How to Type a Degree Sign in Microsoft Word (Every Method Explained)

The degree symbol — ° — is one of those characters that doesn't live on a standard keyboard, yet comes up constantly in temperature readings, geographic coordinates, angles, and technical documents. Microsoft Word gives you several ways to insert it, and which method works best depends on how often you need it, what kind of document you're working on, and whether you're on Windows or Mac.

What the Degree Symbol Actually Is

Before diving into methods, it helps to know what you're working with. The degree sign (°) is a distinct Unicode character — U+00B0 — not a superscript zero or a letter "o." Using the wrong character is a surprisingly common mistake that can cause problems in technical documents, data imports, or when text is searched and parsed by other software. Visually they can look similar, but they're not the same.

Method 1: The Keyboard Shortcut (Windows)

The fastest approach on Windows requires a numeric keypad:

1. Place your cursor where the symbol should appear
2. Hold Alt
3. Type 0176 on the numeric keypad (not the number row)
4. Release Alt

The degree symbol appears immediately. This is the Alt code method, and it works in Word and most other Windows applications. The key limitation: it requires a physical numeric keypad. Many laptop keyboards don't have one, which makes this method impractical on compact hardware.

Method 2: The Keyboard Shortcut (Mac)

On a Mac, no numeric keypad is needed:

• Press Option + Shift + 8

That's it. This shortcut works system-wide on macOS, including in Word for Mac, and is generally the quickest route for Mac users.

Method 3: Insert Symbol Dialog (Windows and Mac) 🔍

Word has a built-in symbol library that works on both platforms:

1. Click where you want the symbol
2. Go to the Insert tab in the ribbon
3. Click Symbol → More Symbols
4. In the dialog, set Font to (normal text) and Subset to Latin-1 Supplement
5. Locate the degree sign (°) and click Insert

This method is slower but useful if you're unfamiliar with shortcuts or need to confirm you're inserting the correct Unicode character. The dialog also shows the character code, letting you verify it's U+00B0.

Method 4: AutoCorrect — Type It Without Thinking

If you use the degree symbol frequently, setting up an AutoCorrect rule turns it into an automatic replacement:

1. Go to File → Options → Proofing → AutoCorrect Options (Windows) or Word → Preferences → AutoCorrect (Mac)
2. In the Replace field, type a shorthand like deg or (deg)
3. In the With field, paste or insert the actual ° symbol
4. Click Add, then OK

After that, typing your shorthand followed by a space triggers the replacement automatically. This works well for users who type temperatures or measurements regularly throughout the day.

Method 5: Unicode Entry (Windows Only)

If you know the Unicode code point, Word on Windows lets you type it directly:

1. Type 00B0
2. Immediately press Alt + X

Word converts the code into the degree symbol on the spot. This method is reliable and precise — handy when you're already working in the keyboard and don't want to reach for the mouse.

Quick Comparison of Methods

A Note on Copy-Paste

There's nothing wrong with simply copying ° from a trusted source and pasting it into Word. As long as the source uses the correct Unicode character (U+00B0), the paste will be accurate. This is a perfectly valid approach for one-off uses, though it's not practical if you're typing degree symbols throughout a long document.

Formatting Considerations

Once you've inserted the degree sign, Word treats it like any other character — it inherits the surrounding font size and style. In some document formats (particularly technical or scientific templates), the degree symbol is formatted slightly smaller or positioned differently. If your style guide requires a specific presentation, you may need to manually adjust the font size of the symbol after inserting it, or apply a character style.

Also worth noting: in scientific contexts, there's often a space convention — some style guides call for a space between the number and the degree symbol (e.g., 23 °C), while others don't (e.g., 23°C). Word won't enforce this automatically, so consistency depends on the writer.

Variables That Affect Which Method Works for You 🖥️

• Keyboard hardware — full-size keyboards with numeric keypads unlock Alt code shortcuts; compact or laptop keyboards don't
• Operating system — Mac and Windows have different native shortcuts with no overlap
• Usage frequency — occasional users may never need more than the Insert Symbol dialog; daily users benefit from AutoCorrect
• Document type — casual writing, technical reports, and data entry workflows each have different tolerances for speed versus precision
• Version of Word — older versions of Word may have minor UI differences in where Symbol options are located, though the core methods have remained consistent for many versions

The right approach isn't the same for every person working in Word — it comes down to what keyboard you're on, how often the symbol appears in your work, and how much friction you're willing to accept in your workflow.