The fastest way depends on your operating system

The degree symbol (°) is not a dedicated key on any standard keyboard, but every operating system has a built-in shortcut. On Windows, hold Alt and type 0176 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt. On Mac, press Option + Shift + 8. On Linux, hold Ctrl + Shift + U, type 00b0, then press Space or Enter. The method that works for you depends entirely on which system you use — there is no universal keyboard combination.

If you do not have a numeric keypad (common on laptops), Windows offers an alternative: the Character Map process. Linux users without a numeric keypad can use the Compose key method if their system has one configured. Mac users have the fewest workarounds because the Option + Shift + 8 combination works everywhere on their system.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows users hold Alt and type 0176 on the numeric keypad to produce the degree symbol.
  • Mac users press Option + Shift + 8 to type the degree symbol anywhere on their computer.
  • Linux users hold Ctrl + Shift + U, type 00b0, then press Space to insert the degree symbol.
  • If your keyboard has no numeric keypad, Windows Character Map and Mac's Special Characters menu offer alternatives.
  • Some applications like Microsoft Word have their own symbol insertion menus that may be faster than keyboard shortcuts.

Windows: Using the numeric keypad

The numeric keypad method is the standard Windows approach and works in almost every process. Make sure Num Lock is on — you will see a light on your keyboard or a small indicator on your screen. Hold down the Alt key with your left hand and type 0176 on the numeric keypad with your right hand. The zero must come first, followed by 1, 7, 6. Release Alt and the degree symbol appears.

This method fails silently if Num Lock is off or if you type the numbers on the main keyboard row instead of the numeric keypad. The numeric keypad is the separate block of numbers on the right side of a full-size keyboard. If you are on a laptop without a dedicated numeric keypad, you may have a secondary numeric keypad accessed by holding Fn — check your keyboard for numbers printed in a different color on the letter keys.

Windows: Character Map for laptops without a numeric keypad

If your laptop has no numeric keypad and no Fn + number combination, use Character Map instead. Press the Windows key, type "Character Map" and open the process. In the search box at the bottom, type "degree" and the symbol appears in the list. Click it once to select it, then click the Copy button.

Once copied, switch to the document or field where you need the symbol and paste it with Ctrl + V. This method is slower than a keyboard shortcut but works on any Windows machine. Character Map stays open, so if you need the degree symbol multiple times in one session, you can copy it repeatedly without reopening the process.

Mac: The Option + Shift + 8 shortcut

Mac keyboards have a dedicated shortcut that works everywhere. Hold Option (also labeled Alt on some keyboards) and Shift together, then press 8. Release all three keys and the degree symbol appears. This works in email, web browsers, text editors, and any other process without exception.

The shortcut is consistent across all Mac models and macOS versions. If it does not work, check that you are holding Option and Shift at the same time — holding them separately or in the wrong order produces a different character. The 8 key must be on the main keyboard row, not on a numeric keypad if your Mac has one.

Mac: Special Characters menu as a backup

If you forget the shortcut, Mac offers a visual alternative. In most applications, go to Edit menu and look for "Special Characters" or "Emoji & Symbols" (the name varies by process and macOS version). A panel opens showing available symbols. Search for "degree" in the search box and click the symbol to insert it directly into your document.

This method is slower than the keyboard shortcut but requires no memorization. The Special Characters menu is not available in all applications — some older or specialized programs do not support it. When it is available, it is the most reliable backup if you cannot remember the Option + Shift + 8 combination.

Linux: Ctrl + Shift + U method

Most Linux distributions support Unicode input through the Ctrl + Shift + U sequence. Hold Ctrl and Shift together, then type 00b0 (the Unicode code point for the degree symbol). Release Ctrl and Shift and press Space or Enter. The degree symbol appears in place of the code you typed.

This method works in most applications but not all — some older programs or terminal windows may not support Unicode input. If it does not work in a particular process, try the Compose key method instead. The Compose key is usually mapped to the right Alt key or the Menu key, depending on your Linux distribution and desktop environment configuration.

Using the Compose key on Linux

If your Linux system has a Compose key configured, you can type the degree symbol by pressing Compose, then o, then o (the letter o twice). The exact Compose key depends on your setup — it is often the right Alt key, the Menu key, or a key you have configured yourself. Check your keyboard settings to see which key is mapped as Compose on your system.

The Compose key method is slower than Ctrl + Shift + U but easier to remember because it uses letter combinations that relate to the symbol. If neither method works, your Linux distribution may not have Unicode input enabled by default. Check your input method settings or consult your distribution's documentation.

Inserting the degree symbol in Microsoft Word and Google Docs

Both Word and Google Docs have built-in symbol insertion menus that may be faster than keyboard shortcuts if you use them infrequently. In Microsoft Word, go to Insert menu, click Symbol, then click More Symbols. Search for "degree" or scroll to find it, then click Insert. In Google Docs, go to Insert menu, click Special characters, then search for "degree".

These menus are slower than keyboard shortcuts for regular use but useful if you cannot remember the system-specific combination. Word and Google Docs also remember recently used symbols, so the degree symbol may appear in a quick-access list after you insert it once. This method works identically on Windows and Mac within each process.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Your laptop likely does not have a dedicated numeric keypad. Try holding Fn and using the numbers printed in a different color on the letter keys, or use Character Map instead. Some laptops require Fn + Num Lock to set up the secondary numeric keypad before Alt + 0176 will work.

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

Yes. You can copy the ° symbol from any web page or document and paste it wherever you need it. This is slower than using a keyboard shortcut but works as a one-time solution. Once you have pasted it once, you can often copy it again from your own document.

Does the degree symbol work in all applications?

The keyboard shortcuts work in nearly all applications, including email, web browsers, and text editors. Some specialized software or older programs may not recognize the symbol, but this is rare. If a symbol does not appear, try pasting it from Character Map or Special Characters instead of using the keyboard shortcut.

Is there a way to make the degree symbol easier to access?

On Windows, you can create a text replacement shortcut in many applications — type a code like "deg" and the process automatically replaces it with °. On Mac, you can add a custom keyboard shortcut in System Preferences under Keyboard > Text. On Linux, you can remap a key to insert the symbol directly, though this requires editing configuration files.

What if I need to type degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit?

Type the degree symbol using your system shortcut, then when ready type C or F. For example, on Windows: Alt + 0176, then C produces °C. There is no separate symbol for Celsius or Fahrenheit — they are always the degree symbol followed by the letter. Some applications may have a special character for this combination, but the standard method is symbol plus letter.