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

The degree symbol — ° — is one of those characters that looks simple but isn't sitting on any standard keyboard key. Whether you're writing about temperatures, angles, or coordinates, knowing how to reliably insert it in Microsoft Word saves time and frustration. There are several ways to do it, and the right approach depends on how you work, what device you're using, and how often you actually need the symbol.

What the Degree Sign Actually Is

Before jumping 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 distinct from a superscript letter "o" — they look similar at small sizes but are not the same character, and mixing them up can cause issues in technical documents, scientific writing, or when data is parsed by software.

In Word, there are multiple pathways to insert the real degree symbol, not just a visual approximation.

Method 1: Keyboard Shortcut (Windows)

The fastest method for most Windows users is a two-part shortcut:

• Place your cursor where you want the symbol
• Hold Alt and type 0176 on the numeric keypad (not the row of numbers at the top)
• Release Alt — the ° symbol appears

This is the Alt code method, and it works in Word as well as most other Windows applications. The catch: it requires a numeric keypad. Laptops without a dedicated numpad can't use this directly unless they enable a virtual numpad via the Fn key or an on-screen keyboard. On compact keyboards, this method becomes less practical.

Method 2: Word's Built-In Keyboard Shortcut

Microsoft Word has its own shortcut that works independently of Alt codes:

Ctrl + Shift + @, then press the Spacebar

This inserts the ° character directly. It's worth practicing a few times — you press Ctrl, Shift, and @ simultaneously, then follow immediately with the spacebar. If you type a letter instead of a space, you'll get a different accented character (like å).

This shortcut works on any keyboard layout, including laptops without a numpad, making it more universally reliable for Word users specifically. 🎯

Method 3: Insert Symbol Dialog

For those who prefer clicking over keyboard shortcuts:

1. Go to the Insert tab in the Word ribbon
2. Click Symbol (usually at the far right)
3. Select More Symbols…
4. In the dialog box, set the font to (normal text) and the subset to Latin-1 Supplement
5. Find and click the ° symbol
6. Click Insert

This method is slower but useful if you're inserting the symbol infrequently and don't want to memorize shortcuts. Once you've inserted it this way, Word remembers it under Recently Used Symbols, so it appears faster on future visits.

You can also use this dialog to assign a custom shortcut to the degree symbol — useful if you work with temperatures or angles regularly and want a faster personal workflow.

Method 4: AutoCorrect

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

• Type (deg) and Word replaces it with °

To set this up:

1. Go to File → Options → Proofing → AutoCorrect Options
2. In the Replace field, type your trigger word (e.g., (deg))
3. In the With field, paste the ° symbol
4. Click Add, then OK

This is particularly powerful for users who type degree-heavy documents repeatedly — scientific reports, engineering specs, weather data summaries. The trade-off is that AutoCorrect is device-specific by default, so it won't follow you to a different computer unless you export and import your Word settings.

Method 5: Copy and Paste

Straightforward and underrated. Copy the character below and paste it directly into your document:

°

This works on any device, any operating system, any version of Word. For occasional use, it's completely practical. Some users keep a personal "symbol library" document open as a reference exactly for this reason.

Method 6: Unicode Entry (Advanced)

If you know Unicode:

1. Type 00B0 (the Unicode code for °)
2. Immediately press Alt + X
3. Word converts the code into the symbol

This is a Word-specific shortcut and won't work in browsers or other applications. It's faster than the Insert Symbol dialog once you have the code memorized, and it works on keyboards without a numpad.

Comparing the Methods at a Glance

The Variables That Change What Works for You 🖥️

No single method is objectively best — what works depends on:

• Your keyboard type: Full keyboards with a numpad open up Alt code options; laptop keyboards often don't
• How frequently you need the symbol: Occasional use favors copy-paste or the dialog; regular use makes AutoCorrect or a memorized shortcut worthwhile
• Your version of Word: The ribbon layout and some shortcut behaviors vary between Word 2016, 2019, Microsoft 365, and the web version of Word
• Your operating system: The Alt code and Unicode method behave differently on Windows vs. Mac (Mac users use Option + Shift + 8 for the degree symbol system-wide)
• Whether you share documents across devices: AutoCorrect setups don't travel automatically

The method that fits someone typing a single temperature into a letter is genuinely different from the method that fits an engineer inserting angular measurements throughout a 50-page technical document. Your own workflow — how you type, on what hardware, and how often this comes up — is what determines which approach actually saves you time. ⌨️