How to Type the Degree Sign on Any Device

The degree symbol (°) is one of those characters that almost everyone needs occasionally — for temperatures, angles, coordinates, or academic work — but it doesn't appear on any standard keyboard key. Knowing where to find it depends entirely on what device and operating system you're using, and even what software you're working in.

Here's a complete, platform-by-platform breakdown of every reliable method.

What Is the Degree Sign?

The degree sign (°) is a typographic character used to represent degrees of temperature (32°F, 100°C), angles (90°), geographic coordinates, and more. It's distinct from the masculine ordinal indicator (º) and the superscript letter "o" — two lookalikes that can cause formatting issues in technical or scientific writing.

In Unicode, the degree symbol is U+00B0. In HTML, it's written as ° or °. These references matter when you're working in web-based tools or code editors.

How to Type the Degree Sign on Windows 🖥️

Windows offers several methods depending on your workflow.

Using a Keyboard Shortcut (Numpad Required)

Hold Alt and type 0176 on the numeric keypad (not the number row). Release Alt, and ° appears. This only works if Num Lock is on and your keyboard has a dedicated numpad.

Using the Character Map

1. Press Windows key + R, type charmap, and press Enter
2. Find the degree symbol in the grid
3. Click Select, then Copy
4. Paste it into your document

Using Unicode Input in Microsoft Office

In Word and some other Office apps, type 00B0 then immediately press Alt + X. The code converts to the ° symbol in place.

Copy-Paste

Simply copy it from here: ° — straightforward for occasional use.

How to Type the Degree Sign on Mac

Mac keyboards make this significantly more accessible.

Standard Keyboard Shortcut

Press Option + Shift + 8. This works system-wide in virtually any application — text editors, browsers, email, spreadsheets — without any additional settings.

This is the fastest and most universally reliable method for Mac users and worth memorizing if you type temperatures or angles regularly.

Using the Character Viewer

Go to Edit > Emoji & Symbols (or press Control + Command + Space) and search for "degree." Click to insert.

How to Type the Degree Sign on iPhone and iPad 📱

No shortcut key exists, but Apple's mobile keyboard has it built in.

Tap and Hold the Zero Key

On the iPhone or iPad keyboard, tap and hold the "0" key. A popup appears with the degree symbol (°) as one of the options. Slide your finger to it and release.

This works in any app that uses the standard iOS keyboard — messages, notes, email, and most third-party apps.

Using Text Replacement

If you type degree symbols frequently, set up a text replacement shortcut:

1. Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement
2. Tap the + button
3. Set Phrase to ° and Shortcut to something like deg

Now every time you type "deg," your iPhone replaces it with °.

How to Type the Degree Sign on Android

Android's method depends on the keyboard app installed — the stock experience varies between manufacturers.

Gboard (Google's Default Keyboard)

1. Press and hold the 0 key on the number row
2. The ° symbol appears as a pop-up option
3. Slide to select it

On some Gboard layouts, you may need to switch to the symbols panel (tap ?123) first, then long-press 0.

Samsung Keyboard

Samsung devices may require tapping into the symbols panel and browsing the special characters section. The layout varies slightly by One UI version.

Universal Method for Android

Long-pressing keys in the number row is the most consistent approach across keyboards. If that fails, copying from a browser or notes app is a reliable fallback.

How to Insert the Degree Sign in Specific Applications

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Don't use the letter "o" or zero "0" as a substitute. They may look similar at small font sizes but break formatting in data, scientific documents, and code.

Don't confuse ° with º. The masculine ordinal indicator (º) is used in some languages for ordinal numbers (like "1º") and is a different Unicode character (U+00BA). Using the wrong one causes issues in structured data and formal documents.

The Variable That Changes Everything

Every method above is reliable — within its platform. The factor that determines which approach actually fits your workflow is the combination of your operating system, keyboard type (with or without a numpad), input frequency, and the application you're working in.

A Windows desktop user with a full keyboard reaches for Alt+0176. A Mac user learns Option+Shift+8 once and uses it everywhere. A mobile user long-presses zero. Someone working in Google Docs daily might prefer the special characters panel for precision.

There's no single "best" method — only the one that matches how and where you're actually typing.