How to Enter a Degree Symbol in Microsoft Word

Typing a degree symbol (°) in Microsoft Word seems like it should be simple — but unless you know where to look, it's surprisingly easy to waste time hunting through menus. There are actually several reliable methods, and the best one for you depends on how often you need it, what keyboard you're using, and whether you're on Windows or macOS.

Why the Degree Symbol Isn't on a Standard Keyboard

Most keyboards are designed around the most commonly typed characters — letters, numbers, and basic punctuation. Specialist symbols like °, ©, or ± are considered extended characters and don't get their own dedicated key. Instead, operating systems and applications like Word provide multiple ways to access them, each with different trade-offs in speed and convenience.

Method 1: Keyboard Shortcut in Word (Windows)

The fastest method for Windows users working in Word is a built-in shortcut:

Press Ctrl + Shift + @, then immediately press the spacebar.

This triggers Word's AutoCorrect system to insert the degree symbol directly. It works in most versions of Microsoft Word on Windows and doesn't require any setup.

Alternatively, if you know Unicode input:

• Type 00B0 (the Unicode code point for the degree symbol)
• Then press Alt + X

Word will convert the character code into the symbol on the spot. This is particularly useful if you regularly work with other special characters and want a consistent method across all of them.

Method 2: Keyboard Shortcut on macOS

On a Mac, the degree symbol shortcut is:

Option + Shift + 8

This works system-wide — not just in Word — which makes it one of the most versatile methods if you're on a Mac. It inserts the ° character wherever your cursor is placed.

Method 3: Insert Symbol Menu

If you prefer a visual approach or can't remember shortcuts, Word's built-in Insert Symbol menu covers every character you'll ever need:

1. Click the Insert tab in the ribbon
2. Select Symbol (usually at the far right)
3. Click More Symbols...
4. In the Character code box, type 00B0
5. Click Insert

You can also browse manually — the degree symbol is typically found in the Latin-1 Supplement subset. Once inserted once, it usually appears in Word's Recently Used Symbols list for quicker access next time.

Method 4: Using the Numeric Keypad (Windows Alt Code)

On a Windows PC with a full keyboard that includes a numeric keypad, you can use an Alt code:

Hold Alt and type 0176 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt.

⚠️ This only works with the dedicated numeric keypad — not the number row across the top of the keyboard. If Num Lock is off, enable it first. This method also works in most other Windows applications, not just Word.

Method 5: Copy and Paste

Not glamorous, but genuinely practical: °

If you only need the degree symbol once in a while, copying it from a reference source (including this article) and pasting it into your document is perfectly reasonable. Word will maintain the symbol correctly, and you can use Ctrl+H (Find & Replace) later to swap in a properly formatted version if needed.

Method 6: AutoCorrect Custom Entry

If you use degree symbols frequently, you can make Word insert one automatically whenever you type a specific trigger:

1. Go to File → Options → Proofing → AutoCorrect Options
2. In the Replace field, type something like deg
3. In the With field, paste the ° symbol
4. Click Add, then OK

After this, typing deg followed by a space will automatically convert to °. This is a one-time setup that persists across all your Word documents.

Quick Comparison: Which Method Works Where

Formatting Considerations: Degree vs. Ordinal Indicator

One thing worth knowing: Word's AutoFormat sometimes substitutes a masculine ordinal indicator (º) in place of a true degree symbol (°). They look similar but are different characters. If precise formatting matters — in academic papers, technical documents, or scientific writing — it's worth double-checking the inserted character, especially if you used AutoCorrect or pasted from an external source.

The Unicode value for the degree symbol is U+00B0. The masculine ordinal indicator is U+00BA. In most fonts they appear nearly identical, but they carry different semantic meaning and can cause issues in specialized document formats.

The Variable That Changes Everything

The right method largely comes down to how your specific setup is configured. 🖥️ A Windows user on a laptop without a numeric keypad has different options than a Mac user with a full desktop keyboard. Someone inserting degree symbols into temperature readings dozens of times a day has different needs than someone adding one to a single document header.

Your keyboard layout, Word version, operating system, and how often you need the symbol all shape which approach is actually the most efficient for your workflow.