How to Create the Degree Symbol on Any Device
The degree symbol (°) is one of those small characters that shows up constantly — in temperature readings, geographic coordinates, angles in math and design, and scientific notation. Yet it doesn't have a dedicated key on most keyboards. Depending on your device, operating system, and how you're entering text, the method to produce it varies significantly.
Here's a practical breakdown of every common approach.
What Is the Degree Symbol?
The degree symbol is the small raised circle (°) used to denote degrees of temperature (32°F, 100°C), angles (90°), and geographic coordinates (45°N). It is a distinct Unicode character — U+00B0 — separate from the masculine ordinal indicator (º) or the ring above diacritic, both of which look similar but have different meanings in formal or technical writing.
Using the correct character matters in documents, code, and data entry where symbols are parsed or indexed.
How to Type the Degree Symbol on Windows 💻
Windows gives you several reliable methods:
Keyboard Shortcut (NumLock required) Hold Alt, then type 0176 on the numeric keypad (not the top-row numbers). Release Alt. The ° symbol appears. This only works with NumLock active and a physical numeric keypad present.
Character Map Open the Start menu, search for Character Map, find the degree symbol, and copy it to the clipboard. Useful when shortcuts aren't available.
Copy-Paste from a Symbol Simply copy ° from a browser or document and paste it wherever needed. Fast and device-independent.
Emoji & Symbol Panel Press Windows + . (period) to open the emoji panel. Search "degree" and the symbol should appear under symbols.
In Microsoft Word Go to Insert → Symbol → More Symbols, set the font to normal text, and locate the degree symbol. You can also type 2109 then press Alt+X to convert it inline.
How to Type the Degree Symbol on macOS
Keyboard Shortcut Press Option + Shift + 8. This inserts ° directly in most Mac applications. It works in Notes, Pages, Word for Mac, mail clients, and most text fields.
Character Viewer Press Control + Command + Space to open the Character Viewer. Search "degree" to find the symbol and double-click to insert it.
This is macOS's most universal method for symbols that don't have dedicated shortcuts.
How to Type the Degree Symbol on iPhone and iPad
On iOS and iPadOS, the degree symbol is embedded in the keyboard — but slightly hidden:
- Open any text field and bring up the keyboard.
- Tap the 123 key to switch to the numbers layout.
- Press and hold the zero (0) key.
- A popover appears with the degree symbol (°). Slide to it and release.
This works in Messages, Notes, Mail, Safari address bar, and most third-party apps. No third-party keyboard required.
How to Type the Degree Symbol on Android
Android varies more between manufacturers and keyboard apps, but the most common path is:
- Open the keyboard and switch to the numbers/symbols layout (usually via a ?123 or !#1 key).
- Look for ° directly in the symbols panel — many Android keyboards include it.
- If it's not visible, press and hold the 0 key, as some keyboards (including Gboard) surface it that way.
On Gboard specifically: switch to the symbols view and look in the first or second panel. You can also use voice input and say "degree symbol" — Gboard often interprets this correctly.
How to Insert the Degree Symbol in Specific Applications
| Application | Method |
|---|---|
| Microsoft Word (Windows) | Alt + 0176 or Insert → Symbol |
| Microsoft Word (Mac) | Option + Shift + 8 |
| Google Docs | Insert → Special Characters → search "degree" |
| Excel | Alt + 0176 (Windows) or Option+Shift+8 (Mac) |
| HTML/Web | Use the entity ° or ° |
| LaTeX | Use $^circ$ or degree with the gensymb package |
| Python / Code | Use the Unicode string "u00b0" |
In HTML, using ° is preferable to pasting the raw symbol, since it renders consistently across browsers and character encodings.
Unicode and Copy-Paste: The Universal Fallback 🔢
When no keyboard shortcut is available — on a smart TV, game console, or unfamiliar device — the most reliable approach is to copy the symbol directly: °
Because ° is a standard Unicode character (U+00B0), it pastes correctly into virtually any modern text field, app, or document editor that supports Unicode, which includes everything from Gmail to Figma to terminal emulators.
Variables That Affect Which Method Works for You
Not every method works in every situation. A few factors determine which approach is practical:
- Keyboard type — Laptops without a numeric keypad can't use Alt+0176 on Windows
- Operating system version — Older versions of Windows may not have the emoji panel; older Android versions vary in keyboard behavior
- Input method / keyboard app — Swiftkey, Gboard, Samsung Keyboard, and others handle long-press symbols differently
- Application context — Code editors, web forms, and word processors each handle special character input differently
- Accessibility settings — Some assistive keyboards remap or limit symbol input
The same user might find that Option+Shift+8 works perfectly in Pages but behaves unexpectedly in a browser form field depending on browser settings or input method overrides.
What works cleanly in one setup may require the workaround route in another — and that's entirely determined by the combination of hardware, software, and application you're working in.