How to Type the Degree Symbol in Microsoft Word

Whether you're writing about temperature, angles, or coordinates, the degree symbol (°) is one of those characters that doesn't live on a standard keyboard. Microsoft Word gives you several ways to insert it — some faster, some more reliable depending on your setup.

Why the Degree Symbol Isn't Just a Key Press

Most keyboards are designed around the most frequently typed characters. Symbols like °, ©, or ™ get left out because they'd clutter the layout. That means you need a workaround — but Word actually offers multiple routes, and which one works best depends on your keyboard type, whether you're on Windows or Mac, and how often you need the symbol.

Method 1: Keyboard Shortcut (Windows)

The quickest method for most Windows users is a simple key combination.

Using the numeric keypad:

• Hold Alt and type 0176 on the numeric keypad (not the number row at the top of the keyboard)
• Release Alt — the ° symbol appears

This only works if your keyboard has a dedicated numeric keypad on the right side. Laptop users without one will find this method doesn't function, or requires enabling Num Lock combined with the laptop's Fn key — which varies by manufacturer.

Using Word's built-in shortcut:

• Type 2218, then immediately press Alt + X
• Word converts the Unicode character code into the degree symbol

This shortcut works within Word only and doesn't require a numeric keypad, making it more reliable for laptop users.

Method 2: Keyboard Shortcut (Mac)

On a Mac, the shortcut is more straightforward and works across most applications, not just Word:

• Press Option + Shift + 8

No numeric pad required. This is consistent across macOS versions and tends to be the fastest method for Mac users who type the symbol regularly.

Method 3: Insert Symbol Menu

If shortcuts feel unreliable or you only need the degree symbol occasionally, Word's Insert Symbol dialog is the most dependable route — regardless of keyboard type or operating system.

1. Click the Insert tab in the ribbon
2. Select Symbol (far right of the ribbon)
3. Click More Symbols
4. In the Font dropdown, select a standard font like Arial or Times New Roman
5. In the Subset dropdown, choose Latin-1 Supplement
6. Locate the ° symbol and double-click it to insert

Once you've used it this way, Word remembers recently used symbols, so it appears near the top of the Symbol dropdown on future visits — cutting the steps significantly.

Method 4: AutoCorrect

If you type temperatures or angles frequently, setting up an AutoCorrect rule saves time across every document.

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

From then on, typing deg followed by a space or punctuation automatically converts it to °. The trade-off: this is device-specific and won't carry over to Word on another machine unless you export your AutoCorrect settings.

Method 5: Copy and Paste

The most universal fallback — copy the symbol from anywhere (a web page, another document, or even this article) and paste it into Word. Formatting may shift slightly depending on the font in use, but Word generally adapts the pasted character to match surrounding text.

Comparing the Methods at a Glance 🖥️

What Affects Which Method Works for You

Keyboard layout is the biggest variable. Full-size desktop keyboards with a numeric keypad open up the Alt code method. Compact or laptop keyboards often require an Fn key combination to emulate a numpad — or that method simply won't work.

Operating system determines which shortcuts are available natively. Windows and macOS handle Unicode input differently, and the same key combinations don't cross over.

How often you use it shapes whether a one-time method (Insert Symbol) or an invested setup (AutoCorrect) makes more sense. Someone writing a single document with one temperature reference has different needs than someone producing technical or scientific content regularly.

Which version of Word you're running can also matter marginally — older versions have the same core methods, but the ribbon layout and menu paths may differ slightly from the screenshots you find in guides.

A Note on Superscript as an Alternative ⚠️

Some users type a lowercase "o" and format it as superscript (via Format → Font → Superscript, or the shortcut Ctrl + Shift + +) to mimic a degree symbol. This creates something that looks like ° but isn't the actual Unicode character. It can cause issues with accessibility tools, copy-paste behavior, and documents that get processed programmatically. If accuracy matters — in scientific, educational, or technical writing — using the real degree symbol is the better practice.

The right method ultimately depends on a combination of your hardware, how frequently the symbol appears in your work, and whether you need a solution that travels with you across devices or just solves the problem in front of you right now.