How to Type the Degree Symbol on Any Keyboard

The degree symbol (°) is one of those characters you need occasionally but can never quite remember how to produce. Whether you're writing about temperatures, geographic coordinates, or angles, it's not sitting on any standard key. The good news: every major operating system has at least one reliable method — and most have several.

Why the Degree Symbol Isn't on Your Keyboard

Standard keyboards follow the QWERTY layout, which was designed around the most frequently used characters in English. The degree symbol (°) didn't make the cut. It lives instead in the extended character set — accessible through shortcuts, special input modes, or character maps depending on your device and OS.

Understanding which method works best starts with knowing your platform.

How to Type ° on Windows

Windows offers three main approaches, each suited to different workflows.

Alt Code Method (Numpad Required)

If your keyboard has a numeric keypad, this is the fastest route:

1. Make sure Num Lock is on
2. Hold Alt
3. Type 0176 on the numpad (not the top-row numbers)
4. Release Alt — the ° symbol appears

This only works with the numpad, not the number row above the letter keys.

Windows Emoji and Symbol Panel

No numpad? Use the built-in symbol picker:

• Press Windows key + . (period) or Windows key + ; (semicolon)
• Click the Symbols tab
• Browse or search for "degree"

This works in most text fields across Windows 10 and 11.

Character Map App

For a more complete character browser:

1. Open Start, search for Character Map
2. Find the degree symbol (°) in the grid
3. Click it, then Copy and paste it where needed

You can also check the Unicode value shown at the bottom (U+00B0) to confirm you're copying the correct character.

How to Type ° on Mac

Mac offers a simple, consistent keyboard shortcut across virtually all applications:

Shift + Option + 8 = °

That's it. No mode-switching or numpad needed. It works in Notes, Pages, Word, browsers, and most other text inputs on macOS.

If that shortcut conflicts with another app's binding, the Character Viewer is the fallback:

• Go to Edit > Emoji & Symbols (or press Control + Command + Space)
• Search "degree"
• Double-click to insert

How to Type ° on iPhone and iPad 📱

Apple's mobile keyboard includes the degree symbol — but it's hidden:

1. Open any text field
2. Hold down the 0 (zero) key
3. A pop-up appears showing ° as an option
4. Slide your finger to select it

This works on both iPhone and iPad with the default iOS/iPadOS keyboard. Third-party keyboards may vary.

How to Type ° on Android

Android's approach depends on the keyboard app you're using, but the standard Gboard method is:

1. Tap the ?123 key to switch to symbols
2. Press and hold the 0 (zero) key
3. Select ° from the pop-up

Some keyboards place it under a symbols or more symbols layer instead. If you're using a manufacturer keyboard (Samsung, for example), the location may differ slightly.

How to Insert ° in Specific Software

The Unicode code point for the degree symbol is U+00B0. In apps that support Unicode input, you can type 00B0 and press Alt + X (Word on Windows) to convert it directly.

Degree Symbol vs. Similar-Looking Characters ⚠️

It's worth knowing that a few visually similar characters can cause problems in technical or scientific contexts:

• ° (U+00B0) — the actual degree symbol
• º (U+00BA) — masculine ordinal indicator (looks almost identical, wrong character)
• ˚ (U+02DA) — ring above (used in some phonetic notations)

If you're writing code, working with data, or publishing scientific content, using the correct Unicode character matters. Copy-pasting from an unreliable source can silently introduce the wrong one.

The Variable That Changes Everything

The "fastest" method isn't universal — it depends on factors specific to your situation:

• Keyboard type: Numpad availability changes what's possible on Windows
• OS version: Older Windows or macOS versions may not support the symbol picker shortcut
• App context: Word, Google Docs, HTML editors, and plain text files each have their own preferred method
• Mobile keyboard app: Default keyboards behave differently than SwiftKey, Gboard on iOS, or custom keyboards
• Typing frequency: Someone who types temperatures all day might create a text replacement shortcut (e.g., typing deg auto-expands to °) rather than using a keyboard shortcut each time

Text replacement in particular — available natively in macOS System Settings, Windows, and mobile keyboards — is worth exploring if the degree symbol appears regularly in your work. But whether that overhead is worth it, or whether a simple Alt code or press-and-hold is enough, comes down to your own workflow and how often you actually need it.