How to Enter the Degree Symbol in Microsoft Word

The degree symbol (°) is one of those characters that doesn't live on any standard keyboard key — yet it shows up constantly in temperature readings, geographic coordinates, angles, and scientific notation. Fortunately, Microsoft Word offers several reliable methods for inserting it, and the right approach depends on your keyboard setup, how often you need it, and whether you're working on Windows or macOS.

Why the Degree Symbol Isn't on Your Keyboard

Standard QWERTY keyboards follow a layout optimized for the most frequently typed characters in everyday writing. Symbols like °, ©, and ± are used often enough to matter, but not often enough to earn a dedicated key. Instead, they live in Unicode — the universal character encoding standard — and need to be accessed through shortcuts, menus, or special input methods.

The degree symbol's Unicode code point is U+00B0, and its ASCII decimal value is 176. That matters because several of Word's insertion methods reference these values directly.

Method 1: Keyboard Shortcut (Windows)

On Windows, the fastest route for most users is the Alt code method:

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

The ° symbol appears at your cursor position.

⚠️ This only works with the dedicated numeric keypad. Laptops without one — or keyboards where Num Lock is disabled — won't produce the correct result. Some laptops have a hidden numeric keypad accessible via the Fn key, but behavior varies by manufacturer.

Method 2: Unicode Input in Word (Windows)

Word on Windows supports a direct Unicode entry method:

1. Type 00B0 (the Unicode code point)
2. Immediately press Alt + X

Word converts the text to the ° symbol. This works reliably in Word itself but not in most other applications. It also requires that no space or character comes between the code and the Alt+X press.

Method 3: Keyboard Shortcut (Mac)

On macOS, the degree symbol has a native keyboard shortcut that works across most apps, including Word:

Shift + Option + 8

This is arguably the most accessible method of all the options listed here — no numeric keypad required, no menu navigation, and it works system-wide, not just in Word.

Method 4: Insert Symbol Menu

If shortcuts feel unreliable or you're on an unfamiliar keyboard, Word's built-in Insert > Symbol menu is the universal fallback:

1. Click the Insert tab in the ribbon
2. Select Symbol → More Symbols
3. In the Font dropdown, leave it on your current font (or select (normal text))
4. Set the Subset to Latin-1 Supplement
5. Find and click the ° symbol
6. Click Insert

This method works regardless of operating system, keyboard layout, or Num Lock status. It's slower, but it removes all variables.

Method 5: AutoCorrect — Best for Frequent Use

If you type temperatures or angles regularly, setting up an AutoCorrect rule saves significant time over the long run:

1. Go to File → Options → Proofing → AutoCorrect Options
2. In the Replace field, type a trigger string (e.g., (deg) or *deg)
3. In the With field, insert the ° symbol (paste it or use Insert Symbol first)
4. Click Add, then OK

From that point on, typing your trigger string automatically converts it to °. This works within Word and follows your document across sessions.

Comparing the Methods at a Glance

Variables That Change Which Method Works Best

Keyboard hardware is the first dividing line. Desktop keyboards almost always include a numeric keypad; laptop keyboards frequently don't. That makes the Alt code method unreliable on portable setups.

Operating system determines which shortcuts are natively available. The Mac shortcut is clean and consistent. Windows has more options but more conditions attached to each one.

How often you insert the symbol affects whether the setup time for AutoCorrect is worth it. For someone writing one document with a few temperature values, Insert Symbol is fine. For a technical writer, scientist, or educator producing content daily, AutoCorrect or a memorized shortcut pays dividends quickly.

Word version and language settings can occasionally affect Unicode input behavior — particularly on older Office installations or documents using non-Latin character sets where the Alt+X method may interpret code points differently.

🖥️ Regional keyboard layouts add another layer. Users on UK, German, French, or other localized keyboard layouts may find that key combinations behave differently, and some layouts already provide easier access to special characters that English layouts bury in menus.

A Note on Copy-Paste

One method not yet mentioned: simply copy the symbol from this article — ° — and paste it into your document. It's not elegant, but it's universally reliable, works on any OS, any keyboard, and any version of Word. For a one-time need, it's perfectly practical.

The symbol renders correctly as long as the font in use supports Latin-1 Supplement characters, which all standard Word fonts (Calibri, Times New Roman, Arial, etc.) do.

What Actually Determines Your Best Method

Your ideal approach sits at the intersection of your hardware, operating system, how frequently the symbol appears in your work, and how comfortable you are with keyboard shortcuts versus menus. Someone on a Mac with a full keyboard and a shortcut already memorized has a completely different calculus than someone on a Windows laptop using Word for the first time. Neither scenario is wrong — they just point toward different tools from the same set of options.