The fastest way depends on your operating system

The degree symbol (°) does not have its own key on most keyboards, so you make 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 Linux, hold Ctrl and Shift, then type U and 00B0. Each method works in almost any program — email, documents, web browsers, spreadsheets.

If you do not have a numeric keypad (common on laptops), Windows offers an alternative: use the Character Map application built into Windows, search for "degree", and copy it to paste wherever you need it. This is slower than a shortcut but works on any keyboard layout.

The method you choose depends on what you are typing into and how often you need the symbol. A one-time use in an email is faster with Character Map. Regular use in a spreadsheet or document is faster with a memorized shortcut.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows users hold Alt and type 0176 on the numeric keypad to produce the degree symbol instantly.
  • Mac users hold Shift and Option together, then press 8 to type the degree symbol in any program.
  • Linux users hold Ctrl and Shift, type U, then type 00B0 to insert the degree symbol.
  • Windows users without a numeric keypad can open Character Map, search for "degree", and copy the symbol to paste it.
  • The degree symbol works in email, documents, spreadsheets, and web forms without any special software.

Windows: Using the Alt code

The numeric keypad method is the fastest on Windows if your keyboard has one. Make sure Num Lock is on (a light on your keyboard usually shows this). Hold down the Alt key on the left side of your keyboard, type 0176 on the numeric keypad — the numbers on the right side of your keyboard, not the row above the letters — then release Alt. The degree symbol appears immediately.

This works in Word, Google Docs, email, spreadsheets, and most other programs. The code 0176 is the ASCII code for the degree symbol, and Windows converts it as soon as you release Alt. If nothing appears, check that Num Lock is on and that you used the numeric keypad, not the number row.

Laptop keyboards often do not have a dedicated numeric keypad. If yours does not, look for a Fn key (usually bottom left) and a number that shares a key with letters — often the 7, 8, 9 keys have small numbers printed on them. Hold Fn and that number key to activate the numeric keypad temporarily, then use the Alt code as normal.

Mac: Using Shift and Option

On Mac, hold Shift and Option (the key also labeled Alt) at the same time, then press 8. Release all keys and the degree symbol appears. This works in Mail, Pages, Google Docs, web browsers, and any other program where you type text.

The Shift-Option-8 combination is a dead key on Mac — it does not produce a character by itself, but modifies the next key you press. Pressing 8 after Shift-Option produces the degree symbol. If you press a different key, you get a different accented character (Shift-Option-E followed by E makes é, for example).

If the shortcut does not work, check that you are using the Option key, not Alt (they are the same key, but labeled differently on different Mac keyboards). The key is to the left of the spacebar.

Linux: Using Ctrl, Shift, and Unicode

On Linux, hold Ctrl and Shift together, type the letter U, then type 00B0 (the Unicode code for degree), then release all keys. The degree symbol appears. This method works in most Linux programs, including text editors, email clients, and web browsers.

The Ctrl-Shift-U combination tells Linux you are about to type a Unicode character. The 00B0 is the hexadecimal code for the degree symbol. If nothing appears, your Linux distribution may not have Unicode input enabled — check your input method settings in System Settings or the equivalent on your desktop environment.

Windows Character Map for keyboards without a numeric keypad

If your Windows keyboard does not have a numeric keypad, or the Alt code does not work, use the Character Map application. Press the Windows key, type "character map", and open the application. In the search box at the bottom, type "degree" and the degree symbol appears in the list above.

Click the degree symbol once to select it, then click the Copy button. The symbol is now in your clipboard. Go to the document or email where you need it, right-click, and select Paste (or press Ctrl-V). The symbol appears exactly where your cursor was.

This method is slower than a keyboard shortcut but works on any Windows computer and any keyboard layout. You can also use Character Map to find other symbols you use regularly — copyright, trademark, arrows, mathematical symbols — and copy them the same way.

Using the degree symbol in different programs

The keyboard shortcuts work the same way in Word, Google Docs, Excel, Sheets, email, and web forms. Type the shortcut and the symbol appears in the text, ready to be formatted like any other character. You can make it bold, italic, larger, or a different color.

In spreadsheets, the degree symbol counts as a character, so if you type "98°F" in a cell, the entire string is treated as text. If you need to do math with temperatures, store the number and the symbol separately — put 98 in one cell and add the ° symbol in the display format, or use a formula to combine them.

In web forms and social media, the degree symbol usually works fine. If a form rejects it, the form itself has a restriction (some older systems do not accept special characters). In that case, you may need to type "degrees" spelled out instead, or contact the form's support to ask if they can accept the symbol.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Your keyboard probably does not have a dedicated numeric keypad. Look for a Fn key (usually bottom left) and numbers printed small on letter keys. Hold Fn and press the key with the number you need, then use Alt-0176 as normal. If that does not work, use Character Map instead — it is built into Windows and works on any keyboard.

Can I make a degree symbol on a phone or tablet?

On iPhone and iPad, hold down the 0 (zero) key in the number row and a menu appears with the degree symbol. Tap it to insert it. On Android, the method varies by keyboard app — most show a menu of symbols if you hold down the 0 key, but some require you to switch to a symbols keyboard first. Check your keyboard app's settings if the hold-down method does not work.

Is there a way to make the degree symbol without memorizing a code?

Yes. On any computer, you can open Character Map (Windows), Special Characters (Mac), or your system's symbol picker and search for "degree". Copy and paste it wherever you need it. This is slower than a shortcut but requires no memorization. You can also create a text shortcut in your system settings — for example, typing "deg" automatically expands to "°" — if you use the symbol often.

Does the degree symbol work in all fonts?

The degree symbol is part of the basic character set and appears in almost all fonts. If a font does not include it, your computer usually substitutes a similar-looking character or falls back to a default font for that symbol. In practice, this is rare — you will see the degree symbol correctly in Word, email, web pages, and spreadsheets regardless of the font you choose.