How to Make the Degree Symbol on Any Device
The degree symbol (°) is one of those characters that's surprisingly tricky to find — it doesn't appear on most standard keyboard layouts, yet it shows up constantly in temperature readings, geographic coordinates, math, and scientific notation. Knowing how to type it quickly depends heavily on which device and operating system you're using.
What Is the Degree Symbol?
The degree symbol (°) is a typographic character used to represent degrees of temperature (°C, °F), angles in geometry, and coordinates in navigation. It's distinct from the masculine ordinal indicator (º) and the superscript letter "o" — though all three look similar on screen, only the true degree symbol (Unicode character U+00B0) is technically correct in formal and scientific writing.
How to Type the Degree Symbol on Windows
Windows offers several methods depending on how you prefer to work.
Alt Code (Numeric Keypad Required)
Hold Alt and type 0176 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt. The ° symbol appears. This only works with a full keyboard that has a dedicated numeric keypad — it won't function on most laptop keyboards unless Num Lock is enabled and a numpad layer exists.
Character Map
Search for "Character Map" in the Start menu, find the degree symbol, click Copy, then paste it wherever you need it. Slower, but reliable on any Windows machine.
Copy and Paste from Search
Type "degree symbol" into any browser search bar — the symbol typically appears in search results and can be copied directly.
Word and Office AutoCorrect
Microsoft Word sometimes auto-converts typed sequences, and you can also insert it via Insert → Symbol → More Symbols, then filter by Latin-1 Supplement.
How to Type the Degree Symbol on Mac 🖥️
Mac keyboards make this considerably more straightforward.
Press Option + Shift + 8 and the ° symbol appears instantly. This works system-wide — in browsers, text editors, email clients, and any app that accepts keyboard input. No additional steps or settings required.
Alternatively, use the Character Viewer by pressing Control + Command + Space, search for "degree," and double-click the result to insert it.
How to Type the Degree Symbol on iPhone and iPad
On iOS and iPadOS:
- Open any app with a text field
- Tap the "0" (zero) key on the keyboard and hold it down
- A popup appears showing the ° symbol
- Slide your finger to it and release
This tap-and-hold method works across most apps on the default Apple keyboard. Third-party keyboards may handle this differently depending on their layout.
How to Type the Degree Symbol on Android
Android behavior varies more than iOS because manufacturers customize keyboard apps:
- On Gboard (Google's default keyboard): tap ?123 to enter the numbers/symbols layer, then tap =< for the second symbols layer, where ° appears
- On Samsung keyboard: similar navigation through the symbols layers, though the exact path may differ by device model and One UI version
- Some keyboards allow long-pressing the zero key for the degree symbol, similar to iOS
Because Android is fragmented across manufacturers and keyboard apps, the exact steps aren't universal. What works on a Pixel may not work identically on a Galaxy.
How to Type the Degree Symbol on Chromebook
Chromebooks support a Unicode input method. Press Ctrl + Shift + U, type 00b0, then press Enter or Space. The ° symbol inserts at the cursor position. This works in most text fields across ChromeOS.
Alternatively, the method for any web-based app — copy-pasting from a search result or a Unicode reference site — works just as reliably.
How to Type the Degree Symbol in Specific Applications
| Application | Method |
|---|---|
| Microsoft Word | Insert → Symbol, or Alt+0176 |
| Google Docs | Insert → Special Characters → search "degree" |
| Excel | Alt+0176 or paste via Character Map |
| HTML/Web code | Use ° or ° |
| LaTeX | Use ^{circ} or the degree command with the right package |
In HTML, ° is the named entity specifically for the degree symbol and is the cleanest approach for web content. In LaTeX, the correct method depends on which packages are loaded — extdegree (from the textcomp package) is generally the most compatible option.
The Variables That Change Your Ideal Method 🔧
Several factors affect which approach works best for any given person:
- Operating system — Mac, Windows, ChromeOS, iOS, and Android each have distinct input methods
- Keyboard type — full keyboards with numeric keypads unlock Alt code methods; compact and laptop keyboards often don't
- Third-party keyboard apps — on mobile, the keyboard app you use determines what's available on long-press and symbol layers
- Application context — coding environments, word processors, web forms, and spreadsheets each have their own preferred insertion method
- Frequency of use — someone who types ° dozens of times daily benefits more from learning a keyboard shortcut than someone who needs it once a month and can comfortably paste it
- Technical comfort level — Unicode input methods are efficient but require remembering a code sequence; GUI methods like Character Map or Character Viewer are slower but require no memorization
A developer writing HTML reaches for ° automatically. A scientist drafting a report in Word uses Alt+0176 or a macro. A student texting from an iPhone presses and holds zero. The same symbol, meaningfully different paths.
The right method for you comes down to what you're running, what you're writing in, and how often you need it — only your own setup can answer that. ⌨️