How to Insert a Degree Sign in Microsoft Word

The degree symbol (°) is one of those characters that doesn't live on a standard keyboard — yet it shows up constantly in temperature readings, angles, coordinates, and scientific writing. Microsoft Word gives you several ways to insert it, and which method works best depends on how often you need it, what kind of document you're working on, and whether you're on Windows or Mac.

Why the Degree Symbol Isn't on Your Keyboard

Standard QWERTY keyboards are designed around the most frequently typed characters. Special symbols like °, ©, and ™ were left off to keep the layout manageable. That doesn't mean they're hard to access — it just means you need to know where to look.

Word specifically has multiple insertion paths because different users have different workflows. A scientist typing dozens of temperature values per hour needs something faster than a student adding one angle measurement to a geometry report.

Method 1: The Keyboard Shortcut (Windows)

The fastest method for most Windows users is the Alt code:

1. Make sure Num Lock is on
2. Hold down the Alt key
3. Type 0176 on the numeric keypad (not the number row)
4. Release Alt — the ° symbol appears

This works in Word and most other Windows applications. The catch: it requires a numeric keypad, which many laptops don't have. If your keyboard lacks a numpad, this method won't work as described.

A second shortcut that works specifically inside Microsoft Word on Windows is:

• Type 2218, then immediately press Alt + X

Word converts that Unicode code point into the ° character. This is a Word-only trick and won't work in browsers or other apps.

Method 2: The Keyboard Shortcut (Mac)

On a Mac, the shortcut is simpler and doesn't require a numpad:

• Press Option + Shift + 8

This works system-wide — not just in Word — so you can use it in emails, Notes, browsers, and any other application. No special keyboard mode required.

Method 3: Insert Symbol Dialog (Windows and Mac)

If shortcuts feel unreliable or you're not sure which one applies to your setup:

1. Click where you want the symbol in your document
2. Go to the Insert tab in the ribbon
3. Click Symbol, then More Symbols
4. In the dialog box, set the font to (normal text) and the subset to Latin-1 Supplement
5. Find and click the degree sign °
6. Click Insert

This method is slower but completely reliable across all Word versions and platforms. It also shows you the shortcut key associated with the symbol at the bottom of the dialog, which is a good way to learn shortcuts you didn't already know.

Method 4: AutoCorrect

If you type degree symbols frequently enough to want automatic insertion:

1. Go to File → Options → Proofing → AutoCorrect Options (Windows) or Word → Preferences → AutoCorrect (Mac)
2. In the Replace field, type a text string you'd remember — something like *deg* or (deg)
3. In the With field, insert the ° symbol
4. Click Add, then OK

From that point forward, whenever you type your chosen string, Word replaces it automatically. This works well for people writing technical documents with recurring temperature or angle notation.

Method 5: Copy and Paste

The most low-tech solution — and sometimes the fastest if you're already online:

• Copy ° from this article or any web page and paste it directly into your Word document

The symbol pastes as plain text and takes on whatever formatting surrounds it in your document. There's no compatibility issue and no setup required.

Quick Comparison of Methods 🖥️

Formatting Considerations After Insertion

Once the degree symbol is in your document, it behaves like any other character — it inherits the font size and style of the surrounding text. A common formatting preference is to make the ° slightly superscript so it sits raised next to the number (like 98°F vs 98°F). You can do this by selecting just the symbol and applying superscript formatting from the Home tab or with Ctrl + Shift + + on Windows.

Whether you apply superscript or leave the symbol inline depends on the document style guide you're following — academic, scientific, and technical writing each have their own conventions. ✏️

What Affects Which Method Works for You

Several real-world variables determine which of these approaches is practical:

• Keyboard type — laptops without a numpad can't use Alt codes directly
• Operating system — Mac and Windows shortcuts are completely different
• Word version — very old versions of Word may have slightly different menu paths for the Insert Symbol dialog
• Document volume — someone inserting one ° symbol per month has very different needs than someone writing chemistry lab reports daily
• Workflow preference — some users prefer memorizing shortcuts; others find the symbol dialog less error-prone

The methods themselves are all reliable. What varies is which one fits naturally into the way you already work. 🔍

A Windows desktop user with a full keyboard has different options available than someone on a MacBook writing a quick report — and a technical writer producing dozens of documents a week has a different calculus than a student finishing a single assignment.