How to Put a Degree Symbol in Excel: Every Method Explained
Whether you're logging temperatures, angles, or geographic coordinates, the degree symbol (°) is one of those characters that doesn't live on a standard keyboard — but Excel gives you several ways to insert it. The method that works best depends on your operating system, keyboard setup, how often you need the symbol, and whether you're building a formula or just formatting a cell.
Why the Degree Symbol Isn't a Simple Keypress
Most keyboards are designed around alphanumeric characters and common punctuation. Special characters like °, ©, or ™ fall outside that range and require either a workaround, a shortcut, or a dedicated input method. Excel doesn't treat the degree symbol any differently from other Unicode characters — it's just a matter of telling Excel which character you want.
The degree symbol has a Unicode code point of U+00B0 and an ASCII decimal value of 176. That matters because several insertion methods rely on those numbers directly.
Method 1: Keyboard Shortcut (Windows)
On Windows, the fastest approach for most users is the Alt code method:
- Click the cell where you want the symbol
- Hold Alt and type 0176 on the numeric keypad (not the top-row number keys)
- Release Alt — the ° symbol appears
This works in Excel for Windows across virtually all versions. If you're on a laptop without a dedicated numeric keypad, you may need to enable Num Lock and use the Fn key combination, or this method may not be available at all depending on your hardware.
Method 2: Keyboard Shortcut (Mac)
On a Mac, the shortcut is more straightforward:
- Press Option + Shift + 8
This works system-wide on macOS, including inside Excel cells, formula bars, and text boxes.
Method 3: Insert Symbol Dialog
If you don't want to memorize shortcuts, Excel's built-in symbol library works on both platforms:
- Click the cell or position your cursor in the formula bar
- Go to Insert → Symbol
- In the dialog box, set the font to (normal text) or leave it as is
- In the "Character code" box at the bottom, type 00B0
- Click Insert, then Close
This method is slower but reliable and doesn't require memorizing anything. It also lets you browse nearby characters if you need related symbols like the masculine ordinal indicator (º), which looks similar but is technically a different character.
Method 4: CHAR Function in a Formula
If you're building a formula — for example, displaying a temperature value with a degree symbol appended — the CHAR function is the cleanest approach:
=A1&CHAR(176)&"C" This would display something like 22°C if A1 contains 22.
On Windows, CHAR(176) returns the degree symbol. On Mac, Excel also uses CHAR(176) for the same result in modern versions, though older Mac Excel versions occasionally used a different character set. If you're sharing spreadsheets across platforms, CHAR(176) is generally the most portable option.
Method 5: Copy and Paste
Sometimes the simplest answer is the right one. You can:
- Copy the symbol directly from this page: °
- Paste it into your Excel cell
This works anywhere, requires no technical knowledge, and is perfectly valid for occasional use. It's worth saving the character somewhere accessible — a sticky note, a text file, or a dedicated cell in your workbook — if you use it regularly.
Method 6: Autocorrect Custom Shortcut
If you frequently type degree symbols, Excel's AutoCorrect feature lets you assign a text trigger:
- Go to File → Options → Proofing → AutoCorrect Options
- In the "Replace" field, type a trigger like
deg - In the "With" field, paste or insert °
- Click Add, then OK
After this, typing deg followed by a space will automatically replace it with °. This works well for freeform text entry but won't fire inside formulas.
Comparison of Methods at a Glance
| Method | Platform | Works in Formulas | Speed | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alt + 0176 | Windows only | No | Fast | Regular manual entry |
| Option + Shift + 8 | Mac only | No | Fast | Mac users |
| Insert Symbol dialog | Both | No | Slow | Occasional use |
| CHAR(176) | Both | ✅ Yes | Fast once learned | Formula-based output |
| Copy & Paste | Both | No | Medium | One-time use |
| AutoCorrect trigger | Both | No | Fast after setup | High-frequency entry |
A Note on Similar-Looking Characters 🔍
Excel won't warn you if you accidentally insert the ordinal indicator (º) instead of the degree symbol (°). They look nearly identical on screen but are different Unicode characters. If your data is going to be processed, exported, or compared programmatically, using CHAR(176) in a formula guarantees you're inserting the correct character every time.
What Changes Based on Your Setup
The method that actually works for you depends on factors that vary from one user to the next:
- Keyboard hardware — laptops without numeric keypads rule out Alt codes entirely
- Operating system — Windows and Mac shortcuts are completely different
- Excel version — older versions of Excel for Mac have minor character encoding quirks
- Workflow type — formula-driven spreadsheets call for
CHAR(176), while quick data entry might suit AutoCorrect or a keyboard shortcut better - Collaboration needs — if your file is opened by others on different systems, formula-based methods are more consistent
Someone building a scientific data tracker with hundreds of temperature values has different priorities than someone who occasionally labels a single cell. Both will find a method here that fits — but which one is the right fit depends entirely on how and where you're working. 🎯