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 regularly for temperatures, angles, coordinates, and academic work. The good news: every major operating system has at least one reliable way to produce it. The method that works best for you depends on your device, OS, and how often you need the symbol.
What the Degree Symbol Actually Is
The degree symbol is a Unicode character: U+00B0. It's distinct from the masculine ordinal indicator (º) and the superscript letter O — two lookalikes that occasionally sneak in when copy-pasting from formatted documents. For technical writing, scientific work, or anything that will be parsed by software, using the correct character matters.
How to Type ° on Windows
Windows gives you several routes depending on your workflow.
Alt Code (Numpad Method)
Hold Alt and type 0176 on the numeric keypad (not the number row), then release Alt. This produces ° instantly. Requirements: a keyboard with a dedicated numpad and Num Lock enabled. On compact or laptop keyboards without a numpad, this method often doesn't work as expected.
Character Map
Open Character Map (search for it in the Start menu), find the degree symbol, and copy it. Slow for one-off use, but useful if you also need other special characters in the same session.
Copy from a Previous Use
Once you've typed or pasted ° once, store it in a text snippet tool, your clipboard history (Win + V on Windows 10/11), or a dedicated text expander. Many frequent users simply keep it pinned to their clipboard.
Word and Office AutoCorrect
In Microsoft Word, typing (o) or inserting via Insert → Symbol works. Word also recognizes the degree symbol in some AutoCorrect configurations — worth checking if Office is your main writing environment.
How to Type ° on Mac
Keyboard Shortcut
The fastest method on macOS: Option + Shift + 8. This works system-wide in nearly every app — text editors, browsers, spreadsheets, and terminals.
Character Viewer
Press Control + Command + Space to open the Character Viewer. Search "degree" and double-click to insert. Useful when you need to verify you're inserting the correct Unicode character rather than a lookalike.
How to Type ° on iPhone and iPad
Tap and hold the zero (0) key on the iOS keyboard. A popup appears with the degree symbol as an option — slide your finger to it and release. No settings changes required. This works in Notes, Messages, Mail, and most third-party apps.
How to Type ° on Android
The method varies slightly by keyboard app, but the general approach:
- Switch to the number layout (tap ?123 or similar)
- Long-press the zero (0) key
On Gboard, this reliably produces °. On Samsung's default keyboard and other third-party options like SwiftKey, the behavior is similar but not always identical — some keyboards surface it under a symbols submenu instead.
How to Type ° on Chromebook
Use the Unicode input method: press Ctrl + Shift + U, type 00b0, then press Enter or Space. This works in most input fields across ChromeOS. Alternatively, if you have access to the on-screen keyboard or a virtual keyboard with special characters enabled, the degree symbol often appears in the symbols panel.
Comparison: Methods at a Glance 🖥️
| Platform | Fastest Method | Shortcut / Input |
|---|---|---|
| Windows (numpad) | Alt code | Alt + 0176 |
| Windows (no numpad) | Clipboard / Character Map | Win + V history |
| macOS | Keyboard shortcut | Option + Shift + 8 |
| iOS | Long-press key | Hold 0 on keyboard |
| Android (Gboard) | Long-press key | Hold 0 on number pad |
| Chromebook | Unicode entry | Ctrl+Shift+U → 00b0 |
When the Standard Methods Don't Work
A few scenarios complicate things:
- Laptop keyboards without a numpad make the Alt code method unreliable on Windows. Software-based approaches (clipboard managers, text expanders, or AutoHotkey scripts) become the practical alternative.
- Remote desktop or virtual machine sessions sometimes intercept keyboard shortcuts before they reach the guest OS, meaning your usual shortcut produces nothing or triggers a different action.
- Certain input method editors (IMEs) used for East Asian languages can interfere with Unicode entry shortcuts on Chromebook.
- Web-based apps generally handle the character fine once inserted, but some older form fields with restricted character sets may strip or misrender it.
Text Expanders and Automation ⌨️
If you type the degree symbol frequently — in engineering notes, weather reporting, scientific papers, or GPS coordinates — manual insertion gets tedious fast. Text expander apps (like Espanso on Linux/Windows/Mac, or built-in text replacement in macOS/iOS Settings) let you assign a short trigger like ;deg that automatically expands to °. This approach works across every app without relying on remembering platform-specific shortcuts.
On Windows, AutoHotkey scripts can map any key combination you choose to output °, giving you full control over the shortcut regardless of what software you're running.
The Variable That Changes Everything
The right method isn't universal — it shifts based on factors specific to your situation: which OS you're running, whether your keyboard has a numpad, how often you need the symbol, and which apps you spend most of your time in. A Mac user typing scientific papers has a clean built-in shortcut. A Windows user on a compact laptop keyboard may find a text expander more reliable than any native method. Someone switching between devices regularly faces a different problem than someone who works on a single machine all day. 🔑
The technical options are well-defined. Which one fits your actual workflow is the part only your setup can answer.