How to Type the Degree Symbol on Windows (Every Method Explained)

The degree symbol — ° — is one of those characters that doesn't live on any standard keyboard key, yet comes up constantly in weather reports, cooking instructions, scientific notes, and technical documents. Windows gives you several ways to insert it, and the right method depends on how often you need it, what app you're using, and how you work.

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

The degree symbol (°) is a Unicode character — specifically U+00B0. Most physical keyboards are designed around the most frequently typed characters in everyday writing. Symbols like °, ©, and ± get left off because they're used less often than letters and numbers, not because they're hard for Windows to produce.

Every version of Windows — from Windows 7 through Windows 11 — can generate the degree symbol through multiple input methods. None of them require downloading anything or changing system settings permanently.

Method 1: Alt Code (Numpad Shortcut)

The fastest method for most desktop users is the Alt code:

1. Make sure Num Lock is on
2. Hold down Alt
3. Type 0176 on the numeric keypad (not the top-row numbers)
4. Release Alt

The ° symbol will appear wherever your cursor is placed.

This works in almost every Windows application — Notepad, Word, Excel, browsers, email clients, and more. The key requirement is a physical numeric keypad, which most full-size desktop keyboards have. Compact keyboards and most laptops do not include a dedicated numpad, which makes this method unreliable on those devices.

🖥️ If you're on a laptop, check whether your keyboard has a hidden numpad (often accessed via an Fn key). If it does, enable it before trying the Alt code.

Method 2: Windows Character Map

Windows includes a built-in utility called Character Map that lets you browse and copy any symbol:

1. Press Windows key + S and search for Character Map
2. Open the app
3. Find the degree symbol (it's in the Latin-1 range, near the top)
4. Click it, then click Select, then Copy
5. Paste it into your document with Ctrl + V

Character Map is slower than a keyboard shortcut but useful when you need a symbol you can't memorize. It also shows the Alt code for any character you select, which helps you learn shortcuts over time.

Method 3: Copy-Paste From Anywhere

If you only need the degree symbol occasionally, the simplest approach is to copy it directly:

°

Paste that into your document. It's the same Unicode character regardless of where you copy it from — a website, a previous document, or a notes file you've saved for reference. Many users keep a plain text file of frequently used symbols for exactly this reason.

Method 4: Word and Outlook AutoCorrect

If you use Microsoft Word or Outlook, there are two built-in shortcuts:

• Type 2109 then immediately press Alt + X — Word converts the Unicode code point to the ° symbol
• Go to Insert → Symbol → More Symbols, find the degree symbol, and assign it a custom keyboard shortcut via the Shortcut Key button

The Alt + X method is Word-specific and won't work in browsers or other apps. The assigned shortcut, however, will work anywhere within Word and Outlook.

You can also set up AutoCorrect in Word to replace a typed string (like (deg)) with ° automatically — useful if you're writing temperature-heavy documents regularly.

Method 5: Windows Emoji and Symbol Panel

Windows 10 and Windows 11 include a built-in symbol picker:

1. Press Windows key + . (period) or Windows key + ; (semicolon)
2. Click the Omega symbol (Ω) tab at the top — this is the symbols section
3. Search for degree or browse Latin symbols
4. Click ° to insert it

🔍 This panel works in most modern apps but may not function in older desktop software or certain legacy programs.

Method 6: On-Screen Keyboard

If keyboard shortcuts aren't working — or if you're using a touchscreen Windows device — the On-Screen Keyboard gives you access to special characters:

1. Search for On-Screen Keyboard in the Start menu
2. Enable it
3. Hold the Alt key on-screen and type 0176 using the number row

This mimics the Alt code method but works without a physical numpad, since you can click the on-screen numbers directly.

Comparing the Methods at a Glance

Variables That Affect Which Method Works Best

No single method is universally ideal. A few factors shape which one fits your situation:

Keyboard layout — Full-size keyboards with numpads make Alt codes the obvious default. Compact or laptop keyboards shift the advantage to the symbol panel or copy-paste.

Application type — Legacy apps, web forms, and modern desktop software each handle input differently. The emoji panel works cleanly in modern apps but may insert nothing in older ones.

Frequency of use — Typing a degree symbol once a week doesn't justify memorizing Alt codes. Typing temperatures into spreadsheets daily does.

Version of Windows — The emoji and symbol panel (Win + .) is a Windows 10/11 feature. Windows 7 and 8 users are limited to Character Map, Alt codes, and copy-paste.

Input method — Touchscreen users, voice typists, and people using accessibility tools each have different constraints that make some methods practical and others useless.

The method that's fastest and most reliable for someone writing scientific reports on a desktop workstation is genuinely different from what works best for someone occasionally noting temperatures in a messaging app on a Surface tablet. The right choice comes down to your specific keyboard, your most-used applications, and how often the symbol actually comes up in your workflow.