How to Type the Degree Symbol on Any Keyboard

The degree symbol (°) is one of those characters that doesn't live on any standard key — yet you need it constantly for temperatures, angles, coordinates, and academic work. The good news: every major operating system has at least one reliable method to produce it. The method that works best for you depends on your keyboard type, operating system, and how often you need the symbol.

What Is the Degree Symbol and Why Isn't It on the Keyboard?

The degree symbol is the small superscript circle (°) used to denote units like degrees Celsius (°C), degrees Fahrenheit (°F), or angular measurements. It's a legitimate Unicode character — specifically U+00B0 — and every modern system can render it perfectly.

It doesn't appear on standard keyboards because physical key real estate is limited. Keyboard layouts prioritize the most frequently typed characters, and the degree symbol, while useful, didn't make the cut for dedicated placement. Instead, it lives in the extended character set, accessible through shortcuts, alt codes, or special menus.

How to Type the Degree Symbol on Windows ⌨️

Windows gives you several options depending on your workflow.

Method 1: Alt Code (Numeric Keypad Required)

Hold Alt and type 0176 on the numeric keypad (not the number row). Release Alt and ° appears.

This is the fastest method once memorized — but it only works if your keyboard has a dedicated numeric keypad. Laptop keyboards without a numpad can't use this method directly, though some have a Fn key that activates a hidden numpad overlay on letter keys.

Method 2: Character Map

1. Press Windows key, type Character Map, and open it
2. Find the degree symbol (°)
3. Click Select, then Copy
4. Paste it wherever you need it

Slower, but reliable on any Windows machine.

Method 3: Copy-Paste or AutoCorrect

Many users simply copy the symbol once and save it in a text file or note for reuse. In Microsoft Word, you can set up AutoCorrect to replace a typed sequence like deg with ° automatically — a practical solution for heavy users.

Method 4: Unicode Entry (Some Apps)

In some applications, you can type 00B0 then press Alt+X to convert it to °. This works in Word and a few other rich-text editors, but not universally.

How to Type the Degree Symbol on Mac 🍎

Mac makes this notably easier.

Standard Shortcut

Press Option + Shift + 8 simultaneously. That's it — ° appears instantly in any application, from Notes to spreadsheets to code editors.

This shortcut works system-wide and requires no numpad, no special settings, and no additional software. It's one of the cleaner implementations across any desktop OS.

Alternative: Emoji & Symbols Viewer

Go to Edit → Emoji & Symbols (or press Control + Command + Space), search "degree," and click to insert it. Useful if you've forgotten the shortcut or need other special characters at the same time.

How to Type the Degree Symbol on iPhone and Android

Mobile keyboards handle this through long-press menus.

The behavior is consistent across most major mobile keyboards because they follow the same Unicode long-press convention. Third-party keyboards may vary slightly in which key surfaces the symbol.

How to Type the Degree Symbol in Google Docs and Microsoft Word

Both applications have built-in insertion tools independent of your OS shortcut.

Google Docs: Go to Insert → Special Characters, search "degree," and insert it directly from the panel.

Microsoft Word: Go to Insert → Symbol → More Symbols, find ° (Latin-1 Supplement block), and insert or assign it a custom keyboard shortcut through the Symbols dialog.

Word also auto-corrects degree symbol input in some regional settings, depending on how autocorrect is configured.

How to Type the Degree Symbol on Chromebook

Chromebooks don't support Windows Alt codes or Mac Option shortcuts natively, but you have a clean alternative.

Hold Ctrl + Shift + U, type 00b0, and press Enter. This Unicode input method works across ChromeOS wherever text input is active. It's the same underlying mechanism as inserting any Unicode character by code point.

The Variables That Affect Which Method Works for You

Even with all these options, the right method isn't the same for every user. Several factors shift the practical answer:

• Keyboard hardware — numpad availability changes your Windows options entirely
• Operating system — Mac's Option+Shift+8 is the most effortless cross-app solution; Windows requires more steps unless you're in Word
• Application type — browser text fields, code editors, rich-text documents, and spreadsheets each behave differently with special character input
• Input frequency — someone typing temperatures a few times a week has different needs than a scientist or geographer entering them hundreds of times daily
• Accessibility settings — some assistive input methods intercept shortcut key combinations, which can interfere with standard approaches

Someone on a desktop PC with a full numpad writing in Word has a completely different optimal workflow than a Chromebook user editing in a browser, or a Mac user in a terminal window. The symbol itself is universal — getting there efficiently depends on the specific combination of hardware, OS, and software you're actually working in.