How to Write a Degree Symbol in Microsoft Word (Every Method Explained)

The degree symbol — ° — is one of those characters that isn't on your keyboard but shows up constantly in real work: temperature readings, geographic coordinates, angles in engineering diagrams, and academic papers. Microsoft Word gives you several ways to insert it, and which method feels natural depends on how you work, how often you need it, and what platform you're using.

Why the Degree Symbol Isn't Just a Key Press

Unlike letters and numbers, the degree symbol lives outside the standard keyboard layout. It exists in Unicode as U+00B0 and in the older ASCII-adjacent character sets as decimal code 176. Word has always had ways to access extended characters like this — they've just been tucked away in menus, keyboard shortcuts, or behind autocorrect rules.

The good news: once you know where to look, inserting ° becomes fast enough that it stops feeling like an interruption.

Method 1: The Keyboard Shortcut (Windows)

The quickest method on Windows involves a key combination that works directly inside Word:

Press and hold Alt, then type 0176 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt.

This produces the ° symbol instantly. A few things to know:

• You must use the numeric keypad (the number cluster on the right side of a full-size keyboard), not the number row at the top.
• Num Lock must be on. If Num Lock is off, the keypad keys act as navigation arrows and the shortcut won't work.
• On laptop keyboards without a numeric keypad, this method either doesn't work or requires activating a hidden numpad layer using the Fn key — the exact combination varies by manufacturer.

Method 2: Word's Built-In Shortcut

Word has its own shortcut that bypasses the numpad issue entirely:

Type 2109, then immediately press Alt + X.

Word converts the Unicode hex code into the ° character on the spot. This works on any keyboard layout, with or without a numeric keypad, and is often the most reliable option on laptops.

The logic here is simple: 00B0 is the Unicode value for °, and Alt + X tells Word to swap the code for the character. You can use this same trick for any Unicode character if you know its code.

Method 3: AutoCorrect — Type It Without Thinking

If you regularly type temperatures or angles, setting up an AutoCorrect shortcut turns ° into something you type from muscle memory.

1. Go to File → Options → Proofing → AutoCorrect Options
2. In the Replace field, type a shortcut like (deg) or degr
3. In the With field, insert the actual ° symbol (paste it in)
4. Click Add, then OK

From then on, every time you type your chosen shortcut and press Space or continue typing, Word replaces it with °. This approach suits writers who frequently work with temperature data or scientific content, since it removes the need to remember any codes at all.

Method 4: Insert Symbol Menu 🔍

For users who prefer a visual approach or only need the degree symbol occasionally:

1. Place your cursor where you want the symbol
2. Go to Insert → Symbol → More Symbols
3. In the Font dropdown, make sure a standard font like Arial or Times New Roman is selected
4. Set Subset to Latin-1 Supplement
5. Find and click the ° character, then click Insert

This method is the slowest but requires no memorization. The Insert Symbol dialog also shows you the keyboard shortcut associated with any character, so it doubles as a learning tool.

Method 5: Copy and Paste

This sounds trivial, but it's worth mentioning: °

Copy the symbol above, paste it into your document. Done. If you're writing in a context where you only need it once or twice, this is perfectly valid. Many professionals keep a plain-text file of frequently used special characters for exactly this reason.

Mac Users: A Different Path

On a Mac, the keyboard shortcut is simpler and more consistent:

Press Option + Shift + 8

This works system-wide — not just in Word — and doesn't depend on a numeric keypad or Num Lock. The Insert Symbol menu is also available in Word for Mac under Insert → Advanced Symbol, and the AutoCorrect method works identically.

Comparing Your Options at a Glance

The Variables That Determine Which Method Works Best for You

No single method is universally optimal. A few factors shift the answer significantly:

• Keyboard type — Full-size keyboards with a numeric keypad make the Alt code reliable. Compact or laptop keyboards without one make it awkward or impossible without workarounds.
• Frequency of use — Someone typing ° once a month is fine with the Insert Symbol menu or copy-paste. Someone writing chemistry lab reports weekly will want AutoCorrect or the Alt+X shortcut committed to memory.
• Version of Word — The Alt+X Unicode shortcut has been available for many years and works across modern versions of Word for Windows. Feature availability in Word Online (the browser version) and Word for iPad is more limited — some shortcut methods don't translate.
• Platform — Windows and Mac handle special character input differently at the OS level, which is why the shortcuts aren't the same between them.
• Typing flow — Some people find breaking their rhythm to open a menu more disruptive than memorizing a code; others find code-based shortcuts harder to retain than a quick menu visit.

The degree symbol itself is always the same character regardless of which route you take to insert it. What changes is how much friction you encounter getting there — and that friction is entirely shaped by your setup and working habits. 🎯