How to Type the Degree Sign on Any Keyboard (°)

The degree symbol (°) is one of those characters that almost everyone needs at some point — whether you're writing about temperatures, geographic coordinates, or angles — but it doesn't appear on any standard keyboard key. That gap trips people up more than it should. Here's a clear breakdown of every reliable method, across operating systems and device types.

Why the Degree Sign Isn't on Your Keyboard

Standard keyboard layouts are designed around the most frequently typed characters: letters, numbers, and common punctuation. The degree symbol (°) falls into a category of special characters — symbols that exist in Unicode and most fonts but aren't assigned a dedicated physical key.

Unicode assigns the degree sign the code point U+00B0. Every modern operating system can render and input it; the method just varies by platform.

How to Type the Degree Symbol on Windows

Windows offers several approaches, ranging from keyboard shortcuts to built-in tools.

Alt Code Method

The most widely known Windows method uses Alt codes, which require a numeric keypad:

1. Make sure Num Lock is on
2. Hold Alt
3. Type 0176 on the numeric keypad (not the number row)
4. Release Alt — the ° symbol appears

This works in most Windows applications including Word, Notepad, browsers, and email clients. It does not work reliably with the number row at the top of the keyboard, only the dedicated numpad.

Character Map

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

1. Open Start, search for Character Map
2. Find the degree symbol (°)
3. Click Copy, then paste wherever needed

Windows Emoji and Symbol Panel

Windows 10 and 11 include a built-in symbol picker:

1. Press Windows key + . (period) or Windows key + ;
2. Click the Omega icon (Ω) to switch to symbols
3. Search for "degree" or browse Math symbols

This method works without a numpad and is particularly useful on laptops.

Microsoft Word AutoCorrect / Insert Symbol

In Word specifically, you can go to Insert → Symbol → More Symbols, find °, and insert it directly. Word also lets you assign a custom keyboard shortcut to any symbol through that same dialog.

How to Type the Degree Symbol on Mac 🍎

Mac keyboards use a more consistent shortcut system for special characters.

The shortcut is: Shift + Option + 8

This works system-wide — in Pages, TextEdit, browsers, email, and most other Mac applications. It's one of the more straightforward special character inputs on macOS.

Alternatively, you can use the Character Viewer:

1. Go to Edit → Emoji & Symbols in most apps (or press Control + Command + Space)
2. Search "degree"
3. Double-click to insert

How to Type the Degree Symbol on iPhone and iPad

On iOS and iPadOS, the degree symbol is accessible directly from the default keyboard — it just takes an extra tap:

1. Open any text input
2. Tap the 123 key to switch to the number keyboard
3. Press and hold the 0 (zero) key
4. A popup will show the ° symbol
5. Slide to it and release

No third-party apps or settings changes required. This works on both iPhone and iPad with the standard Apple keyboard.

How to Type the Degree Symbol on Android

Android behavior varies slightly depending on the keyboard app and manufacturer skin, but the most common method:

1. Open the keyboard and switch to the number/symbol view (usually labeled ?123 or 123)
2. Look for a ° key directly, or long-press 0

On Gboard (Google's keyboard, widely available):

• Switch to symbols view
• The ° symbol typically appears in the first symbol screen

Some Android keyboards place it differently or require a second symbols page (= < button). If you use a third-party keyboard like SwiftKey, the location may differ.

HTML and Web Contexts

If you're typing degree symbols into web content, code editors, or CMS platforms, you may want to use the HTML entity instead of the literal character:

Using HTML entities avoids potential encoding issues when the character passes through different systems.

Copy-Paste as a Fallback

If none of the above methods fit your workflow, the simplest universal fallback is to copy the symbol directly:

°

Bookmark a page that includes it, or search "degree symbol" in your browser and copy from the results. It pastes cleanly into virtually any application on any device.

Variables That Change Your Best Method

Which approach works best isn't universal — it depends on a few factors specific to your situation:

• Keyboard type: Full-size keyboards with a numpad unlock the Alt code method on Windows; laptop keyboards without numpads don't
• Operating system and version: Older Windows versions may lack the emoji panel; older Android versions may have a different symbol keyboard layout
• Application: Some apps (like Word) have their own symbol insertion tools that override or supplement OS-level shortcuts
• Frequency of use: Someone who types temperature data constantly has different needs than someone who needs the symbol once a month
• Keyboard app on mobile: On Android especially, the keyboard app in use determines exactly where — or whether — the symbol appears in the standard layout 🔍

The method that feels seamless for a developer working in a code editor is likely different from what works best for someone typing a weather report in a browser-based email client. Each setup has a path — they just don't all look the same.