How to Get the Degree Symbol on Any Keyboard
The degree symbol (°) is one of those characters that isn't printed on any key but comes up constantly — in weather reports, cooking temperatures, scientific notation, and geographic coordinates. Getting it to appear isn't always obvious, but once you know the method that fits your device and workflow, it takes seconds.
Why the Degree Symbol Isn't on Your Keyboard
Standard keyboards — whether physical or on-screen — follow layouts designed decades ago around the most commonly typed characters. Symbols like °, ©, or ™ didn't make the cut for dedicated keys. Instead, operating systems and apps provide several workarounds: keyboard shortcuts, character insertion tools, and autocorrect or text expansion.
Which method works best depends heavily on your operating system, device type, and how often you need the symbol.
How to Type the Degree Symbol on Windows ⌨️
Windows offers multiple methods, and the right one depends on your keyboard and situation.
Using Alt Codes (Desktop Keyboards with Numpad)
If your keyboard has a numeric keypad, this is the fastest method:
- Make sure Num Lock is on
- Hold Alt
- Type 0176 on the numpad
- Release Alt
The ° symbol appears in most Windows applications, including Word, Notepad, browsers, and email clients.
Without a Numpad
Laptops without a dedicated numpad can still use Alt codes by enabling the Fn + NumLk combination to activate a virtual numpad on certain keys — but this varies by manufacturer and isn't always reliable.
A more consistent alternative:
- Windows Search or Character Map: Open the Start menu, search for "Character Map," find the degree symbol, and copy it to your clipboard
- Copy and paste: Simply search "degree symbol" in any browser and copy it from the results
Using the Emoji and Symbol Panel (Windows 10/11)
Press Win + . (period) to open the emoji panel. Switch to the symbols tab and search for "degree." This works across most modern Windows apps.
How to Type the Degree Symbol on Mac
macOS makes this relatively straightforward:
- Shortcut: Press Option + Shift + 8
This works system-wide in nearly all native and third-party applications. No toggling, no panel needed.
If you forget the shortcut, the Edit > Emoji & Symbols menu (or pressing Control + Command + Space) opens a searchable character viewer where you can find and insert the symbol directly.
How to Type the Degree Symbol on iPhone and iPad
Apple's mobile keyboard doesn't show the degree symbol by default, but it's built in:
- Tap the 123 key to switch to the number keyboard
- Press and hold the 0 (zero) key
- A pop-up menu appears with the ° symbol
- Slide your finger to it and release
This works in any text field on iOS and iPadOS — messages, notes, email, web forms.
How to Type the Degree Symbol on Android
Android keyboards vary by manufacturer and region, but the method is similar to iOS:
- Switch to the numbers keyboard
- Press and hold the 0 key (on most keyboards, including Gboard)
- Select ° from the pop-up
On some Android keyboards, you may need to tap a symbols key (often labeled #+= or ?123) first, then look for the degree symbol in the extended character set. Gboard — Google's default keyboard — reliably offers the press-and-hold method.
How to Insert the Degree Symbol in Specific Applications
Some environments have built-in insertion tools that bypass operating system shortcuts entirely.
| Application | Method |
|---|---|
| Microsoft Word | Insert > Symbol, or type 00B0 then press Alt + X |
| Google Docs | Insert > Special Characters, search "degree" |
| Excel | Use the Alt code (0176) or the Symbol dialog |
| HTML/web code | Use the entity ° or the Unicode ° |
| LaTeX | Use degree (with the gensymb package) or ^circ |
Unicode and HTML Notes
If you're working in code or web content, the degree symbol has a Unicode code point of U+00B0. In HTML, ° renders it correctly in any browser. This matters if you're building or editing web pages, as copy-pasting the symbol directly can sometimes introduce encoding issues depending on your text editor's settings.
Text Expansion and Autocorrect as a Workflow Solution 🔧
If you type temperatures or coordinates frequently, the most efficient long-term approach isn't memorizing a shortcut — it's setting up a text expansion rule.
On Windows, apps like AutoHotkey or the built-in text replacement in some keyboards let you type something like deg and have it automatically replaced with °.
On Mac, System Settings > Keyboard > Text Replacements lets you define your own substitutions natively.
On iOS and Android, both platforms have built-in text replacement settings in their keyboard or language menus.
The trade-off: setting up text expansion takes a few minutes upfront, but saves time if the symbol appears regularly in your work.
The Variable That Changes Everything
Most of the methods above work reliably — but "reliably" is relative to your setup. A numpad shortcut that's instant on a desktop is unavailable on a slim laptop. The Mac shortcut is clean and universal, but only if you're on macOS. Mobile press-and-hold works on most phones but can differ between keyboard apps.
The right method also shifts depending on context: typing a quick text message calls for a different approach than embedding a degree symbol consistently across a technical document or a web template. Someone who writes weather summaries daily has different needs than someone who occasionally notes an oven temperature in a recipe app.
Your operating system, device type, keyboard layout, and how frequently you need the symbol are all pieces of the picture — and only you can see the full picture from where you're sitting.