How to Get the Degree Symbol on Any Device

The degree symbol (°) is one of those characters that everyone needs occasionally — whether you're writing about temperature, geographic coordinates, or angles — but it's not sitting right there on a standard keyboard. The method you use depends heavily on which device and operating system you're working with, and knowing all your options makes the difference between a smooth workflow and hunting through menus every time.

Why the Degree Symbol Isn't on Your Keyboard

Standard keyboards are designed around the most frequently typed characters. The degree symbol falls into a category of special characters — used often enough to need, but not so constantly that it earns its own dedicated key. It lives in the extended character set of most fonts and can be accessed through keyboard shortcuts, character maps, or mobile tap-and-hold menus depending on your platform.

How to Type the Degree Symbol on Windows

Windows offers several reliable methods.

Keyboard shortcut (numeric keypad required): Hold Alt and type 0176 on the numeric keypad (not the number row). Release Alt and the ° symbol appears. This only works if Num Lock is on and you're using a full keyboard with a dedicated numeric keypad.

Without a numeric keypad (laptops): Enable the on-screen numeric keypad or use the Character Map tool. Search for "Character Map" in the Start menu, find the degree symbol, and copy it directly.

Using the emoji and symbol panel: Press Windows key + . (period) to open the emoji panel. Switch to the symbols tab and search for "degree." This works in most modern Windows 10 and 11 applications.

In Microsoft Word specifically: Go to Insert → Symbol → More Symbols. Search for "degree sign" (Unicode character U+00B0). You can also assign a custom keyboard shortcut through this menu for frequent use.

How to Type the Degree Symbol on Mac

Mac makes this relatively straightforward once you know the shortcut.

Primary shortcut: Press Shift + Option + 8. This works across nearly all macOS applications — text editors, browsers, email clients, and word processors alike.

Through the character viewer: Go to Edit → Emoji & Symbols (or press Control + Command + Space). Type "degree" in the search bar and click the symbol to insert it.

How to Type the Degree Symbol on iPhone and iPad 📱

Apple's mobile keyboard includes the degree symbol — it just isn't visible by default.

Tap and hold method: On the number keyboard (123 key), tap and hold the 0 key. A small popup will appear with the ° symbol as an option. Slide your finger to it and release.

This works in any iOS app that accepts text input, including Messages, Notes, Mail, and third-party apps.

How to Type the Degree Symbol on Android

Android keyboards vary depending on the manufacturer and any third-party keyboard you've installed (like Gboard or SwiftKey), but the general approach is consistent.

On Gboard (Google's default keyboard): Switch to the number layout by tapping ?123, then tap =< to access the symbols panel. The ° symbol typically appears here directly.

Tap and hold method (some keyboards): Similar to iOS, some Android keyboards allow you to tap and hold 0 on the number pad to access the degree symbol as an extended character.

If your keyboard doesn't surface it easily, copying the symbol from a search result or notes app and pasting it is always a reliable fallback.

Degree Symbol in Specific Tools and Contexts

The HTML and Coding Context

If you're building a webpage or working in a content management system, inserting the raw ° character directly into your HTML is generally fine with UTF-8 encoding. Alternatively, the HTML entity ° renders the degree symbol consistently across browsers without any encoding concerns. In LaTeX, the approach differs again and depends on which packages your document is using.

Variables That Affect Which Method Works for You 🖥️

The "right" method isn't universal — it depends on factors specific to your situation:

• Keyboard type: A laptop keyboard without a numeric keypad eliminates the Alt code shortcut on Windows
• Operating system version: Older Windows versions may not support the Win + . panel
• Input method / third-party keyboards: On Android especially, keyboard apps vary significantly in how they expose special characters
• Application context: A shortcut that works in a browser may behave differently inside a specialized editor or IDE
• Frequency of use: Someone who types temperature values constantly may benefit from a custom autocorrect rule (e.g., typing deg auto-replaces with °) rather than reaching for a shortcut each time

Setting up an autocorrect or text replacement rule is available on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android — and for people who type the degree symbol regularly, it tends to be faster than any keyboard shortcut once configured.

The method that fits you best comes down to your specific device, how you're typing, and how often you actually need the symbol — which only you can assess from where you're sitting. ⌨️