How to Write the Degree Symbol on Any Device

The degree symbol (°) is one of those characters that appears constantly in everyday writing — temperature readings, geographic coordinates, angles in math and engineering — yet it hides just out of reach on most keyboards. No dedicated key exists for it, which means the method you use depends entirely on what device and operating system you're working with.

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

Why There's No Dedicated Key

Standard keyboards were designed around the most frequently typed characters: letters, numbers, and common punctuation. Specialty symbols like °, ©, ™, and € didn't make the cut for dedicated keys, so they're tucked into operating system shortcuts, character maps, and Unicode tables instead.

The degree symbol has its own Unicode code point: U+00B0. Every method below is essentially just a different way of accessing that same character.

How to Type the Degree Symbol on Windows 🖥️

Method 1: Alt Code (Numeric Keypad)

This is the classic Windows shortcut. With Num Lock on, hold Alt and type 0176 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt. The ° symbol appears.

This only works with the numeric keypad on the right side of a full keyboard — the number row at the top won't trigger it.

Method 2: Unicode Input

In some Windows applications (particularly Microsoft Word), you can type 00B0 and then press Alt + X. Word converts the Unicode code point directly into the symbol.

Method 3: Character Map

Search for Character Map in the Start menu. Find the degree symbol, click Copy, then paste it wherever you need it. Slower, but useful when shortcuts aren't cooperating.

Method 4: Copy-Paste from a Reliable Source

For one-off uses, copying ° from a browser search result or a Unicode reference page is completely valid.

How to Type the Degree Symbol on Mac

Primary Shortcut: Option + Shift + 8

This is the fastest method on macOS and works across virtually every application — text editors, browsers, word processors, terminal windows. Hold Option and Shift, press 8, release.

Alternative: Emoji & Symbols Viewer

Go to Edit → Emoji & Symbols (or press Control + Command + Space). Search for "degree" and double-click the symbol to insert it. macOS also remembers recently used symbols, so after the first time it becomes faster.

How to Type the Degree Symbol on iPhone and Android 📱

iPhone / iOS

On the default iOS keyboard, tap and hold the 0 (zero) key. A popup appears with the ° symbol as an option. Slide your finger to it and release.

Android

The method varies slightly depending on the keyboard app and device manufacturer, but the most common approach is:

• Tap and hold the 0 key — most Android keyboards (Gboard, Samsung Keyboard) will show the degree symbol as a long-press option.
• If that doesn't work, switch to the symbols keyboard (?123 or =<), then look for it in the secondary symbols panel.

On Gboard specifically, holding 0 in the number row reliably produces °.

How to Type the Degree Symbol in Specific Applications

HTML and Code Contexts

If you're writing web content or working in a code editor, never just paste the raw symbol if you're unsure about character encoding. Use the named HTML entity ° or the numeric entity ° — both render as ° in any browser and avoid encoding problems.

In programming languages, the degree symbol can usually be used directly in strings as long as your file is saved with UTF-8 encoding, which is the standard for most modern editors.

A Note on the Degree Symbol vs. Similar Characters

It's worth knowing that ° is distinct from two visually similar characters that occasionally cause confusion:

• Masculine ordinal indicator (º) — used in some Romance languages (e.g., 2º in Italian or Spanish). It looks nearly identical but has a different Unicode point (U+00BA) and different semantic meaning.
• Superscript zero (⁰) — a mathematical superscript, not a degree symbol.

Copy-pasting from unreliable sources occasionally introduces the wrong character, which can cause issues in data fields or code that checks for the exact Unicode value.

What Determines Which Method Works for You

The right method isn't universal — it shifts based on several factors:

• Whether you're on a laptop or desktop — laptops often lack a numeric keypad, which makes Alt codes unreliable on Windows
• Which application you're working in — some apps intercept keyboard shortcuts or handle Unicode input differently
• Your keyboard app on mobile — third-party keyboards like SwiftKey or Gboard have slightly different long-press behaviors
• Whether you're writing for the web — raw Unicode vs. HTML entities matters depending on your CMS and encoding setup
• How frequently you need the symbol — a one-time use warrants a different approach than someone typing temperature data dozens of times a day

Someone writing a food blog from a MacBook has a different optimal solution than a data analyst entering temperature readings into Excel on a deskless Windows workstation, or a developer building a weather app who needs the character in source code.

The mechanics are consistent — it's always U+00B0 underneath — but which shortcut path gets you there most efficiently depends on the specifics of your daily workflow and tools.