The fastest way depends on your operating system

The degree symbol (°) does not have its own key on most keyboards, so you type it using a keyboard shortcut or a character menu. On Windows, hold Alt and press 0176 on the numeric keypad. On Mac, hold Shift and Option, then press 8. On Linux, hold Ctrl and Shift, then press U, then type 00B0 and press Space or Enter.

If your keyboard does not have a numeric keypad — common on laptops — Windows offers an alternative: type the degree symbol in Character Map, a built-in Windows tool, and copy it to paste where you need it. This takes longer but works on any Windows machine.

The method you choose depends on whether you type the degree symbol often, whether your keyboard has a numeric keypad, and which program you are using. Some applications have their own symbol menus that may be faster than keyboard shortcuts.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows with a numeric keypad, hold Alt and type 0176, then release Alt to insert the degree symbol.
  • On Mac, hold Shift and Option together, then press 8 to type the degree symbol.
  • On Linux, hold Ctrl and Shift, type U00B0, then press Space to insert the symbol.
  • If your keyboard lacks a numeric keypad, use Windows Character Map to find and copy the degree symbol instead.
  • Some programs like Microsoft Word have built-in symbol menus that may be faster than memorizing keyboard shortcuts.

Windows: Using the numeric keypad

The numeric keypad is the cluster of number keys on the right side of a full-size keyboard. To type the degree symbol on Windows, make sure Num Lock is on (a light on the keyboard usually indicates this), then hold down the Alt key and type 0176 on the numeric keypad. Release Alt, and the degree symbol appears.

The leading zero matters — typing 176 without the zero will not work. If nothing appears, check that Num Lock is on and that you are using the numeric keypad on the right side of the keyboard, not the number row at the top.

This method works in almost any Windows program: email, word processors, web browsers, spreadsheets, and text editors. It is the fastest option if you type the degree symbol regularly and your keyboard has a numeric keypad.

Windows: Using Character Map if you have no numeric keypad

Laptops and compact keyboards often omit the numeric keypad. If yours does, open Character Map by pressing the Windows key, typing "character map," and pressing Enter. The Character Map window opens showing a grid of symbols.

In the search box at the bottom, type "degree" and the degree symbol appears highlighted. Double-click it, then click Copy. The symbol is now in your clipboard. Switch to the program where you need it and paste using Ctrl+V.

This method is slower than a keyboard shortcut but works on any Windows computer. You can leave Character Map open and repeat the copy-and-paste step each time you need the symbol, or you can create a text shortcut in Windows settings so that typing a short code (like "deg") automatically expands to the degree symbol.

Mac: The Shift-Option-8 shortcut

On Mac, hold Shift and Option at the same time, then press 8. Release all three keys, and the degree symbol appears. This works in any Mac program and is faster than opening a menu.

If the shortcut does not work, check that you are using the correct keys. Option is the key labeled "alt" on most Mac keyboards. Shift is the key above Caps Lock. The 8 is the number key at the top of the keyboard, not on a numeric keypad (Macs do not have a dedicated numeric keypad on most models).

This shortcut is consistent across all Mac applications, so once you memorize it, you can type the degree symbol anywhere on your Mac.

Linux: The Ctrl-Shift-U method

On Linux, hold Ctrl and Shift, then type the letter U. Release those keys, then type 00B0 (the Unicode code point for the degree symbol). Press Space or Enter, and the symbol appears.

This method works in most Linux applications and text editors. The sequence is: Ctrl+Shift+U, release, type 00B0, press Space. If nothing appears, your Linux distribution or application may not support Unicode input this way — try the Character Map equivalent for your desktop environment instead.

Using symbol menus in Microsoft Word and Google Docs

Microsoft Word and Google Docs both have built-in symbol menus that may be faster than keyboard shortcuts if you do not type the degree symbol often. In Word, click Insert at the top, then Symbol, then More Symbols. Search for "degree" or scroll through the list until you find it, then click Insert.

In Google Docs, click Insert, then Special Characters. Type "degree" in the search box, and the symbol appears. Click it to insert it into your document.

These menus are slower than keyboard shortcuts for frequent use, but they do not require memorizing a code or having a numeric keypad. They also show you related symbols in case you need something similar.

Creating a text shortcut for repeated use

If you type the degree symbol often, you can set up your operating system to expand a short code into the symbol automatically. On Windows, open Settings, go to Time & Language, then Typing, then Advanced Typing Options. Scroll to Spelling, then toggle on "Autocorrect misspelled words." Then go to AutoCorrect Options and add a new entry: type a short code like "deg" in the Replace field and paste the degree symbol in the With field.

On Mac, go to System Preferences, then Keyboard, then Text. Click the plus button and enter a short code in the Replace column and the degree symbol in the With column. From then on, typing that code followed by a space will expand to the degree symbol.

This approach works across all your applications and is the fastest method if you use the degree symbol regularly in your work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Alt+0176 not work on my Windows laptop?

Most laptops do not have a dedicated numeric keypad. If your laptop has a numeric keypad hidden in the main keyboard (usually accessed by holding Fn and using keys like 7, 8, 9 in the top row), try holding Alt+Fn while typing 0176. If that does not work, use Character Map instead, which works on any Windows computer.

Can I copy and paste the degree symbol from somewhere else?

Yes. You can copy the degree symbol from any webpage, document, or email where it appears, then paste it into your own work using Ctrl+V on Windows or Command+V on Mac. This is useful if you have already typed it somewhere and need it again, but it is slower than using a keyboard shortcut or text expansion.

Does the degree symbol work in all programs?

The keyboard shortcuts work in almost all programs — email, web browsers, text editors, and word processors. Some specialized software or older programs may not recognize the shortcut, in which case Character Map or the symbol menu in your application is the fallback option.

What if I need other symbols like copyright or trademark?

Windows Alt codes exist for many symbols: Alt+0169 for copyright (©), Alt+0174 for registered trademark (®), and Alt+0153 for trademark (™). On Mac, Option+G gives you the copyright symbol, and Option+R gives you the registered trademark symbol. Character Map and symbol menus show all available symbols for your system.

Can I use the degree symbol on my phone or tablet?

On most phones, long-press the 0 key in the number row, and a menu appears with the degree symbol as an option. On tablets with keyboards, the same keyboard shortcuts as computers usually work. If they do not, use your device's built-in symbol or emoji keyboard to search for "degree."