How to Type the Degree Symbol on Any Keyboard

The degree symbol (°) is one of those characters that doesn't have its own dedicated key — yet it shows up constantly in weather reports, cooking instructions, scientific documents, and technical specifications. Whether you're typing 98.6°F or a 45° angle, knowing how to produce it quickly on your specific device saves real frustration.

Here's how it works across every major platform and input method.

Why the Degree Symbol Isn't on Your Keyboard

Standard keyboard layouts — whether QWERTY, AZERTY, or others — were originally designed around the most frequently typed characters in everyday writing. The degree symbol falls into a category of special characters that are used often enough to matter but not frequently enough to earn a physical key.

Operating systems and input methods each solve this differently, which is why the method varies depending on whether you're on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, or Linux.

How to Type the Degree Symbol on Windows

Windows offers several methods depending on how fast you need it and what software you're working in.

Using a Keyboard Shortcut (Numpad Required)

The classic Windows method uses Alt codes:

• Hold Alt, type 0176 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt
• The ° symbol appears in your text

This only works with a physical numeric keypad — not the number row across the top of the keyboard. If you're on a compact laptop without a numpad, this method won't function unless you enable the Fn-activated numpad layer (if your laptop has one).

Using Character Map

Windows includes a built-in utility called Character Map:

1. Open the Start menu and search for "Character Map"
2. Find the degree symbol, click it, and hit Copy
3. Paste it wherever you need it

This is slower but works on any keyboard layout.

Using Word or Office AutoCorrect

Microsoft Word and other Office apps often auto-insert the degree symbol if you type the numeric equivalent followed by certain sequences. More reliably, you can set up a custom AutoCorrect entry — for example, typing deg automatically becomes °.

How to Type the Degree Symbol on macOS

Mac keyboards make this considerably more straightforward.

The shortcut is: Shift + Option + 8

This works system-wide — in browsers, text editors, word processors, and terminals — without any additional setup. It's one of the more consistent special character shortcuts on macOS.

Alternatively, macOS includes the Character Viewer (accessed via Edit > Emoji & Symbols in many apps, or the globe key on newer keyboards), where you can search "degree" and insert the symbol directly.

How to Type the Degree Symbol on iPhone and iPad 📱

iOS doesn't show the degree symbol on the default keyboard, but it's available as a long-press option:

1. Open any text field
2. Press and hold the 0 (zero) key
3. A popup will appear with the ° symbol
4. Slide to select it

This works in Messages, Notes, Mail, Safari — anywhere the standard iOS keyboard appears. It's quick once you know where it's hidden.

How to Type the Degree Symbol on Android

Android keyboards vary by manufacturer and region, but the most common method is:

1. Switch to the numbers/symbols layout (usually by tapping ?123 or !#1)
2. Look for the degree symbol directly in the symbol set, or tap a secondary symbols key for additional characters

On Google's Gboard keyboard, the ° symbol appears in the symbols panel. On Samsung keyboards, it's typically available under the extended punctuation layout. The exact path depends on which keyboard app your device uses.

How to Insert the Degree Symbol in Specific Software

For web developers and coders, the Unicode code point for the degree symbol is U+00B0. This is consistent across all platforms and character encoding standards that support Unicode (which includes UTF-8, the dominant encoding on the modern web).

The Degree Symbol vs. Similar Characters

A common error is accidentally using a masculine ordinal indicator (º) instead of the degree symbol (°). They look nearly identical on screen but are different characters with different Unicode values.

In casual writing, the difference rarely matters visually. In scientific, technical, or data contexts — especially where the text might be parsed programmatically — using the correct character is important.

What Determines the Right Method for You 🔧

The fastest and most practical method depends on several factors specific to your situation:

• Your device type — desktop, laptop, tablet, or phone each favor different input approaches
• Whether you have a numeric keypad — this determines whether Alt codes are a realistic option on Windows
• The software you're working in — some applications have built-in symbol tools or shortcut customization
• How often you need the symbol — someone typing degree symbols dozens of times a day benefits from a custom keyboard shortcut or AutoCorrect rule, while an occasional user is fine with a copy-paste approach
• Your operating system — macOS users have arguably the most straightforward solution with a single keyboard shortcut, while Windows users have more variables to navigate
• Your keyboard app on mobile — Android especially varies significantly depending on the keyboard installed

Someone writing scientific papers in LaTeX has a completely different optimal workflow than someone texting weather updates on Android or formatting a spreadsheet in Excel. The character is the same; the path to it is not.