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

The degree symbol — ° — is one of those characters that doesn't live on any standard keyboard, yet it shows up constantly in technical documents, recipes, weather reports, and academic writing. Microsoft Word offers several ways to insert it, and the method that works best depends on how often you need it, what version of Word you're using, and whether you're on Windows or Mac.

Why the Degree Symbol Isn't on Your Keyboard

Standard keyboards are designed around the most frequently typed characters. The degree symbol (°) is a special character — part of the Unicode standard (U+00B0) — which means it exists in every modern font but requires a deliberate action to insert. Unlike letters and numbers, it has no dedicated key.

This is worth understanding because it explains why Word provides multiple insertion paths. No single method suits every user or every workflow.

Method 1: The Insert Symbol Menu

This is the most universally available method and works across virtually every version of Word on both Windows and Mac.

1. Place your cursor where you want the symbol.
2. Click the Insert tab in the ribbon.
3. Select Symbol, then More Symbols.
4. In the Font drop-down, leave it set to your current font.
5. In the Subset drop-down, select Latin-1 Supplement.
6. Find the degree symbol (°) and double-click it.

Tip: Once you've inserted it this way, Word remembers it in the Recently used symbols section, so future insertions are faster.

This method is reliable but slow for frequent use — better suited for occasional insertions in a document you're already polishing.

Method 2: Keyboard Shortcut in Word

Word has a built-in shortcut specifically for the degree symbol:

• Windows: Press Ctrl + Shift + @, then press Space

This shortcut works in Microsoft Word but not in most other applications. If it doesn't work, check whether another program or macro is intercepting the key combination.

On Mac, Word uses:

• Option + Shift + 8

This is the same shortcut macOS uses system-wide (see Method 4), so it's consistent across the platform.

Method 3: Alt Code (Windows Only)

If you have a full keyboard with a numeric keypad, you can use Windows Alt codes:

1. Make sure Num Lock is on.
2. Hold Alt and type 0176 on the numeric keypad.
3. Release Alt.

The degree symbol (°) will appear at your cursor.

⚠️ This method only works with the numeric keypad — the number row above the letters won't produce the same result. Laptop users without a dedicated numpad often find this method unreliable or unavailable.

Method 4: System-Level Shortcuts (Works Outside Word Too)

These shortcuts work anywhere on your operating system, not just in Word.

The Windows emoji picker (Win + .) includes a searchable symbols section — type "degree" and it appears immediately. This is increasingly useful on Windows 10 and 11 and works even on laptops without a numpad.

Method 5: AutoCorrect — Best for High-Frequency Use 🔧

If you type temperature values or degree measurements constantly, set up an AutoCorrect rule to replace a custom text string with °.

1. Go to File → Options → Proofing → AutoCorrect Options.
2. In the Replace field, type something you'd never accidentally type — like DEG or %%deg.
3. In the With field, paste the degree symbol (°).
4. Click Add, then OK.

From that point, typing your shorthand automatically converts to °. This approach is especially valuable in scientific, engineering, or culinary documents where the symbol appears dozens of times.

Method 6: Copy and Paste

Simple, but worth mentioning: °

Copy the symbol above and paste it into Word. It will inherit your document's current font formatting. For one-off use or when you're in a hurry, this is perfectly valid. Paste it into a sticky note or text file you keep open as a reference if you need it repeatedly across multiple sessions.

The Variables That Determine Which Method Works for You

Not every method is equally accessible depending on your setup:

• Keyboard type: Laptops without a numpad make Alt codes impractical. Full desktop keyboards make them trivial.
• Operating system: Mac users have a clean system-wide shortcut (Option + Shift + 8) that Windows doesn't match natively. Windows users on version 10 or 11 have the emoji picker as a reasonable alternative.
• Word version: The Insert Symbol menu is consistent across versions. Keyboard shortcuts in Word itself can behave differently between Word 2016, Word 2019, Microsoft 365, and Word for the web.
• Frequency of use: If you're inserting ° once in a document, the symbol menu is fine. If you're writing a chemistry lab report with hundreds of instances, AutoCorrect saves significant time.
• Word for the web vs. desktop app: The full desktop application supports all methods above. Word for the web (browser-based) has a more limited Insert → Special Characters menu and doesn't support Alt codes at all.

A Note on the Degree Symbol vs. Similar Characters

It's worth knowing that ° (degree) is distinct from two visually similar characters:

• Masculine ordinal indicator (º) — used in some languages, looks nearly identical
• Superscript letter O — sometimes used as a workaround but not typographically correct

For technical accuracy, always use the true degree symbol (Unicode U+00B0) rather than a workaround character. In most fonts, the difference is subtle visually but meaningful in data processing, PDF export, and accessibility.

Which method makes sense depends on your keyboard, your platform, how often you need the symbol, and whether you're working in the full Word desktop app or a browser-based version. Each of those variables points toward a different answer for different users.