How to Make the Degree Sign on Your Keyboard (Every Platform Covered)

The degree symbol — ° — is one of those characters that doesn't live on any standard key, yet people need it constantly: temperatures, angles, coordinates, academic papers, cooking recipes. The good news is that every major operating system has at least one reliable way to produce it. The method that works best for you depends on your device, OS, and how often you need it.

What Is the Degree Sign and Why Isn't It on the Keyboard?

The degree sign (°) is a typographic character with the Unicode value U+00B0. Standard keyboard layouts — QWERTY being the most common — were designed to fit the most frequently typed characters into physical keys. Symbols used only in specific contexts (math, science, geography) were left out in favor of space efficiency.

That doesn't mean they're hidden. Every OS provides access to these characters through keyboard shortcuts, character maps, or input methods.

How to Type the Degree Sign on Windows ⌨️

Method 1: Alt Code (Numpad Required)

The classic Windows method uses Alt codes:

1. Make sure Num Lock is on
2. Hold Alt
3. Type 0176 on the numeric keypad
4. Release Alt

The ° symbol appears wherever your cursor is. This only works with the numpad numbers, not the number row at the top of the keyboard.

Method 2: Unicode Input

In many Windows applications:

1. Type 00B0
2. Press Alt + X

This converts the typed code directly into the symbol. Works in Microsoft Word and some other rich-text editors, but not in every application (notably not in plain browser text fields).

Method 3: Copy from Character Map

• Open Start, search for Character Map
• Find the degree sign (it's in the Latin-1 Supplement block)
• Click Copy, then paste where needed

This is slower but reliable regardless of keyboard layout or numpad availability.

Method 4: Windows Emoji Panel

Press Win + . (Windows key + period) to open the emoji and symbols panel. Switch to the Omega (Ω) symbols tab, search "degree," and click to insert.

How to Type the Degree Sign on Mac

Keyboard Shortcut (Fastest Method)

On a Mac, the degree sign shortcut is:

Option + Shift + 8

This works system-wide — in browsers, text editors, word processors, and most apps. It's worth memorizing if you're on macOS.

Using the Character Viewer

• Press Control + Command + Space to open the Character Viewer
• Search for "degree"
• Double-click to insert

The Character Viewer also lets you add the degree sign to Favorites for faster access later.

How to Type the Degree Sign on iPhone and iPad

On iOS and iPadOS, the degree symbol is accessible directly from the keyboard:

1. Open any text field
2. Tap and hold the zero (0) key on the number keyboard
3. A popover appears — slide to ° and release

You'll need to switch to the number keyboard first (tap 123), then long-press the zero. It's a small gesture, but once you know it, it's fast.

How to Type the Degree Sign on Android

Android keyboards vary by manufacturer and app, but the most common method is:

1. Switch to the number/symbol keyboard (tap ?123 or similar)
2. Long-press the zero (0) key
3. Select ° from the popup

Some third-party keyboards (Gboard, SwiftKey) follow this same pattern. If long-pressing zero doesn't work on your device, check the symbols sub-menu (often accessed by tapping =< or #+=).

How to Type the Degree Sign in Specific Apps

In HTML, if you're coding a webpage directly, the degree sign should be written as ° or ° rather than pasted as a raw character — this ensures consistent rendering across browsers and character encodings.

Laptops Without a Numpad 🖥️

Many compact and ultrabook laptops don't have a dedicated numeric keypad, which makes Alt codes impossible without workarounds. In these cases:

• Windows: Use the Character Map, the emoji panel (Win + .), or Unicode input in supported apps
• Mac: The Option + Shift + 8 shortcut still works regardless of keyboard size
• All platforms: Copy-paste from a reference source or browser search remains a universal fallback

Some Windows laptops have a virtual numpad accessible by holding Fn while using specific letter keys — check your laptop's documentation to see if this applies.

Variables That Change What Works for You

Several factors shape which method fits your situation:

• Keyboard layout: Non-QWERTY layouts (AZERTY, Dvorak, regional variants) may assign symbols differently — Alt codes in Windows remain consistent regardless, but shortcut keys can shift
• Input locale settings: Some regional Windows keyboard configurations already map ° to an accessible key combination
• Application type: Rich-text editors support more input methods than plain text fields or web forms
• Frequency of use: If you type the degree sign dozens of times a day, a memorized shortcut or autocorrect rule makes more sense than opening a character map each time
• Autocorrect/text expansion: Both Windows and Mac allow you to set up text replacement rules — for example, typing deg could auto-expand to ° — which sidesteps the shortcut question entirely for power users

The method that's genuinely fastest and least disruptive depends on how you work, what software you use most, and what keyboard you're on.