How To Type Degrees Symbol On Keyboard | No-Fuss Shortcuts

You don’t notice the degree sign until you need it. Then it’s suddenly everywhere: weather notes, thermostat settings, specs, CAD comments, lab logs, a quick “45° angle,” or “72°F” in a message.

The good news: you don’t need to copy-paste it all day. Once you lock in one shortcut for your device, it becomes muscle memory. This page gives you the fastest paths first, then solid backups when a shortcut refuses to cooperate.

What The Degree Symbol Is, And Why It Sometimes “Turns Into Something Else”

The degree symbol is the small raised circle: °. In Unicode, it’s U+00B0. Many apps treat it like any other character, so it copies, pastes, and searches cleanly.

Mix-ups happen because there are look-alikes. Some keyboard layouts can produce a “ring” mark used in letters like å, and it can resemble a degree sign in certain fonts. If you see spacing that feels off, or the circle sits in a strange spot, you may be typing a different character.

When accuracy matters, stick to the shortcuts below or insert the symbol from a built-in character picker. Those methods reliably output the true degree sign (U+00B0).

How To Type Degrees Symbol On Keyboard in Windows And Mac

If you want the fastest result with the least thinking, start here. Pick your device, do the shortcut once, then do it again. Your hands will learn it fast.

Windows: Alt Code (Works Best With A Number Pad)

If your keyboard has a dedicated number pad, this is the cleanest route:

• Place your cursor where you want the symbol.
• Hold Alt.
• Type 0176 on the number pad.
• Release Alt to get °.

If you want Microsoft’s own steps, they’re listed under Insert degree symbol.

Windows: No Number Pad On A Laptop

Lots of laptops skip a full number pad, so Alt+0176 may do nothing. Try these in order:

• Use an app’s symbol picker: In Word and many editors, open Insert → Symbol, then pick ° once and it becomes easy to reuse.
• Use the on-screen keyboard: It can expose a number pad on some setups, letting the Alt code work.
• Use Unicode input in apps that support it: Some editors let you type 00B0 and convert it through a special insert command.

Mac: Option + Shift + 8

On a Mac with a typical U.S. layout, press Option + Shift + 8. You’ll get ° right away.

Mac: Character Viewer Backup

If the shortcut prints a different character, your input source may be set to a different layout. The fastest no-drama backup is Character Viewer:

• Press Fn/Globe + E (or use Edit → Emoji & Symbols).
• Search for “degree”.
• Double-click the symbol to insert it.

Apple documents this tool in Use emoji and symbols on Mac.

Fast Methods By Device And App

Different devices reward different habits. A Windows desktop can live on the Alt code. A Mac can live on Option+Shift+8. Phones are a long-press world. Chromebooks and Linux tend to lean on Unicode entry.

Windows In Any App

If you type degrees a lot on Windows, test these once in the apps you use most: Word, Google Docs in a browser, Notepad, Excel, Slack, and your email editor. Most accept the degree sign as plain text with no issues.

Two small gotchas to watch for:

• Num Lock: If the number pad is acting odd, toggle Num Lock and retry.
• Using the top row digits: Alt codes need the number pad digits, not the number row above letters.

Mac In Any App

Option+Shift+8 works in most places: Notes, Pages, browsers, email, and chat apps. If it fails in one app, try it in a second app. If it works there, the first app may be intercepting the shortcut.

Chromebook And ChromeOS

On many Chromebook setups, you can enter Unicode characters through a short sequence:

• Press Ctrl + Shift + U.
• Type 00B0.
• Press Space or Enter to convert it into °.

This feels weird the first time, then it’s painless. If nothing appears after Ctrl+Shift+U, click into a text field again and retry. Some web fields ignore the sequence.

Linux (GNOME, KDE, And Friends)

Linux varies by desktop and layout, so you want a method that stays steady across apps. Two common routes:

• Unicode entry: In many setups, you can use a Ctrl+Shift+U style sequence, type 00B0, then finish with Space or Enter.
• Compose key: Set a Compose key in your keyboard settings, then use a compose sequence that outputs ° (the exact keys depend on your chosen compose table).

iPhone And iPad

On iPhone and iPad, you can usually get the degree sign right from the keyboard:

• Open the numeric/symbol keyboard (tap 123).
• Press and hold 0.
• Slide to °, then release.

If you’re typing temperatures, this method is quick because your thumb is already on the number layer. If you don’t see ° on long-press, check if you’re using a third-party keyboard that changes long-press options.

Android Phones And Tablets

Android keyboards vary (Gboard, Samsung Keyboard, SwiftKey), but a common pattern works:

• Switch to numbers/symbols.
• Long-press 0 or look for ° on a secondary symbol page.
• Tap it once to insert.

Some keyboards put ° behind an “= \ <” style page. If you type it often, check the keyboard settings for a long-press customization feature.

Shortcut Cheat Sheet Table

This table gives you the fastest method per platform, plus a backup that works when a shortcut gets blocked by a layout, app, or missing number pad.

Clean Copy Options When Shortcuts Fail

Sometimes you’re stuck in a remote desktop session, a locked-down work laptop, or a web form that ignores special input sequences. In those moments, copying the symbol once can save you from wrestling with settings.

Copy It Once, Then Make It Easy To Reuse

• Pin it in your clipboard manager if your system has one. Many clipboard tools let you keep a short list of “always needed” characters.
• Use text replacement on your phone or computer. Set something like “deg” to expand into “°”. This feels great when you type temperatures all day.
• Keep a tiny notes file called “symbols” with °, µ, ±, and anything else you grab often.

Type It In A Browser Without Special Tools

If you can paste, you can use the symbol. Copy this character: °. Paste it where you need it. That’s it.

If you need consistent formatting, pair it with a number and a unit like “72°F” or “22°C”. Most fonts render the symbol cleanly, even in plain text fields.

Fixes When You Don’t Get The Right Symbol

When a shortcut fails, it’s usually one of a small set of causes: wrong keyboard layout, missing number pad input, or an app hijacking a shortcut. Run this checklist and you’ll usually land on the fix fast.

Quick Troubleshooting Table

Make It Fast For Real Work

Once you can type °, the next win is speed. Here are a few habits that make a bigger difference than hunting for the “perfect” shortcut.

Use Text Replacement For Repeated Temperature Notes

If you type “deg” and it turns into “°”, you’ll stop thinking about symbols at all. Text replacement is ideal for:

• Weather logs and forecasts
• HVAC notes and thermostat settings
• Cooking temps in drafts and recipes
• Angle notes in design and fabrication

Keep Units Attached When You Paste

When you paste a temperature, paste the whole token: “22°C” or “72°F”. It keeps spacing consistent across editors. It also avoids the “floating circle” look that can show up if the symbol sits alone.

Teach Your Hands One Method Per Device

It’s tempting to memorize every method. You don’t need that. Pick one primary method per device and one backup. That’s enough for nearly every situation:

• Windows desktop: Alt+0176, backup is Insert Symbol
• Mac: Option+Shift+8, backup is Character Viewer
• Phone: long-press 0, backup is text replacement
• Chromebook: Unicode 00B0 entry, backup is paste

Common Questions You’ll Answer With This Symbol

You’ll see the degree sign tied to a few patterns. Once you can type it quickly, these become effortless:

• Temperature: 20°C, 68°F
• Angles: 45°, 90°, 180°
• Coordinates: 45° N (often paired with minutes and seconds symbols)

If you also need minutes and seconds symbols for coordinates (′ and ″), the same character picker tools on Windows and Mac can insert them, and you can store them in your “symbols” note beside °.

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