How to Put a Degree Sign in Microsoft Word (Every Method Explained)

The degree symbol — ° — is one of those characters that doesn't live on any standard keyboard key, yet it shows up constantly in technical writing, cooking recipes, weather reports, and scientific documents. Microsoft Word gives you several ways to insert it, and the right method depends on how often you need it, what device you're using, and how you prefer to work.

What the Degree Sign Actually Is

Before diving into methods, it helps to know what you're dealing with. The degree symbol (°) is a Unicode character with the code point U+00B0. It's different from a superscript letter "o" — though they look similar, using the wrong one can cause formatting problems in technical or scientific documents.

Word treats it as a legitimate typographic character, not a workaround.

Method 1: The Keyboard Shortcut (Windows)

The fastest method for Windows users who type frequently:

1. Place your cursor where you want the symbol
2. Press Alt + 0176 on the numeric keypad (not the number row)

This only works with Num Lock enabled and a full keyboard that includes a numeric keypad. On compact keyboards or laptops without a dedicated numpad, this shortcut either won't work or requires holding a Fn key — which varies by manufacturer.

Method 2: The Insert Symbol Menu

This method works on any Windows or Mac setup, regardless of keyboard type:

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

It's slower, but it's reliable and doesn't require memorizing anything. The dialog also shows you the character code, so you can learn the shortcut over time.

Method 3: AutoCorrect — Type It Without Thinking 🔄

Word's AutoCorrect feature can be configured to automatically replace a custom text string with the degree symbol:

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

From then on, whenever you type your chosen shortcut, Word replaces it automatically. This approach suits people who insert degree signs regularly — like those writing lab reports, engineering specs, or climate data.

The trade-off: it only works inside Word (and other Office apps where AutoCorrect is active), so the habit doesn't carry over to other software.

Method 4: The Unicode Input Method (Windows)

If you know the Unicode code point:

1. Type 00B0 directly in your document
2. Immediately press Alt + X

Word converts the code into the ° symbol on the spot. This is popular among technical writers who work with many special characters, since the same pattern works for any Unicode symbol — not just the degree sign.

Note: Alt + X is a Word-specific shortcut. It won't work in browsers, email clients, or other text editors.

Method 5: Mac Keyboard Shortcut

On a Mac, inserting the degree symbol is more straightforward:

• Press Option + Shift + 8

This works system-wide on macOS — not just in Word — which makes it easy to build into muscle memory. No Num Lock, no code entry required.

Method 6: Copy-Paste

The unglamorous but universally effective approach: copy the symbol from somewhere else and paste it in.

You can copy ° directly from a web search, a previous document, or a Unicode reference site. Word preserves the character correctly as long as you're not pasting formatted text that brings unwanted styling with it. Pasting as plain text (Ctrl + Shift + V on Windows, or via Paste Special) avoids any formatting bleed.

Quick Comparison of Methods

What Changes the Experience

A few variables determine which method actually fits your workflow:

Keyboard type is the biggest factor. A laptop without a numeric keypad rules out the Alt + 0176 shortcut entirely — or makes it awkward enough that another method is faster. A mechanical desktop keyboard with a full numpad makes that shortcut trivial.

How often you need the symbol shapes the math. If you write one weather report a year, the Insert menu is fine. If you're documenting test results daily, an AutoCorrect rule or a memorized shortcut saves real time over weeks and months.

Operating system splits the experience cleanly. Mac users have a clean, system-wide shortcut that just works. Windows users have more options but more conditions attached to each one. ⌨️

Document sharing and compatibility matters too. If your documents move between Word on Windows, Word on Mac, Google Docs, or other editors, the degree symbol typed as a proper Unicode character survives the journey. A superscript lowercase "o" substituted in a hurry often doesn't render the same way across platforms.

A Note on Similar-Looking Characters

Word won't always warn you if you've inserted the wrong character. Three things look like a degree sign but aren't:

• Masculine ordinal indicator (º) — used in Spanish and Portuguese numbering
• Superscript letter o — a formatted regular character, not a symbol
• Ring above (˚) — a diacritic mark

In casual writing the difference is invisible. In data, code, formulas, or anything that gets parsed by software, using the correct Unicode character (U+00B0) is the only reliable choice. 🎯

The method that gets you to that correct character most smoothly depends entirely on the keyboard in front of you, the platform you're on, and how embedded the degree symbol is in your regular writing tasks.