How to Write a Degree Sign in Microsoft Word

Typing a degree symbol (°) seems like it should be simple — until you actually need one and can't find it on your keyboard. Whether you're writing about temperatures, geographic coordinates, or angles, Microsoft Word gives you several ways to insert that small superscript circle. Each method suits a slightly different working style, and knowing all of them means you'll always have a fallback.

Why the Degree Sign Isn't on Your Keyboard

Standard keyboards follow the QWERTY layout, which was designed decades before everyday documents routinely mixed scientific notation, special characters, and symbols. The degree sign (°) is a Unicode character — specifically U+00B0 — meaning it exists in every modern font and operating system, but there's no dedicated key assigned to it by default. That's why you need a workaround, and Word offers more than one.

Method 1: Keyboard Shortcut (Fastest for Frequent Use)

The quickest way to insert a degree symbol in Word on Windows is:

Alt + 0176 (using the numeric keypad, with Num Lock on)

Hold Alt, type 0176 on the numeric keypad (not the top-row number keys), then release Alt. The ° symbol appears immediately.

On a Mac, the shortcut is even simpler:

Option + Shift + 8

This works system-wide on macOS, not just in Word — which makes it particularly handy if you switch between apps frequently.

⌨️ Important note for laptop users: Many laptops don't have a dedicated numeric keypad. If yours doesn't, the Alt+0176 method won't work reliably. Use one of the other methods below.

Method 2: Word's Built-In Symbol Menu

This is the most universally accessible method, requiring no keyboard tricks:

1. Place your cursor where you want the degree sign
2. Click the Insert tab in the ribbon
3. Select Symbol (far right of the ribbon)
4. Click More Symbols…
5. In the Character code box at the bottom, type 00B0
6. Make sure the from dropdown is set to Unicode (hex)
7. Click Insert

The Symbol dialog also shows recently used symbols, so once you've inserted a degree sign this way, it will appear in the Recently used symbols row — making future insertions much faster.

Method 3: AutoCorrect Shortcut in Word

Word has a built-in AutoCorrect entry that converts a specific typed sequence into the degree symbol automatically. By default, typing (o) — that's a lowercase letter o inside parentheses — may trigger AutoCorrect to replace it with °, depending on your Word version and settings.

You can also create your own AutoCorrect rule:

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

After this, every time you type your trigger phrase followed by a space, Word replaces it automatically. This approach is particularly useful for writers who regularly produce technical documents, scientific reports, or weather-related content.

Method 4: Copy-Paste (Quick and Reliable)

Sometimes the simplest solution is the right one. You can copy the degree symbol directly:

°

Copy it from a reliable source — a previous document, a Unicode reference site, or this article — and paste it wherever needed in Word. This works on any device, any operating system, and any version of Word, including Word Online and Word on mobile.

Method 5: The CHAR Formula (for Word Power Users)

If you ever need to insert a degree sign within a Word field code or are working in a context where direct typing is limited, the CHAR function approach used in Excel (=CHAR(176)) doesn't apply directly in Word's document body — but it's worth knowing the underlying number. In Word's field codes, symbol insertion works differently, typically requiring the Symbol dialog or Unicode input instead.

Comparing the Methods at a Glance

A Few Things That Affect Which Method Works for You

Your hardware is the first variable. Desktop keyboards with full numeric keypads make the Alt code method reliable. Laptop keyboards without dedicated numpads often require switching to the Symbol menu or AutoCorrect route.

Your Word version matters too. The ribbon layout and AutoCorrect options have shifted across Word 2016, 2019, 2021, and Microsoft 365. The Symbol dialog exists across all modern versions, but its exact location in the ribbon varies slightly. Word Online (the browser version) has a more limited Insert menu and may not support Alt codes at all — paste or Symbol insertion tends to work more consistently there.

Your operating system determines which keyboard shortcuts are even available. The Mac shortcut (Option + Shift + 8) is consistent and doesn't depend on a numeric keypad, which is why many Mac users find it the most friction-free option. Windows users with compact keyboards often find AutoCorrect or the Symbol dialog more practical.

How often you need the symbol should shape your approach. If you type temperatures into documents daily, setting up an AutoCorrect trigger takes two minutes and saves time indefinitely. If you need the degree sign once a month, copy-paste is perfectly sufficient.

🔎 The "best" method isn't universal — it shifts depending on whether you're on a desktop or laptop, using Windows or macOS, working in the full Word desktop app or the browser-based version, and how often the symbol appears in your typical documents. Those specifics are what determine which approach actually fits your workflow.