How to Make a Degree Symbol in Microsoft Word

The degree symbol (°) is one of those small characters that comes up constantly — temperatures, angles, coordinates — yet it's not sitting on any standard keyboard key. The good news is that Microsoft Word offers several ways to insert it, and the best method depends on how often you need it, what version of Word you're running, and whether you prefer keyboard shortcuts or menu navigation.

Why the Degree Symbol Isn't on Your Keyboard

Standard keyboard layouts are built around the most frequently typed characters. Specialty symbols like °, ©, and ™ didn't make the cut for dedicated keys. Instead, they live inside Unicode — a universal character encoding system that assigns a unique numeric code to virtually every character in every language and script. Microsoft Word is built to access those characters, which is why inserting a degree symbol is entirely straightforward once you know the route.

Method 1: Keyboard Shortcut (Fastest for Regular Use)

The quickest way to insert a degree symbol in Word is with a keyboard shortcut:

Windows: Place your cursor where you want the symbol, then press:

Ctrl + Shift + @ followed immediately by the Space bar

This is actually Word's built-in shortcut for inserting the degree symbol as a formatted character. Some users find it unintuitive at first, but it becomes muscle memory quickly.

Alternative Windows shortcut (numeric keypad required):

Hold Alt and type 0176 on the numeric keypad (not the top-row numbers). Release Alt and the ° symbol appears. This only works if your keyboard has a dedicated numeric keypad and Num Lock is on.

Mac: Press Option + Shift + 8 — this inserts the degree symbol directly and works across most Mac applications, not just Word.

Method 2: Insert Symbol Menu (Most Reliable Across Versions)

If shortcuts aren't sticking or you're on an unfamiliar keyboard, Word's Insert menu gives you reliable access:

1. Click where you want the symbol
2. Go to the Insert tab in the ribbon
3. Click Symbol (far right of the ribbon)
4. Select More Symbols from the dropdown
5. In the Symbol dialog box, set the font to (normal text) and the subset to Latin-1 Supplement
6. Locate the degree symbol (°) — it's usually visible without much scrolling
7. Click Insert, then Close

This method works on every version of Word from 2010 onward, including Microsoft 365. It's slower than a shortcut but never fails. 🎯

Method 3: Unicode Entry (For Power Users)

If you know Unicode character codes, Word lets you type them directly:

1. Type 00B0 (the Unicode code point for the degree symbol) directly in your document
2. Immediately press Alt + X

Word converts the code into the ° symbol on the spot. This trick works in Word for Windows but is not available in Word for Mac. It's particularly useful if you're working with multiple special characters and already have codes memorized or referenced.

Method 4: AutoCorrect Custom Shortcut

If you use the degree symbol constantly, it's worth setting up a custom AutoCorrect entry:

1. Go to File → Options → Proofing → AutoCorrect Options
2. In the Replace field, type a unique trigger (e.g., deg;)
3. In the With field, insert the ° symbol (paste it in)
4. Click Add, then OK

From that point, every time you type deg; and press Space, Word replaces it with °. This approach works well for technical writers, scientists, or anyone regularly drafting documents with temperature or angle data.

Comparing Methods at a Glance

Variables That Affect Which Method Works for You

Not every method works in every context. A few factors shape your experience:

Keyboard hardware — The Alt + 0176 numeric keypad shortcut only works on keyboards with a physical numpad. Many laptop keyboards lack one, making this method inaccessible without an external keyboard or Fn key workaround.

Operating system — Windows and Mac have different native shortcuts, and some Word features (like Unicode entry with Alt + X) are Windows-only. Word for Mac mirrors many functions but isn't identical.

Word version — The ribbon layout and Symbol dialog have remained consistent from Word 2010 through Microsoft 365, but some older versions (Word 2007 and earlier) navigate slightly differently.

Document type and workflow — Someone inserting a single degree symbol in a letter has a different need than a technical writer embedding hundreds of them across a report. The AutoCorrect setup that pays off over a long document would be overkill for a one-time use. 🖥️

Regional keyboard layouts — Non-US keyboard layouts sometimes have different shortcut behaviors. If you're using a UK, European, or other localized layout, the Ctrl + Shift + @ shortcut may behave differently or produce a different character.

A Note on Formatting Consistency

Whichever method you use, the degree symbol inserted through Word's built-in tools will match your document's current font and size automatically. If you paste a ° symbol from an external source — a website or another application — it may carry its own formatting. Always check that your symbol visually matches surrounding text, particularly in documents where typography consistency matters.

The right method isn't universal. It comes down to your keyboard, your platform, how often you need the symbol, and how much setup time you're willing to invest upfront. Each of the approaches above covers a different combination of those variables. ⌨️