How to Type the Degree Symbol in Microsoft Word

The degree symbol (°) is one of those characters that doesn't live on any standard keyboard key — yet it shows up constantly in documents covering temperature, angles, coordinates, and academic work. Knowing how to insert it quickly in Microsoft Word saves real time, and there's more than one way to do it depending on how you work.

Why the Degree Symbol Isn't on Your Keyboard

Standard keyboards follow a layout designed around the most frequently typed characters in everyday writing. Symbols like °, ©, ™, and µ are used often enough to matter, but not often enough to earn a dedicated key. Instead, they live inside character encoding systems — specifically Unicode — where every character, symbol, and glyph has a unique code point. Word provides several ways to access these hidden characters.

Method 1: The Keyboard Shortcut (Fastest for Most Users)

The quickest way to type the degree symbol in Word is with this keyboard shortcut:

Windows: Place your cursor where you want the symbol, then press Ctrl + Shift + @ followed immediately by Space

This triggers Word's built-in autocorrect and symbol substitution system. It works reliably in most versions of Word for Windows.

Mac: Press Option + Shift + 8

On a Mac, this is a system-level shortcut — it works not just in Word but in most other applications as well.

Method 2: Unicode Character Code (Windows Only) ⌨️

This is the most direct method for Windows users who want precision:

1. Place your cursor where the symbol should appear
2. Type 00B0 (the Unicode code point for the degree symbol)
3. Immediately press Alt + X

Word converts the code into the symbol on the spot. This works because Word recognizes Unicode hex input followed by Alt + X as an instruction to render the character. No mouse required, and no menus to navigate.

Method 3: Insert Symbol Dialog

For users who don't want to memorize shortcuts, Word's Insert Symbol menu is the reliable fallback:

1. Click the Insert tab in the ribbon
2. Select Symbol on the far right
3. Click More Symbols
4. In the Character code box at the bottom, type 00B0
5. Click Insert

Alternatively, scroll through the symbol grid — the degree symbol typically appears near other common special characters once you set the font to (normal text) and the subset to Latin-1 Supplement.

Once you've inserted it this way, it appears in the Recently Used Symbols row for faster access next time.

Method 4: Copy and Paste

Sometimes the simplest approach is the right one. The degree symbol — ° — can be copied directly and pasted anywhere in your document. This works across platforms and requires no settings knowledge. It's particularly useful when inserting the symbol occasionally rather than repeatedly.

Method 5: AutoCorrect Setup

If you use the degree symbol frequently, Word's AutoCorrect feature lets you define a text shortcut that automatically converts to °:

1. Go to File → Options → Proofing → AutoCorrect Options
2. In the Replace field, type a short trigger (e.g., deg)
3. In the With field, paste or insert the ° symbol
4. Click Add, then OK

From that point on, typing your trigger text followed by a space will automatically substitute the degree symbol. This approach is popular among users who write scientific or technical documents regularly.

Quick Comparison of Methods

What Affects Which Method Works for You 🖥️

Not every method works the same way across all setups:

• Word version matters. The Ctrl+Shift+@ shortcut and Alt+X Unicode method are features of the desktop version of Microsoft Word. Word Online (the browser-based version) has a more limited toolbar and may not support all keyboard shortcuts the same way.
• Keyboard layout matters. Non-US keyboard layouts may map keys differently, which can affect shortcuts like Ctrl+Shift+@. Users with regional keyboards sometimes find that Unicode entry via Alt+X is more consistent.
• Operating system behavior. macOS handles Option+Shift+8 at the system level, meaning it works even if Word's own shortcut mapping behaves unexpectedly.
• Document type. In some protected documents or form fields, symbol insertion via certain methods may be restricted depending on editing permissions set by the document creator.

The Degree Symbol vs. Similar-Looking Characters

One point worth noting: the degree symbol (°) is Unicode character U+00B0. It's distinct from:

• The masculine ordinal indicator (º) — U+00BA — which looks nearly identical but has different semantic meaning and spacing behavior
• The ring above diacritic (˚) — U+02DA — used in some European languages

Using the wrong character can create subtle problems in technical documents, especially when data is parsed or searched programmatically. If accuracy matters in your context, confirming the Unicode value when inserting is worth the extra second.

The right method ultimately comes down to how often you need the symbol, which version of Word you're running, what kind of keyboard layout you're on, and how you prefer to work — whether that's pure keyboard, mouse-driven menus, or a mix of both. Each of those factors shifts the most efficient path in a different direction.