How to Make the Degree Symbol in Microsoft Word

The degree symbol (°) is one of those characters that doesn't live on any standard keyboard key — yet it comes up constantly in documents covering temperature, angles, coordinates, and scientific data. Knowing where to find it, and which method fits your workflow, makes a real difference in how smoothly you work.

Why the Degree Symbol Isn't on Your Keyboard

Standard QWERTY keyboards were designed around the most frequently typed characters in everyday English writing. Symbols like °, ©, ™, and µ didn't make the cut. They're accessible, but only through secondary input methods — keyboard shortcuts, character menus, or Unicode entry.

In Microsoft Word specifically, there are several distinct paths to insert °, and which one works best depends on your operating system, your keyboard layout, your version of Word, and how often you need the symbol.

Method 1: Keyboard Shortcut (Windows)

The fastest route on Windows is a keyboard shortcut built into Word itself:

Press Ctrl + Shift + @, then immediately press the spacebar.

This triggers Word's built-in autocorrect/shortcut system and inserts the degree symbol directly at your cursor. It works in most versions of Microsoft Word for Windows without any setup.

Alternatively, if you have a numeric keypad on your keyboard:

1. Make sure Num Lock is on.
2. Hold Alt and type 0176 on the numeric keypad.
3. Release Alt — the ° symbol appears.

This is a Windows-level shortcut (not Word-specific), so it works in almost any application, not just Word.

⚠️ The numeric keypad shortcut does not work with the number row at the top of your keyboard — it requires the separate numpad on the right side.

Method 2: Keyboard Shortcut (Mac)

On a Mac, the degree symbol shortcut is simpler:

Press Option + Shift + 8.

This works in Microsoft Word for Mac and across most macOS applications. No numeric keypad needed.

Method 3: Insert Symbol Menu (All Versions)

If shortcuts aren't your preference, Word's built-in Symbol menu gives you a visual, click-based option:

1. Place your cursor where you want the symbol.
2. Go to the Insert tab in the ribbon.
3. Click Symbol (usually at the 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. Find and click the degree sign (°), then click Insert.

Once you've inserted it once, the degree symbol typically appears in the Recently Used Symbols section at the bottom of the quick-access Symbol dropdown — making future insertions faster.

Method 4: AutoCorrect and Custom Shortcuts

Word's AutoCorrect feature lets you assign a text string that automatically converts to the degree symbol as you type. For example, you could configure (deg) to automatically become °.

To set this up:

1. Go to File → Options → Proofing → AutoCorrect Options (Windows) or Word → Preferences → AutoCorrect (Mac).
2. In the Replace field, type your trigger text (e.g., (deg)).
3. In the With field, paste or type the ° symbol.
4. Click Add, then OK.

This is particularly useful if you're writing documents that require the degree symbol repeatedly — technical reports, lab notes, engineering specs, or recipe documents.

Method 5: Copy-Paste and Unicode

If you're in a hurry or working across applications, simply copy the symbol — ° — from a web page, another document, or a character map tool, and paste it into Word.

You can also use Unicode entry in Word for Windows:

1. Type 00B0 (the Unicode code point for °).
2. Immediately press Alt + X.
3. Word converts the code into the symbol.

This method requires no menus and no mouse. It's favored by users who already know Unicode values and prefer keyboard-only workflows.

Comparing the Methods at a Glance 🔍

The Variables That Affect Which Method Works for You

Not every method works in every situation. A few factors shape which approach makes the most sense:

Operating system is the first filter — Mac and Windows shortcuts are different, and some methods (like the numpad Alt code) simply don't exist on Mac.

Keyboard type matters too. Laptops without a dedicated numeric keypad can't use the Alt+numpad shortcut on Windows without enabling a function-key workaround, which varies by manufacturer.

Word version plays a role. The Ctrl+Shift+@ shortcut has been consistent across modern Word versions, but some older or web-based versions of Word Online have limited symbol support compared to the desktop app.

Frequency of use determines whether setup is worth it. If you type temperatures or angles dozens of times per document, an AutoCorrect trigger is worth configuring once. If you need the symbol once a month, the Insert menu is fine.

Workflow context also matters. If you frequently move text between Word and other applications, Unicode input or copy-paste may produce more consistent results than Word-specific shortcuts. 🖥️

When Results Vary

Some users find that certain shortcuts behave differently depending on their language and keyboard layout settings. Regional keyboard layouts — especially those set to non-English languages — can intercept or reassign shortcut combinations. If a shortcut isn't producing the degree symbol, checking your active keyboard input language in your OS settings is a reasonable first step.

Font choice can also affect appearance. In most standard fonts the degree symbol renders cleanly, but in some specialty or display fonts, ° may look slightly different in size or weight compared to surrounding text.

The right method ultimately depends on how you work, what version of Word you're using, what hardware you have in front of you, and how frequently the symbol shows up in your documents — details that only you can see from where you're sitting.