The fastest way: hold Option and press Shift-8

On a Mac, the degree symbol (°) appears when you hold the Option key and press Shift and 8 at the same time. Release all three keys together. The symbol will appear wherever your cursor is.

This works in almost every Mac process — email, documents, web browsers, spreadsheets, text editors. You do not need to install anything or change your keyboard settings. It is the same shortcut whether you use an external keyboard or your Mac's built-in keyboard.

If you type temperatures, measurements, or angles regularly, this shortcut becomes automatic after a few uses. Many people find it faster than reaching for the mouse.

Key Takeaways

  • Hold Option and press Shift-8 to type a degree symbol on any Mac keyboard.
  • The shortcut works in all standard Mac applications without any setup or special software.
  • If you cannot remember the shortcut, you can use the Character Viewer to search for and insert the symbol by name.
  • On an external keyboard, the Option key is labeled Option or Alt, and the shortcut works the same way.
  • The degree symbol is different from the letter O or the number 0, and using the correct character matters for readability and searchability.

Using the Character Viewer when you forget the shortcut

If the Option-Shift-8 combination does not stick in your memory, the Character Viewer lets you search for the degree symbol by name. Press Control-Command-Space to open the Character Viewer (or go to Edit > Emoji & Symbols in most applications).

Type "degree" in the search box at the top. The degree symbol will appear in the results. Double-click it to insert it into your document. This method is slower than the keyboard shortcut, but it works if you only need the symbol occasionally.

The Character Viewer also shows you the keyboard shortcut for any symbol you search for, so you can learn the shortcut over time by using this method repeatedly.

Why the degree symbol matters, not just the letter O

The degree symbol (°) is a distinct character from the letter O or the number 0. Using the correct symbol matters for two reasons: readability and searchability. A temperature written as "98°F" looks cleaner and more professional than "98oF" or "98OF".

If you write temperatures or measurements that other people search for, using the real degree symbol makes your content findable. Search engines and document searches treat ° differently from O, so "72°" will not match "72o" in a search.

For technical or scientific writing, the degree symbol is the standard. If you are writing for publication or for an audience that cares about precision, using the correct character shows attention to detail.

On external keyboards: the Option key location

If you use an external keyboard with your Mac, the Option key is usually labeled Option or Alt on the bottom row, next to the Command key. The shortcut is identical: hold Option, then press Shift-8.

Some older or non-Apple external keyboards may label the key differently. If you cannot find a key labeled Option or Alt, check your keyboard's manual or look for the key that sits between Control and Command. On Windows keyboards used with a Mac, the Alt key functions as the Option key.

The Shift key is always in the same place, so once you locate the Option key on your external keyboard, the shortcut works the same way as on your Mac's built-in keyboard.

Typing degree symbols in different applications

The Option-Shift-8 shortcut works in email (Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail), word processors (Pages, Microsoft Word, Google Docs), spreadsheets (Numbers, Excel), and web browsers. It also works in text editors, note-taking apps, and most other Mac software.

Some specialized applications — like certain design or coding tools — may have different keyboard layouts or may not support standard Mac shortcuts. If the shortcut does not work in a specific app, try the Character Viewer instead. If neither method works, the process may have its own symbol insertion menu or may require you to copy and paste the symbol from elsewhere.

For most everyday use, the Option-Shift-8 shortcut is reliable across all standard Mac applications.

Creating a text replacement for repeated use

If you type the degree symbol many times per day, you can create a text replacement so that typing a short code automatically inserts the symbol. Go to System Settings > Keyboard > Text Replacement (or System Preferences > Keyboard > Text on older macOS versions).

Click the plus button and enter a short code in the "Replace" field — for example, "deg" or ":degree:". In the "With" field, paste the degree symbol (you can copy it from this page or type it using Option-Shift-8). Now whenever you type "deg" followed by a space, your Mac will replace it with °.

This method is most useful if you work in a field where you type temperatures, angles, or coordinates regularly. The text replacement works across all applications on your Mac.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if Option-Shift-8 types something else on my Mac?

This usually means your keyboard layout is set to something other than U.S. English. Go to System Settings > Keyboard > Input Sources and check which layout is active. If you need a different language layout for other work, you can switch between layouts using the flag icon in the menu bar. The Option-Shift-8 shortcut works only with U.S. English and some other layouts — check your specific layout's documentation if you use a non-English keyboard.

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

Yes. You can copy the ° symbol from anywhere — a web page, another document, or even this page — and paste it into your work. This is slower than the keyboard shortcut but works if you only need the symbol once or twice. After you paste it once, you can use text replacement (described above) to make future instances automatic.

Is there a difference between the degree symbol and the ring above character?

Yes, they are different Unicode characters. The degree symbol (°) is what you need for temperatures and angles. The ring above (˚) is a diacritical mark used in some languages. The Option-Shift-8 shortcut gives you the degree symbol, which is correct for scientific and technical writing in English.

Does the degree symbol work the same way on iPhone or iPad?

No. On iPhone and iPad, you hold down the 0 (zero) key on the keyboard and a menu appears with the degree symbol as an option. Tap it to insert it. This is different from the Mac shortcut because iOS keyboards work differently from macOS.