Where Is the Degree Symbol on a Keyboard? (All Devices Covered)

The degree symbol — ° — doesn't have its own dedicated key on most keyboards. That's the source of a lot of frustration when you're typing temperatures, angles, or coordinates and suddenly need it. The good news: there are reliable ways to type it on every major platform. The method that works best for you depends on your operating system, your keyboard layout, and how often you need the symbol.

Why There's No Dedicated Degree Key

Standard keyboard layouts — whether QWERTY, AZERTY, or others — were designed around the most commonly used characters in everyday writing. The degree symbol is used often enough to be useful, but not so frequently that it earned its own physical key on most layouts. Instead, it's tucked away behind keyboard shortcuts, Alt codes, Unicode input, or on-screen character menus.

Your keyboard layout and operating system determine which of these methods is available to you.

How to Type the Degree Symbol on Windows 🖥️

Windows gives you several routes depending on what you're comfortable with.

Using the Alt Code (Number Pad Required)

The classic Windows method:

1. Make sure Num Lock is on
2. Hold down Alt
3. Type 0176 on the numeric keypad (not the top-row numbers)
4. Release Alt — the ° symbol appears

This only works with a physical number pad, which means it typically doesn't work on compact laptops without one.

Using the Character Map

Go to Start → Windows Accessories → Character Map, find the degree symbol, and copy it. Slower, but works on any Windows machine.

Copy-Paste or Autocorrect

Many users simply keep the symbol copied to their clipboard, or set up a text replacement in their word processor or Windows settings so that a short string like deg auto-expands to °.

Unicode Input (Select Apps)

In some applications, you can type the Unicode value 00B0, then press Alt + X to convert it to °. This works in Microsoft Word and a handful of other programs — not universally.

How to Type the Degree Symbol on Mac

Mac keyboard shortcuts tend to be more consistent across applications.

Keyboard Shortcut

• Press Option (⌥) + Shift + 8

This inserts ° directly wherever your cursor is. It works in most Mac applications without any additional setup, making it the fastest method for regular Mac users.

Character Viewer

Press Control + Command + Space to open the Character Viewer, search for "degree," and double-click to insert it. Useful if you need related symbols like the degree Celsius (℃) or degree Fahrenheit (℉) characters, which are separate Unicode entries.

How to Type the Degree Symbol on iPhone and iPad 📱

On iOS and iPadOS, the degree symbol is hidden behind a long-press gesture.

1. Open any keyboard
2. Tap and hold the zero (0) key
3. A popup appears with the ° symbol
4. Slide your finger to it and release

No settings changes needed. This works across the default iOS keyboard in messages, notes, emails, and most apps.

How to Type the Degree Symbol on Android

Android keyboards vary by manufacturer and app, but the most common path:

1. Tap the ?123 key to switch to the numbers layout
2. Look for ° directly, or long-press the 0 key — many keyboards (Gboard, Samsung Keyboard) surface the degree symbol this way

If you're using Gboard (Google's keyboard), long-pressing 0 brings up the degree symbol reliably. Third-party keyboards may handle this differently.

HTML and Web Contexts

If you're writing for the web or working in a code editor, you'll want the correct entity rather than pasting the raw character:

For most modern web work, pasting the ° character directly is fine — UTF-8 encoding handles it correctly. The HTML entity is useful in legacy environments or when you want to be explicit in your markup.

Key Factors That Affect Which Method Works for You

Not every method listed here will apply to your situation. A few variables that matter:

• Operating system — Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, and ChromeOS each have different input systems
• Keyboard type — Full-size keyboards with number pads unlock Alt code entry on Windows; compact and laptop keyboards don't
• Application — Some shortcuts (like Alt+X Unicode input) only work in specific programs like Word
• Keyboard app — On mobile, your installed keyboard app determines whether long-press shortcuts are available and how they're triggered
• Frequency of use — If you type ° regularly, a text replacement or autocorrect rule is worth setting up; if it's occasional, copy-paste may be enough
• Input language settings — Certain regional keyboard layouts (like some European layouts) may place the degree symbol at a different key combination altogether 🌍

Someone writing technical reports on a full-size Windows desktop has a completely different workflow than someone texting temperature readings from an Android phone or embedding weather data into a web page. The symbol is the same — the fastest path to it depends entirely on your setup.