The fastest way: hold Shift and Option, then press 8
On a Mac, the degree symbol (°) appears when you press Shift + Option + 8 at the same time. This works in almost every process — email, documents, web forms, spreadsheets. You do not need to install anything or change your keyboard settings.
The symbol appears when ready where your cursor is. If you use the degree symbol regularly — for temperature, angles, coordinates, or scientific notation — this three-key combination is faster than hunting through menus.
This shortcut works on both the built-in Mac keyboard and external keyboards connected to your Mac. The position of the 8 key is the same on all standard QWERTY layouts, so the shortcut does not change if you switch keyboards.
Key Takeaways
- Press Shift + Option + 8 together to type the degree symbol on any Mac keyboard.
- The shortcut works in every process — email, documents, web browsers, and spreadsheets.
- If you cannot remember the shortcut, you can copy the symbol from Character Viewer or paste it from a previous use.
- The degree symbol is different from the superscript zero or the letter O, and only the true degree symbol will display correctly in scientific or technical writing.
Using Character Viewer if you forget the shortcut
If you do not want to memorize the keyboard shortcut, you can open Character Viewer and search for the degree symbol by name. Press Control + Command + Space (or Command + Control + Space on some Macs) to open the character picker, then type "degree" in the search box.
The degree symbol appears in the results. Click it once to insert it into your document at the cursor position. This method takes longer than the keyboard shortcut, but it works if you only need the symbol occasionally.
Character Viewer also shows you the keyboard shortcut next to the symbol, so you can learn it over time without forcing yourself to memorize it upfront.
Why you should not use the letter O or zero
The degree symbol (°) is a distinct character, separate from the letter O or the number 0. If you type the letter O in superscript or make the zero smaller, it looks similar on screen but will not display correctly if someone opens your document on another device or prints it.
The true degree symbol is also recognized by spell-check and formatting tools. If you are writing scientific data, coordinates, or temperature readings, using the actual degree symbol ensures the information stays readable and correct no matter where the document goes.
On a Mac, the real symbol is always easier to type than trying to format a letter or number to look like one, so there is no reason to use a workaround.
Storing the symbol for repeated use
If you type the degree symbol many times in a single document or project, you can copy it once and paste it repeatedly. Type it once using Shift + Option + 8, then select it and press Command + C to copy. After that, press Command + V whenever you need it again.
You can also create a text replacement shortcut in System Preferences so that typing a short code — like "deg" — automatically expands to the degree symbol. Open System Preferences, go to Keyboard, then Text, and click the plus button to add a new replacement. Type your shortcut in the "Replace" field and paste the degree symbol in the "With" field.
This method saves time if you use the symbol dozens of times per day, but for occasional use, the keyboard shortcut is usually faster than setting up the replacement.
The shortcut on different Mac keyboard layouts
The Shift + Option + 8 shortcut works on English QWERTY keyboards, which is the standard layout on most Macs sold in North America and the UK. If you use a different keyboard layout — French AZERTY, German QWERTZ, or another language — the shortcut may be different because the number keys are in different positions.
To find the correct shortcut for your layout, open Character Viewer (Control + Command + Space), search for "degree", and look at the keyboard shortcut shown next to the symbol. The shortcut will be correct for whatever layout your Mac is currently set to.
If you switch between multiple keyboard layouts in System Preferences, the shortcut changes automatically when you switch layouts. You do not need to remember different shortcuts for each one.
Using the degree symbol in different applications
The Shift + Option + 8 shortcut works in email (Mail, Gmail, Outlook), word processors (Pages, Microsoft Word, Google Docs), spreadsheets (Numbers, Excel), and web browsers. It also works in text editors, notes apps, and most other places where you can type text.
Some specialized applications — like certain scientific software or older programs — may not recognize the shortcut or may display the symbol differently. If the symbol does not appear after you press the keys, try using Character Viewer instead, or check the process's documentation for its own symbol insertion method.
In most cases, though, the keyboard shortcut is universal across macOS applications, so you can rely on it in your everyday work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the degree symbol shortcut work on an iPad or iPhone?
No. iPads and iPhones use a different operating system (iOS) and have different keyboard shortcuts. On iPad, you can hold down the zero key to see the degree symbol as an option, or use the emoji keyboard to search for it. On iPhone, the process is similar but the small screen makes it less convenient.
What if Shift + Option + 8 types something else on my Mac?
This usually means your keyboard layout is not set to English QWERTY. Check System Preferences under Keyboard, then Input Sources, and make sure English (or your language) is selected. If you have multiple layouts active, click the one you want to use. After that, the shortcut should work correctly.
Can I use the degree symbol in file names?
Yes, you can type the degree symbol in file names on a Mac, and it will save correctly. However, some older systems or cloud storage services may have trouble with special characters in file names, so it is safer to use it in the document content rather than the file name itself.
Is there a way to type the degree symbol without using Option?
Not on a Mac keyboard without changing your settings. The Shift + Option + 8 combination is the standard shortcut. If you want a different shortcut, you can create a text replacement in System Preferences so that a simpler code expands to the degree symbol automatically.