Quick Answer
On Windows, hold Alt and type 0176 on the numeric keypad. On Mac, press Option + Shift + 8. On any phone, tap the 123 key, then long press the number 0 to reveal the degree option.
In Microsoft Word, the dedicated shortcut is Ctrl + Shift + @ then Spacebar. In Google Docs, use Insert, Special characters, then search for degree.
What the degree symbol is for
The degree mark (°) shows up in three big contexts: temperature (180°C, 350°F), geographic coordinates (40.7128° N, 74.0060° W), and angles (90°). It is also used for music theory chord notation and for some academic ranks.
Style guides differ on whether a space sits between the number and the symbol. The International System of Units recommends a space for temperatures (37 °C). Most newsrooms drop the space (37°C). Either is widely accepted.
The fast reference table
- Windows numeric keypad: Alt + 0176 (or Alt + 248)
- Mac US: Option + Shift + 8
- Mac smaller ring glyph: Option + K
- iOS: tap 123, long press 0
- Android: tap 123 or ?123, long press 0
- Microsoft Word: Ctrl + Shift + @ then Spacebar
- Google Docs: Insert, Special characters, search "degree"
- Linux or Chromebook: Ctrl + Shift + U, type 00b0, press Enter
Typing the degree symbol on Windows
Method 1: Alt codes
The classic Alt code is the fastest method on any desktop or laptop that has a numeric keypad.
- Turn on Num Lock.
- Hold the left Alt key.
- Type 0176 on the numeric keypad.
- Release Alt.
The shorter code Alt + 248 also produces the degree mark. Both are accepted by every Windows app from Excel to Photoshop.
Method 2: the emoji picker
Compact laptops without a number pad can use the built in picker.
- Press Windows + period (or Windows + semicolon).
- Click the omega icon for symbols.
- Select the degree symbol from the punctuation group.
Typing the degree symbol on Mac
Apple offers two glyphs for the degree mark. The standard one (°) is wider and matches the typographic convention used in most fonts. The smaller masculine ordinal (º) is narrower and is used in Spanish and Portuguese for words like primero (1º) and segundo (2º).
- Standard degree (°): Option + Shift + 8
- Smaller ring (º): Option + K (this is the masculine ordinal indicator)
For temperature and weather copy, always use Option + Shift + 8. The masculine ordinal can render too small in body text.
Typing the degree symbol on iPhone and Android
iOS
- Tap the 123 key in the lower left of the on screen keyboard.
- Press and hold the 0 (zero) key.
- The degree mark slides up. Drag your finger onto it and release.
Android
Gboard and Samsung Keyboard use the same long press pattern. Tap ?123 to enter the number layer, then long press 0 to reveal the degree symbol.
If you type weather phrases often, set up a text replacement (Settings, Personal Dictionary or Text Replacements) that expands "degc" into the full string "°C". One trigger covers every weather report you ever write.
Inside Microsoft Word and Google Docs
Word
Word has a built in shortcut that does not need a numeric pad.
- Press Ctrl + Shift + @ together.
- Release the keys.
- Press Spacebar.
The Ctrl + @ trick comes from Word's general dead key system. It also works for the at sign and a handful of other symbols.
Google Docs
Click Insert in the menu bar, choose Special characters, type "degree" in the search box, and click the result. Docs remembers your last few choices, so the symbol appears in the recent grid the next time you open the dialog.
Linux and Chromebook
Press Ctrl + Shift + U, type 00b0 (the Unicode hex for the degree sign), and press Enter or Spacebar. The shortcut is identical on every modern Linux distribution and on every Chromebook.
HTML and CSS
If you are writing markup, the entity ° renders as the degree symbol. The numeric equivalents ° and ° produce the same result. In CSS, you can use the unicode-escape \00B0 inside content properties on pseudo elements.
Troubleshooting
Alt + 0176 prints a different character
Your Num Lock is off, or you are pressing the number row instead of the numeric keypad. Alt codes only respond to the dedicated keypad on the right side of full size keyboards.
The symbol shows as a hollow box
The active font is missing the degree glyph. Switch to a complete system font like Segoe UI, San Francisco, Roboto, or Noto Sans.
Word autocorrects °C into something else
Turn off "Replace text as you type" under File, Options, Proofing, AutoCorrect Options. The temperature string is sometimes captured by smart formatting rules.
FAQs
Is there a difference between °C and ℃?
Yes. Two separate Unicode points exist. ° plus C uses the standard degree symbol followed by the letter C. ℃ is a single glyph (U+2103). The single glyph is technically deprecated by Unicode for new content because it cannot be styled separately from the C.
Can I type a degree symbol on a Chromebook without the Unicode trick?
Yes. Open the on screen keyboard from the system tray and tap the symbol page. The degree mark sits on the secondary punctuation panel.
The takeaway
The degree symbol is one shortcut away on every modern device. Memorise Alt + 0176 on Windows or Option + Shift + 8 on Mac and you cover ninety percent of your typing for life.
