How to Make the Degree Sign in Microsoft Word

Whether you're writing about temperature, angles, or geographic coordinates, the degree symbol (°) is one of those characters that doesn't live on a standard keyboard — but Microsoft Word gives you several reliable ways to insert it. The method that works best depends on how you work, what version of Word you're using, and how often you actually need the symbol.

Why the Degree Symbol Isn't on Your Keyboard

Standard keyboards are designed around the most frequently typed characters. Symbols like °, ©, or ™ are used often enough to be useful, but not so often that they earned a dedicated key. Instead, they live inside character sets and Unicode tables, accessible through shortcuts, menus, or autocorrect rules built into Word.

The degree symbol has the Unicode code point U+00B0 and the ASCII code 0176. Knowing this matters if you want to use the faster keyboard-based methods.

Method 1: Keyboard Shortcut (Fastest for Most Users)

The quickest way to insert a degree symbol in Word on Windows is:

1. Place your cursor where you want the symbol
2. Type 2 + 1 + 6 + 8 on the main keyboard (not the numpad)
3. Press Alt + X immediately after

Word converts the Unicode value 2168... wait — the correct Unicode for the degree sign is 00B0, so:

1. Type 00B0
2. Press Alt + X

Word replaces the typed code with the ° symbol instantly. This works in Word for Windows only and requires no special setup.

On a Mac, the shortcut is simpler:

• Press Option + Shift + 8 — this inserts ° directly.

🎯 These shortcuts work without opening any menu, making them the go-to method for people who type degree symbols regularly.

Method 2: Insert Symbol Menu (Most Reliable Across Versions)

If shortcuts feel unreliable or you're on an unfamiliar machine:

1. Click the Insert tab in the Word ribbon
2. Click Symbol (far right of the ribbon)
3. Select More Symbols from the dropdown
4. In the Font field, leave it as your current font
5. In the Subset dropdown, choose Latin-1 Supplement
6. Find and click the ° symbol
7. Click Insert

This method works on every version of Word — Windows and Mac — and is entirely mouse-driven. It's slower but never fails.

Method 3: Numpad Shortcut on Windows

If your keyboard has a numeric keypad and Num Lock is on:

1. Hold Alt
2. Type 0176 on the numpad (not the row of numbers above letters)
3. Release Alt

The ° symbol appears at your cursor. This is a classic Windows character code method that works across many applications, not just Word.

Why it sometimes fails: If Num Lock is off, or if you're on a laptop using a virtual numpad layer, this method won't produce the right character. Some laptops map numpad behavior to function keys — that combination can interfere.

Method 4: AutoCorrect (Best for High-Volume Users)

If you type degree symbols constantly — in scientific documents, weather reports, or engineering notes — setting up an AutoCorrect rule saves repeated effort:

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

From that point, whenever you type (deg) followed by a space or punctuation, Word automatically replaces it with °. You define the trigger phrase — pick something you'd never type accidentally.

Method 5: Copy and Paste

Low-tech, but genuinely practical: copy ° from this article (or any source) and paste it into Word. Word preserves the character correctly, regardless of platform or version. This works well for one-time use or when you're on a machine where shortcuts behave unexpectedly.

Comparing the Methods at a Glance

A Few Things That Change the Experience

Word version matters somewhat. The Insert Symbol menu and Alt+X method have been stable across Word 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Microsoft 365. The AutoCorrect interface has minor visual differences between versions but works the same way.

Online vs. desktop Word behaves differently. Word for the Web (the browser version) has a more limited Insert Symbol panel and doesn't support Alt+X the same way. If you work primarily in the browser-based version, copy-paste or the symbol menu are your most consistent options.

Laptop keyboards add complexity. Many laptops don't have a dedicated numpad, which eliminates the Alt+0176 method unless your laptop has a function-key numpad layer. On those machines, the Unicode shortcut or Insert menu tends to be more dependable.

🔢 Font choice doesn't affect availability — the degree symbol exists in virtually all standard fonts, so you won't encounter a situation where ° is unavailable in your chosen typeface.

Spacing the Degree Symbol Correctly

One detail worth noting: style guides differ on whether a space goes between the number and the symbol. Temperature values (°C, °F) typically use no space between the number and the degree mark in most style guides, while angles (45°) also usually omit the space. Scientific and technical writing may follow specific field conventions — so the "right" answer depends on your document's style requirements, not Word's settings.

Whether you type degree symbols once a year or dozens of times a day, the method worth learning is the one that fits your actual workflow — and that depends on which platform you're on, how often the need comes up, and whether your keyboard setup supports the faster shortcuts reliably.