How to Type the Degree Symbol in Excel (Every Method Explained)

The degree symbol (°) is one of those characters that isn't on any standard keyboard key, yet it comes up constantly — temperature readings, geographic coordinates, angles in engineering data. Excel doesn't make it obvious, but there are actually several reliable ways to insert it. Which method works best depends on how often you need it, what version of Excel you're running, and how your workflow is set up.

Why the Degree Symbol Isn't on Your Keyboard

Most keyboards follow the ASCII layout, which was designed for standard alphanumeric input. Special characters like °, ©, or ™ weren't included because there simply wasn't room. Operating systems handle these through Unicode, and Excel supports Unicode fully — meaning the degree symbol (Unicode character U+00B0) can be entered in multiple ways once you know how.

Method 1: Keyboard Shortcut (Windows)

The fastest method on Windows is using the Alt code:

1. Click the cell where you want the symbol
2. Hold Alt and type 0176 on the numeric keypad (not the top-row number keys)
3. Release Alt — the ° symbol appears

⌨️ This works in Excel for Windows across virtually all versions. It requires a numeric keypad, which means it won't work on compact laptops without one — unless you enable Num Lock on an embedded keypad or use an external keyboard.

Method 2: Keyboard Shortcut (Mac)

On a Mac, the shortcut is more straightforward:

• Press Option + Shift + 8

This works in Excel for Mac and doesn't require a numeric keypad. It's the cleanest single-keystroke option for Mac users.

Method 3: Insert Symbol Dialog

If you only need the degree symbol occasionally and prefer visual menus:

1. Click the cell
2. Go to Insert → Symbol
3. In the Symbol dialog, set the font to (normal text) or Arial
4. In the Character code box at the bottom, type 00B0 and change the "from" dropdown to Unicode (hex)
5. Click Insert

This method works across all modern versions of Excel on both Windows and Mac. It's slower but reliable if you can't remember the shortcut.

Method 4: CHAR Function Formula

Excel's CHAR() function inserts characters by their ASCII/Unicode number. For the degree symbol:

=CHAR(176) 

You can also combine it with a number in another cell:

=A1&CHAR(176) 

This is especially useful when you're building dynamic temperature or angle data from other values — for example, displaying "72°" by concatenating a number with the symbol. Keep in mind this merges the value into a text string, so the cell won't behave as a number for further calculations.

Method 5: Copy and Paste

Simple but effective — copy the symbol directly: °

Paste it into any Excel cell. This is the lowest-friction option when you only need it once or twice and don't want to memorize shortcuts. The symbol pastes as a standard Unicode character, fully compatible with Excel's text handling.

Method 6: AutoCorrect

If you use the degree symbol frequently, you can make Excel insert it automatically:

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

From that point on, typing (deg) in any cell and pressing Space or Enter will convert it to °. This is a per-installation setting, so it won't carry over to other computers or Excel accounts unless you manually set it up again.

Comparing the Methods at a Glance

A Note on Formatting vs. Typing the Symbol

There's an important distinction worth knowing: you can also format a cell to display a degree symbol automatically without it being typed in the cell value at all.

1. Select the cells containing numbers
2. Right-click → Format Cells → Number → Custom
3. Enter a format like 0"°" or 0.0"°"

🔢 The cell still holds a pure number — Excel can still use it in calculations — but it displays with a ° after it. This is often the cleaner approach for temperature datasets or angle columns where you need both visual clarity and numeric functionality.

What Changes Depending on Your Setup

A few variables affect which method will actually work for you:

• Laptop vs. desktop keyboard: No numeric keypad means the Alt code route is blocked without a workaround
• Windows vs. Mac: The shortcuts are completely different; Mac's Option+Shift+8 doesn't exist on Windows
• Excel for the Web: Some keyboard shortcuts and the CHAR function work, but the Insert Symbol dialog may be limited compared to the desktop app
• Formula-heavy vs. display-only use: Whether your degree values need to remain numerically functional changes whether typing the symbol directly or using custom cell formatting is the right approach

The right method isn't universal — it depends on how your keyboard is configured, which platform you're on, and whether those cells need to stay numerically active or just look right on screen.