How to Type the Degree Symbol on Any Device

The degree symbol (°) is one of those characters that seems like it should be easy to find — and then isn't, until you know where to look. Whether you're writing about temperature, angles, or coordinates, here's a complete breakdown of how to type it across every major platform.

What Is the Degree Symbol?

The degree symbol is the small superscript circle (°) used in measurements of temperature (32°F, 100°C), geometry (a 90° angle), and geographic coordinates. It's a standard Unicode character — U+00B0 — which means it's supported universally across operating systems, browsers, and apps. The method for typing it, however, varies depending on your device and keyboard layout.

It's worth distinguishing it from two lookalikes:

• The masculine ordinal indicator (º) — looks similar but sits differently in text
• The degree Celsius sign (℃) — a single combined character, less commonly used

For most purposes, the plain degree symbol ° is what you need.

How to Type the Degree Symbol on Windows

Windows offers several methods, and which one suits you depends on how often you need it and what you're working in.

Method 1: Alt Code (Numpad Required)

Hold Alt and type 0176 on the numeric keypad (not the top-row numbers). Release Alt and ° appears. This is fast once memorized, but requires a keyboard with a dedicated numpad — which rules out most laptops.

Method 2: Character Map

Search for Character Map in the Start menu, find the degree symbol, and copy it. Practical for occasional use; cumbersome as a regular workflow.

Method 3: Copy and Paste a Saved Symbol

Many users simply keep ° copied in a notes file or text snippet tool. Low-tech, but surprisingly efficient for infrequent use.

Method 4: Windows Emoji Panel

Press Windows key + . (period) to open the emoji and symbol panel. Navigate to Symbols → Punctuation and you'll find °. Works in most apps without any numpad dependency.

Method 5: Microsoft Word AutoCorrect or Insert Symbol

In Word, go to Insert → Symbol → More Symbols, find the degree symbol, and insert it. You can also assign it a keyboard shortcut through Word's symbol settings.

How to Type the Degree Symbol on Mac

Mac users have it slightly easier with a dedicated shortcut.

• Keyboard shortcut:Option + Shift + 8 → °

This works system-wide in almost every app — text editors, browsers, email clients, design tools. It's the fastest method on macOS and worth committing to memory if you're on a Mac regularly.

Alternatively, the Special Characters viewer (Edit → Emoji & Symbols, or Control + Command + Space) lets you search for "degree" and insert it directly.

How to Type the Degree Symbol on iPhone and iPad 📱

On iOS, the degree symbol is hidden in the number keyboard:

1. Tap a text field to open the keyboard
2. Tap 123 to switch to numbers
3. Press and hold the 0 (zero) key
4. A pop-up appears with the ° symbol — slide to it and release

This works in Messages, Notes, Mail, and most third-party apps. It doesn't require any settings changes.

How to Type the Degree Symbol on Android

Android keyboards vary by manufacturer and app, but the most common approach is similar to iOS:

1. Open your keyboard and switch to the number/symbol view
2. Long-press the 0 key — on many keyboards (Gboard, Samsung), this reveals °
3. On Gboard specifically, you can also tap the ?123 key, then look for ° in the symbols panel

If your keyboard doesn't surface it through a long-press, searching for it via the emoji/symbol search (if your keyboard supports it) usually works. Alternatively, copying it from a reliable source and pasting it is a consistent fallback.

How to Type the Degree Symbol on Chromebook

Chromebooks lack a traditional Alt code system, but have a few reliable options:

• Unicode input: Press Ctrl + Shift + U, type 00b0, then press Enter — this inserts ° directly
• Special characters menu: In Google Docs, go to Insert → Special Characters, search "degree," and click to insert
• Copy-paste: From any browser address bar or doc where you've stored it

The Unicode method works in most Linux-based Chromebook environments and is the most flexible.

Comparing Methods at a Glance

When the Method Matters Most 🎯

For someone typing the degree symbol once a month, a copy-paste approach from a saved document is perfectly reasonable. For a scientist, engineer, teacher, or content creator who types it dozens of times daily, a memorized shortcut or text expansion tool (like AutoHotkey on Windows or TextExpander on Mac) pays for itself in saved time almost immediately.

Text expansion tools are worth mentioning here: they let you assign a trigger like :deg or ;;d that automatically outputs ° whenever you type it. These work across all apps and are platform-specific — setup varies between Windows, Mac, and Linux environments.

The "right" method also shifts depending on whether you're working in a browser, a word processor, a design tool, or a coding environment. Some applications intercept keyboard shortcuts or handle Unicode input differently, which means a method that works perfectly in Google Docs might behave unexpectedly in a specialized editor.

Your typing frequency, keyboard type, operating system, and the specific apps you use most are the variables that determine which approach will genuinely fit into your workflow — and that combination looks different for every setup.