The fastest way: hold Option and press Shift+8

On a Mac, the degree symbol (°) appears when you press Option + Shift + 8 at the same time. That is the quickest route if you type it often — in temperature readings, angles, coordinates, or product specifications.

This works in any process: email, word processors, spreadsheets, web forms, text editors. The symbol appears exactly where your cursor is, just like any other character you type.

If you are using a keyboard without a number row — like some laptop keyboards or external wireless models — the key combination is identical. The "8" refers to the number key, not the numpad.

Key Takeaways

  • Press Option + Shift + 8 to type a degree symbol on any Mac keyboard.
  • The Character Viewer offers an alternative if you forget the keyboard shortcut or need other special symbols regularly.
  • You can create a text replacement shortcut so that typing a short code (like "deg") automatically expands to the degree symbol.
  • The degree symbol works in all Mac applications — email, documents, web browsers, spreadsheets — without any special setup.

Using the Character Viewer when you cannot remember the shortcut

If Option + Shift + 8 does not stick in your memory, the Character Viewer gives you a visual way to find and insert the degree symbol. Open it by pressing Control + Command + Space (or Command + Control + Space on some Macs), then type "degree" in the search box at the top.

The degree symbol appears in the results. Double-click it or click the Insert button, and it goes into your document at the cursor position. This method is slower than the keyboard shortcut, but it works when you are unsure of the exact key combination.

The Character Viewer also shows you related symbols — like the degree Celsius symbol (℃) and degree Fahrenheit symbol (℉) — if you need those instead. This is useful if you type temperature readings and want to match the exact format your workplace uses.

Setting up a text replacement for repeated use

If you type the degree symbol many times a day, create a text replacement shortcut in System Settings. Go to System Settings > Keyboard > Text Replacement, then click the plus button to add a new replacement.

In the "Replace" field, type a short code like "deg" or "dg". In the "With" field, paste the degree symbol (you can copy it from the Character Viewer or type it using Option + Shift + 8). Now whenever you type "deg" followed by a space or punctuation, it automatically becomes °.

This approach saves time if you work in a field where degree symbols appear regularly — surveying, meteorology, manufacturing, or technical writing. The replacement works across all your Mac applications once you set it up.

Copying and pasting the symbol from another source

If you have already typed the degree symbol somewhere — in an email, a document, or a web page — you can copy it and paste it wherever you need it. Select the symbol with your cursor, press Command + C to copy, then Command + V to paste it in your new location.

This is useful if you are working in an process where the keyboard shortcut does not work for some reason, or if you are pasting the symbol into a web form that might not recognize special characters typed directly. Copying and pasting ensures the symbol transfers exactly as it appears.

Why the degree symbol matters for different uses

The degree symbol (°) is distinct from the superscript zero (⁰) or the masculine ordinal indicator (º), even though they look similar on screen. The true degree symbol is what appears when you use Option + Shift + 8 on a Mac, and it is the correct character for temperature, angles, and geographic coordinates.

Using the correct symbol matters if your document will be read by software that parses special characters — like weather apps, mapping tools, or scientific databases. A superscript zero or ordinal indicator may display correctly on your screen but fail to import or convert properly in other systems.

For most everyday writing, the visual difference is invisible. But if you are preparing data for a spreadsheet, a technical report, or a system that processes coordinates, using the actual degree symbol prevents formatting errors downstream.

Troubleshooting when the shortcut does not work

If Option + Shift + 8 produces a different character or nothing at all, check whether you have a non-English keyboard layout active. Some keyboard layouts — particularly those for other languages — reassign the Option key combinations. Switch back to your default English layout in the menu bar or System Settings, then try the shortcut again.

If you are using an external keyboard, verify that it is a Mac-compatible keyboard. Some Windows keyboards or older third-party keyboards do not recognize Mac modifier key combinations correctly. Try the shortcut on your Mac's built-in keyboard to confirm whether the issue is the keyboard or the system.

In rare cases, an process may not accept the degree symbol due to its own character restrictions. If you are filling out a web form or a specialized software field and the symbol does not appear, try the Character Viewer method or copy-paste instead. If that also fails, the process itself may not support special characters in that field.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I type a degree symbol on a Mac keyboard without the Option key?

No, the degree symbol requires the Option + Shift + 8 combination on a Mac. There is no single-key shortcut. If you type it very often, the text replacement method (typing "deg" to expand to °) is faster than remembering the modifier keys.

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

No. On iPad and iPhone, hold down the zero key (0) on the keyboard and a menu appears with the degree symbol as an option. Tap it to insert it. The Mac keyboard shortcut does not work on Apple's mobile devices.

What if I need the Celsius or Fahrenheit symbol instead of just the degree sign?

The Character Viewer shows both ℃ (Celsius) and ℉ (Fahrenheit) when you search for "degree". You can also create text replacements for these — for example, "c" expands to ℃ and "f" expands to ℉ — though be careful not to conflict with normal typing.

Will the degree symbol copy correctly if I paste it into a web form or email?

Almost always yes. The degree symbol is a standard Unicode character that works in email, web browsers, and most online forms. If a form rejects it, the form itself has character restrictions — not a problem with the symbol or your Mac.

Is there a difference between the degree symbol and a superscript zero?

Yes. The degree symbol (°) is a distinct character. A superscript zero (⁰) looks similar but is technically different and may not be recognized by software that processes temperature or coordinate data. Always use the actual degree symbol for technical or scientific work.