How to Get the Degree Sign on Any Keyboard (°)

Whether you're writing about temperature, angles, or geographic coordinates, the degree sign (°) is one of those characters that doesn't live on any standard keyboard key. But it's easy to insert once you know where to look — and the method depends almost entirely on what device and operating system you're using.

Why the Degree Symbol Isn't on Your Keyboard

Standard keyboards follow the QWERTY layout, designed around the most frequently typed characters in everyday writing. Symbols like °, ©, and ™ didn't make the cut for dedicated keys. Instead, they're accessible through keyboard shortcuts, character maps, or special input methods — all of which vary across platforms.

The degree symbol has its own Unicode value (U+00B0) and ASCII code (248 on Windows), which is why multiple methods exist to call it up.

How to Type the Degree Sign on Windows ⌨️

Windows offers several reliable methods depending on how you're working:

Alt Code Method

1. Make sure Num Lock is on.
2. Hold Alt and type 0176 on the numeric keypad.
3. Release Alt — the ° symbol appears.

This only works with the numeric keypad, not the number row at the top of the keyboard. Laptops without a dedicated numpad may need to enable a virtual numpad via the Fn key first.

Character Map

• Open the Start menu and search Character Map.
• Locate the degree sign, click Select, then Copy.
• Paste it wherever you need it.

Windows Emoji Panel

• Press Windows key + period (.) or Windows key + semicolon (;) to open the emoji and symbols panel.
• Switch to the Symbols tab, then navigate to Latin symbols to find °.

Word and Office AutoCorrect

Microsoft Word has a built-in shortcut: type 2103 then press Alt+X to convert it to the degree Celsius symbol (℃), or use Insert → Symbol to find ° directly.

How to Type the Degree Sign on Mac

Mac makes this straightforward with a single keyboard shortcut:

• Press Option + Shift + 8

That's it. Works system-wide in virtually any text field, app, or browser.

If that shortcut doesn't feel intuitive, you can also use:

• Edit → Emoji & Symbols (or Control + Command + Space) to open the character viewer, then search "degree."

How to Type the Degree Sign on iPhone and Android 📱

Mobile keyboards handle this differently but consistently:

iPhone (iOS)

1. Open any keyboard.
2. Tap and hold the 0 (zero) key.
3. The degree symbol ° appears as a pop-up option — slide to select it.

Android

The method varies slightly by keyboard app, but generally:

1. Switch to the numbers/symbols view (tap ?123 or #+=).
2. Look for ° directly, or long-press 0 — many Android keyboards reveal ° as an extended character.

Third-party keyboard apps like Gboard and SwiftKey both support long-press on zero to reveal the degree sign across Android devices.

How to Type the Degree Sign on Chromebook

Chromebooks support a method similar to Windows but without Alt codes in the traditional sense:

• Use Unicode input: Hold Ctrl + Shift + U, type 00b0, then press Enter.
• Alternatively, use the on-screen keyboard or copy from a character reference source.

Copy-Paste: The Universal Fallback

When shortcuts feel unreliable or you're on an unfamiliar device, this always works:

° ← copy this

Paste it wherever you need it. Simple, fast, and platform-agnostic.

Comparing Methods by Platform

A Note on the Degree Symbol vs. Similar Characters

It's easy to confuse the degree sign (°) with visually similar characters:

• º — Masculine ordinal indicator (used in Spanish/Portuguese numbering like 1º)
• ª — Feminine ordinal indicator
• ⁰ — Superscript zero

These are different Unicode characters and may display differently depending on font. If you're writing scientific or technical content, using the correct ° (U+00B0) matters for accuracy and searchability.

What Determines Which Method Works for You

The right approach depends on a few variables:

• Your device type — desktops with full keyboards have options laptops don't
• Your operating system — Windows, macOS, Chrome OS, and mobile platforms each have distinct input systems
• Your keyboard app — on mobile, the keyboard you've installed determines which long-press characters are available
• Your workflow — someone writing in a specialized text editor or coding environment may need a different approach than someone working in a word processor or browser field

Someone on a MacBook types ° without a second thought using a three-key shortcut. Someone on a Windows laptop without a numpad might find the emoji panel more practical than the Alt code method. A writer frequently inserting the symbol in Google Docs might set up an autocorrect replacement (like typing (deg)) that automatically converts to °.

The method that becomes second nature for you really comes down to how your specific setup is configured and how often you need the symbol.