How to Get the Degree Symbol in Microsoft Word

The degree symbol (°) is one of those characters that most people need occasionally but rarely know how to insert quickly. Whether you're writing about temperature, angles, or geographic coordinates, Word gives you several ways to add it — and the best method depends entirely on how often you need it and how you prefer to work.

Why the Degree Symbol Isn't on Your Keyboard

Standard keyboards are designed around letters, numbers, and common punctuation. Special characters like °, ©, or ½ didn't make the cut because there simply isn't room. Instead, operating systems and applications like Word provide workarounds — some faster, some more reliable depending on your setup.

Method 1: The Keyboard Shortcut (Fastest for Most Users)

The quickest way to insert a degree symbol in Word is with a keyboard shortcut:

Windows: Press Ctrl + Shift + @, then press Space

Some keyboards and Word versions respond to this combination immediately; others require the spacebar tap to complete the character. If it doesn't work, Word's AutoCorrect settings or a conflicting shortcut may be interfering.

Mac: Press Option + Shift + 8

This tends to be more consistent across Mac versions because macOS handles special characters at the system level rather than relying on application-specific shortcuts.

Method 2: Insert Symbol Menu (Most Reliable)

If shortcuts aren't working or you only need the degree symbol occasionally, Word's built-in Symbol tool is the most dependable route:

1. Click where you want the symbol to appear
2. Go to the Insert tab in the ribbon
3. Click Symbol → More Symbols
4. In the Font drop-down, select (normal text) or Arial
5. Set Subset to Latin-1 Supplement
6. Find and click the degree symbol (°), then click Insert

Once you've inserted it this way, Word remembers it under Insert → Symbol → Recently Used Symbols, making future access faster.

Method 3: Alt Code (Windows Only) ⌨️

On Windows, if your keyboard has a numeric keypad, you can type:

Alt + 0176 (hold Alt, type 0176 on the numpad, release Alt)

This inserts ° directly in most Windows applications, including Word. A few important caveats:

• This only works with the numeric keypad, not the number row at the top of your keyboard
• Num Lock must be on
• Laptops without a dedicated numpad may need to activate a virtual numpad using the Fn key — which varies by manufacturer

Method 4: Unicode Entry

Word supports direct Unicode input:

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

Word converts the code to the symbol. This is fast once you memorize the code, but it's easy to accidentally leave the raw text if you forget to complete the step or if your cursor position shifts.

Method 5: Copy and Paste

Simple but effective — especially if you only need the symbol once. Copy it from here: °

Paste it directly into your Word document. The character will adopt your document's current font formatting automatically in most cases.

Comparing the Methods at a Glance

Setting Up AutoCorrect for Frequent Use 🔧

If you regularly type temperatures or angles, Word's AutoCorrect feature can handle this automatically. Here's the logic:

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

From that point, typing your trigger phrase will automatically swap it for °. This is particularly useful for technical writers, scientists, or anyone working with measurement data consistently.

What Can Affect Which Method Works for You

Several factors determine which approach is actually practical for your situation:

• Windows vs. Mac: The Alt code method is Windows-exclusive; Mac users typically find Option + Shift + 8 more reliable
• Keyboard type: Full keyboards with numpads have more options than compact laptop keyboards
• Word version: Older versions of Word may handle keyboard shortcuts differently than Microsoft 365
• Frequency of use: Someone inserting ° once a month has different needs than someone writing weather data tables daily
• Accessibility settings: Some accessibility configurations remap keyboard shortcuts, which can interfere with combinations like Ctrl + Shift + @

A Note on Similar-Looking Characters ⚠️

It's worth knowing that the degree symbol (°) is a distinct Unicode character from visually similar ones like the masculine ordinal indicator (º) or a superscript letter "o". If you're copying symbols from the web or other documents, double-check you have the correct character — especially if the document will be used in scientific, academic, or technical contexts where precision matters.

The Insert Symbol menu approach is the most reliable way to confirm you're inserting the genuine degree symbol, since it shows the exact character name and Unicode value before you commit.

Which method clicks for you ultimately comes down to your keyboard, your operating system, how often you need the symbol, and how much you want to optimize your workflow versus just getting it done quickly.