts.

Windows: Using the numeric keypad

The numeric keypad is the set of number keys on the right side of most full-size keyboards. If your keyboard does not have one — common on laptops — you can use the Num Lock key to enable a numeric keypad overlay on the main keyboard, or use the character picker instead.

To type the degree symbol on Windows with a numeric keypad: hold down the Alt key, type 0176 on the numeric keypad (not the main number row), then release Alt. The symbol appears where your cursor is. This works in almost any program — email, documents, web forms, text editors.

If you use a laptop without a dedicated numeric keypad, press Num Lock (usually Fn+Num Lock) to turn on the overlay, then follow the same steps. The overlay typically uses the right side of the letter keys as numbers.

Mac: Using Shift and Option

On Mac, hold Shift and Option at the same time, then press 8. Release all three keys and the degree symbol appears. This shortcut works in any Mac program — Mail, Pages, web browsers, text editors, and more.

If you forget the shortcut, you can also open the Character Viewer. Press Control+Command+Space (or go to Edit menu and select Emoji & Symbols), search for "degree", and double-click the symbol to insert it. This method is slower but requires no memorization.

Chromebook: Using Ctrl+Shift+U

Chromebooks use a Unicode input method. Hold Ctrl and Shift together, then type U (the letter, not a number). A small u with an underline appears on screen. Type B0 (the letter B followed by zero), then press Space or Enter. The degree symbol replaces the underlined u.

This method works in most Chromebook text fields — Google Docs, Gmail, web forms, and text editors. If it does not work in a particular app, that app may not support Unicode input, and you would need to use the on-screen character picker instead.

Linux: Using Ctrl+Shift+U

Most Linux systems use the same Unicode input method as Chromebooks. Hold Ctrl and Shift, type U, then type B0, then press Space or Enter. The degree symbol appears in place of the underlined u.

Some Linux distributions or desktop environments may use different input methods. If Ctrl+Shift+U does not work, check your system's input method settings or open the character map application (usually called Character Map or Gucharmap) to find and copy the symbol.

Using the character picker when shortcuts do not work

Every operating system includes a built-in character picker or symbol menu. This method is slower than a keyboard shortcut but works everywhere and requires no memorization.

On Windows: Open the Start menu, search for "Character Map", and open the app. Scroll or search for "degree", click it, click Copy, then paste it where you need it (Ctrl+V).

On Mac: Press Control+Command+Space to open the Character Viewer, search for "degree", and double-click the symbol to insert it directly.

On Chromebook: Click the time in the bottom right, click Settings, go to Languages and Input, and look for the character picker option. The exact location varies by Chrome OS version.

On Linux: Open the Activities menu and search for "Character Map" or "Gucharmap", open it, search for "degree", and copy the symbol to paste elsewhere.

Why the degree symbol is not on the keyboard

The degree symbol is rarely used compared to letters and numbers, so keyboard designers did not give it a dedicated key. Instead, it lives in the extended character set that every operating system maintains. The shortcuts above are the fastest way to reach it without opening a menu.

If you type the degree symbol often — for scientific writing, weather reports, or temperature data — you might consider setting up a text expansion tool. On Mac, you can create a text shortcut in System Preferences that replaces a short code (like "deg") with the degree symbol. Windows users can do the same with AutoCorrect in Microsoft Office or third-party tools like AutoHotkey.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I copy and paste the degree symbol instead of typing it?

Yes. You can copy the ° symbol from any source — a web page, a document, or this article — and paste it wherever you need it. This works on all devices. It is slower than a keyboard shortcut if you type the symbol often, but it requires no memorization.

What if Alt+0176 does not work on my Windows keyboard?

Make sure Num Lock is on (the Num Lock key should have a light or indicator). If you are on a laptop, you may need to press Fn+Num Lock to enable the numeric keypad overlay. If neither works, use the Character Map app instead — search for it in the Start menu, find the degree symbol, and copy it.

Is there a keyboard shortcut for the degree symbol on phones or tablets?

On most phones, long-press the 0 (zero) key to see a menu that includes the degree symbol, then tap it. On tablets with a connected keyboard, use the same shortcuts as your computer (Alt+0176 on Windows, Shift+Option+8 on iPad). If those do not work, use the on-screen keyboard to long-press or search for the symbol.

Can I type a superscript o instead of the degree symbol?

A superscript o (ᵒ) looks similar but is not the same character as the degree symbol (°). For temperatures, angles, and scientific notation, use the actual degree symbol. For ordinal numbers like "1st" or "2nd", superscript letters are correct. Most programs treat them differently, so use the right one for your purpose.