How to Add a Degree Symbol on Any Device or Platform

The degree symbol (°) is one of those small characters that shows up constantly — in temperature readings, geographic coordinates, angle measurements, and academic writing — yet it lives nowhere obvious on a standard keyboard. Knowing how to insert it quickly depends entirely on what device you're using, what software you're in, and how often you need it.

Why the Degree Symbol Isn't on Your Keyboard

Standard QWERTY keyboards were designed around the most frequently typed characters in everyday writing. Specialized symbols like °, ©, or ™ were left off to keep layouts manageable. Instead, operating systems and applications provide several pathways to access them — keyboard shortcuts, character maps, autocorrect rules, and Unicode input methods.

The method that works best for you will depend on your operating system, the application you're working in, and whether you need the symbol occasionally or dozens of times a day.

How to Type the Degree Symbol on Windows

Windows offers multiple approaches depending on your workflow.

Numeric keypad shortcut (Alt code): Hold Alt and type 0176 on the numeric keypad (not the top row of numbers), then release Alt. The ° symbol appears. This only works if your keyboard has a dedicated numeric keypad and Num Lock is enabled.

Unicode input: In many Windows applications, you can type 00B0 then press Alt + X to convert it to °. This works reliably in Microsoft Word and WordPad, but not in all programs.

Character Map utility: Search for "Character Map" in the Start menu, find the degree symbol, and copy it to your clipboard. Slow for frequent use, but useful when shortcuts aren't working.

Windows emoji and symbol panel: Press Win + . (period) to open the emoji panel, then search for "degree." This works across most modern Windows applications.

How to Type the Degree Symbol on macOS

Mac users have a straightforward shortcut available system-wide:

• Press Option + Shift + 8 to insert °

This works in virtually any text field on macOS — browsers, documents, notes, or email. It's worth memorizing if you're on a Mac regularly.

Alternatively, open the Character Viewer by pressing Control + Command + Space, search for "degree," and double-click to insert it.

How to Add the Degree Symbol on iPhone and iPad 📱

iOS has the degree symbol tucked inside the keyboard — no settings change needed.

1. Open the keyboard and tap the 123 key to switch to numbers
2. Press and hold the 0 (zero) key
3. A small menu pops up with the ° symbol
4. Slide your finger to it and release

This gesture works in any app that uses the standard iOS keyboard. Some third-party keyboards handle this differently, so the hold-and-slide behavior may vary if you're using a custom keyboard.

How to Add the Degree Symbol on Android

Android keyboard behavior varies more than iOS because manufacturers and third-party keyboards each implement their own layouts.

On Gboard (Google's default keyboard):

1. Tap ?123 to switch to the symbol keyboard
2. Tap =< for more symbols
3. The ° symbol appears in the extended character set

Alternative method on many Android keyboards: Press and hold the 0 key on the number row — a degree symbol often appears as a long-press option, similar to iOS.

If your specific keyboard doesn't surface it easily, copy-pasting from a search result or note is a reliable fallback.

Degree Symbol in Specific Applications

Microsoft Word

Word has a dedicated Insert > Symbol menu. Go to Insert → Symbol → More Symbols, filter by the Latin-1 Supplement character set, and locate °. You can also assign it a custom keyboard shortcut within Word's settings for repeated use.

Word's AutoCorrect feature is worth knowing: you can set it to automatically replace a custom text string (like (deg)) with ° every time you type it.

Google Docs

Use Insert → Special Characters, search "degree," and click to insert. Google Docs also responds to the Windows Alt code and the Mac Option + Shift + 8 shortcut, depending on your OS.

Excel and Spreadsheets

In Excel, the degree symbol is commonly needed in temperature labels or angle data. The formula =CHAR(176) outputs ° and can be concatenated with numbers: =A1&CHAR(176) displays something like 98.6°.

Unicode and HTML Reference 🔢

For developers, web writers, or anyone working in code:

Using ° in HTML ensures the symbol renders correctly regardless of page encoding.

The Variable That Changes Everything

All of these methods work — but which one fits your situation depends on factors that aren't universal. Someone writing scientific papers in Word on Windows will benefit from a custom AutoCorrect rule or a memorized Alt code. A mobile user dashing off a weather update works best with the long-press zero shortcut. A developer building a web app reaches for ° without thinking twice.

Frequency matters too. If you type the degree symbol once a month, copy-pasting from a character map is perfectly reasonable. If it's appearing in every other sentence, spending two minutes learning the keyboard shortcut for your platform pays off immediately.

The right approach also shifts if you switch devices regularly, use accessibility tools that intercept certain key combinations, or work primarily in applications that override standard OS shortcuts. Your specific combination of hardware, software, and habits is what ultimately determines which method belongs in your muscle memory.