The fastest way depends on your operating system

The degree symbol (°) is not on your keyboard's main keys, but every operating system has a quick way to type it. On Windows, hold Alt and press 0176 on the numeric keypad. On Mac, hold Shift and Option together, then press 8. On Linux, hold Ctrl and Shift, then press U, then type 00B0 and press Space or Enter.

If you do not have a numeric keypad — common on laptops — Windows offers an alternative: use the Character Map process to find and copy the symbol, or switch your keyboard layout temporarily to one that includes it. The method you choose depends on whether you type the degree symbol once a month or several times a day.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows users with a numeric keypad can type the degree symbol when ready by holding Alt and pressing 0176.
  • Mac users hold Shift and Option together, then press 8 to produce the degree symbol.
  • Linux users hold Ctrl and Shift, type U, then 00B0, then press Space to insert the symbol.
  • Laptop users without a numeric keypad can copy the symbol from Character Map or use their keyboard's Fn key to enable the numeric keypad layer.

Windows: Using the numeric keypad

If your keyboard has a numeric keypad on the right side, this is the fastest method. Hold down the Alt key on the left side of your keyboard, then press 0, 1, 7, 6 in sequence on the numeric keypad. Release Alt, and the degree symbol appears where your cursor is.

This works in almost every Windows process — email, word processors, spreadsheets, web browsers. The numeric keypad must be active; if Num Lock is off, the keys will move your cursor instead of typing numbers. Check the Num Lock light on your keyboard; it should be lit.

Windows: Without a numeric keypad

Laptops and compact keyboards often lack a dedicated numeric keypad. Look for a Fn key, usually in the bottom left corner. Hold Fn and look for keys marked with small numbers — often the right side of the keyboard has numbers printed in a different color. Hold Alt and Fn together, then press the key marked with 0, then 1, then 7, then 6.

If your keyboard has no numeric layer at all, open the Character Map process. Press the Windows key, type "Character Map," and open it. Scroll down or search for "degree" to find the symbol. Click it, click Copy, then paste it into your document with Ctrl+V. You can keep Character Map open and repeat this as needed.

Mac: The keyboard shortcut

On any Mac keyboard, hold Shift and Option (the key labeled Alt on some keyboards) at the same time, then press 8. The degree symbol appears when ready. This works in Mail, Pages, Google Docs, web browsers, and any other process where you type text.

If you type the degree symbol frequently — for example, in scientific or weather reports — you can add it to your Mac's text replacement shortcuts. Go to System Settings, then Keyboard, then Text Replacement. Click the plus button, type "deg" in the Replace field, paste the degree symbol in the With field, and click Add. From then on, typing "deg" followed by a space will automatically insert the symbol.

Linux: Using the Unicode input method

On most Linux systems, hold Ctrl and Shift together, then press U. Type 00B0 (the Unicode code for the degree symbol), then press Space or Enter. The symbol appears in your document. This method works in most text editors and web browsers, though some applications may require a different approach.

If that does not work, check your input method settings. Different Linux distributions and desktop environments (GNOME, KDE, Cinnamon) have different configurations. Open your system settings and search for "Input Method" or "Keyboard" to verify that Unicode input is enabled. If you use the degree symbol regularly, you can also add it to your keyboard layout or create a custom keyboard shortcut through your desktop environment's settings.

When you need it often: Create a shortcut or use autocorrect

If you type temperatures, angles, or coordinates regularly, setting up a shortcut saves time. Most word processors and email clients have autocorrect or text expansion features. In Microsoft Word, go to File, then Options, then Proofing, then AutoCorrect Options. Click the AutoCorrect tab, type a shortcut like "deg" in the Replace field, paste the degree symbol in the With field, and click Add.

Google Docs users can use the built-in autocorrect: go to Tools, then Preferences, and add a custom autocorrect entry. In Gmail, you can use the same method by enabling autocorrect in Settings. Once set up, typing your shortcut and pressing Space automatically inserts the symbol, which is much faster than the Alt or Shift+Option method if you use it multiple times per document.

Copying from the web when you are stuck

If none of the above methods work on your system, you can always find the degree symbol online and copy it. Open a web browser, search for "degree symbol," and copy the symbol from the search results. Paste it into your document with Ctrl+V (Windows or Linux) or Command+V (Mac). This is slower than using a keyboard shortcut, but it works on any device with internet access.

Some websites that display the symbol clearly include Unicode reference pages and symbol databases. Once you have copied it once, you can paste it repeatedly without searching again — just use Ctrl+V or Command+V each time you need it in the same document.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Your keyboard likely does not have a dedicated numeric keypad. Try holding Alt and Fn together while pressing the keys marked with numbers on the right side of your keyboard. If that fails, use Character Map instead: press Windows key, type "Character Map," find the degree symbol, copy it, and paste it into your document.

Can I type the degree symbol on a phone or tablet?

On iPhone and iPad, hold down the 0 key in the number row and a menu appears with the degree symbol as an option. On Android, the method varies by keyboard app — most show the symbol when you hold the 0 key, but some require you to access a symbols menu. Check your keyboard app's settings if the long-press method does not work.

Is there a way to type the degree symbol without memorizing a code?

Yes. Set up text replacement or autocorrect in your process so that typing a straightforward shortcut like "deg" automatically inserts the symbol. This works in Word, Google Docs, Gmail, and most other programs. Once configured, you never have to remember the Alt code or keyboard combination again.

What if I need the degree symbol in a web form and the shortcut does not work?

Copy the symbol from Character Map or another source and paste it into the form. If the form rejects the symbol, contact the website's support — some forms are restricted to letters and numbers only. For temperature or angle data, check whether the form accepts a separate unit field where you can type "degrees" or "°C" instead of using the symbol alone.