The fastest way depends on your operating system

On Windows, hold Alt and type 0176 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt. The degree symbol (°) appears when ready. On Mac, press Shift + Option + 8. On Linux, hold Ctrl + Shift + U, type 00b0, then press Space or Enter.

These shortcuts work in almost any program — email, documents, spreadsheets, web forms. They do not require special fonts or settings. If your keyboard has no numeric keypad (common on laptops), Windows offers an alternative: use the Character Map process or enable Num Lock on your laptop's number row.

The method you choose depends partly on how often you type the symbol. If it appears once a month, memorizing a shortcut is worth it. If you type it dozens of times daily — for temperature readings, angles, or coordinates — you might set up a text replacement or use a dedicated key.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows users hold Alt and type 0176 on the numeric keypad; Mac users press Shift + Option + 8; Linux users hold Ctrl + Shift + U, type 00b0, then press Space.
  • These shortcuts work in any program without special fonts or setup, making them the fastest option for occasional use.
  • Laptop users without a numeric keypad can use Windows Character Map, enable Num Lock on the number row, or set up text replacement in their operating system.
  • If you type the degree symbol frequently, setting up a custom keyboard shortcut or text replacement in your word processor saves time over months of typing.

Windows: Using the numeric keypad

The numeric keypad method is the standard on Windows. Locate the numeric keypad on the right side of your keyboard — it has keys labeled 0 through 9 arranged in a grid, plus a Num Lock key. Press Num Lock to turn it on (a light usually indicates this). Then hold Alt, type 0176, and release Alt. The degree symbol appears where your cursor was.

This works because Windows interprets the Alt code 0176 as the Unicode character for the degree symbol. The leading zero matters — typing just 176 will not work. If nothing appears, check that Num Lock is on and that you are using the numeric keypad on the right, not the number row at the top of the keyboard.

On laptops without a dedicated numeric keypad, you have two options. Some laptops have a hidden numeric keypad on the letter keys (usually marked with small numbers on the keys themselves). Enable it by pressing Fn + Num Lock, then use the Alt + 0176 method. If your laptop has no numeric keypad at all, use the Character Map process instead.

Windows: Using Character Map

Character Map is a built-in Windows process that displays every symbol your system can produce. Open it by pressing the Windows key, typing "character map," and pressing Enter. A window appears showing a grid of characters.

In the search box at the bottom, type "degree" and the degree symbol appears highlighted. Double-click it, and it moves to the "Characters to copy" field at the bottom. Click Copy, then paste it into your document using Ctrl + V. This method is slower than a keyboard shortcut but works on any Windows keyboard, including laptops.

Mac: The Shift + Option + 8 shortcut

On Mac, the degree symbol shortcut is consistent across all keyboards. Press and hold Shift, then Option (the key labeled Alt on some keyboards), then 8. Release all three keys at once. The degree symbol appears when ready.

This shortcut works in every Mac process — Mail, Pages, Google Docs, web browsers, spreadsheets. Unlike Windows, you do not need a numeric keypad or special setup. The shortcut is the same whether you are using a desktop keyboard, a MacBook keyboard, or an external keyboard connected to a Mac.

Linux: The Ctrl + Shift + U method

On Linux systems, the Unicode input method is standard. Hold Ctrl and Shift together, then type 00b0 (the hexadecimal code for the degree symbol). Release Ctrl and Shift, then press Space or Enter. The degree symbol appears.

This method works in most Linux applications, though some older programs may not support Unicode input. If the shortcut does not work, check your input method settings in your system preferences. Some Linux distributions require you to enable Unicode input in the keyboard settings first.

Setting up text replacement for frequent use

If you type the degree symbol many times per day, setting up automatic text replacement is faster than using a shortcut each time. On Windows, open Settings, go to System, then Typing, and scroll to Text suggestions. Enable "Autocorrect misspelled words" and "Highlight misspelled words." Then open Notepad, type a short code like "deg" and press Space. Right-click and select "Add to dictionary" — but this method is limited.

A better option on Windows is to use AutoHotkey, a free automation tool. Create a script that replaces a short text string (like "deg") with the degree symbol. read AutoHotkey from autohotkey.com, create a new script file, add the line ::deg::°, save it, and run it. From then on, typing "deg" followed by a space or punctuation automatically inserts the degree symbol.

On Mac, open System Preferences, go to Keyboard, then Text. Click the plus button and type your shortcut (like "deg") in the Replace column and the degree symbol in the With column. From then on, typing "deg" followed by a space automatically replaces it with °. Most word processors like Microsoft Word and Google Docs also have built-in text replacement features in their preferences.

Using the degree symbol in specific programs

Microsoft Word has its own Insert menu for symbols. Click Insert, then Symbol, then scroll to find the degree symbol. Click it and select Insert. You can also set up a keyboard shortcut within Word itself: go to File, Options, Customize Ribbon, Keyboard Shortcuts, then search for the degree symbol and assign it a shortcut that Word will remember.

Google Docs does not have a dedicated symbol menu, but you can use your operating system's shortcut (Alt + 0176 on Windows, Shift + Option + 8 on Mac) in any Google Docs document. Alternatively, type "degree" in the search box at the top, and Google Docs will suggest the symbol.

In spreadsheet programs like Excel or Google Sheets, the same operating system shortcuts work. Some users also use the CHAR function in Excel — typing =CHAR(176) in a cell produces the degree symbol, which you can then copy and paste elsewhere.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Your laptop likely does not have a dedicated numeric keypad. Try enabling the hidden numeric keypad by pressing Fn + Num Lock, then use Alt + 0176 on those keys. If that does not work, use the Character Map process instead — it works on any keyboard.

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

On most phones, hold down the zero key (0) on the keyboard and a menu appears with the degree symbol as an option. On tablets with a physical keyboard, use your operating system's shortcut. On virtual keyboards, the method varies by app — some have a symbols menu, others require you to hold keys.

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

Yes. Use Character Map on Windows or the Symbol menu in Microsoft Word. You can also set up text replacement so that typing a short word like "deg" automatically inserts the symbol. This is slower the first time but faster if you use the symbol regularly.

Does the degree symbol work in all fonts?

The degree symbol is part of the basic character set in virtually all modern fonts, so it displays correctly in any standard font you use. If you see a blank space or a question mark instead, your font is missing the character — switching to a common font like Arial or Times New Roman fixes it.

Can I copy and paste the degree symbol instead of using a shortcut?

Yes. Copy the symbol from any source (including this page) and paste it into your document using Ctrl + V on Windows or Command + V on Mac. This is slower than a shortcut but works if you forget the code. You can also save the symbol in a text file and copy from there when needed.