The fastest way depends on your operating system

The degree symbol (°) is not a dedicated key on most keyboards, so you type it using a keyboard shortcut or character code. The method changes depending on whether you use Windows, Mac, or Linux, and whether you are typing in a document, email, or web form. On Windows, hold Alt and type 0176 on the numeric keypad. On Mac, hold Shift and Option together and press 8. On Linux, hold Ctrl and Shift, then type U and 00B0.

If your keyboard has no numeric keypad — common on laptops and compact keyboards — Windows offers an alternative: the Character Map process or a compose key sequence. The fastest route for most people is to copy the symbol once and paste it whenever you need it, which works on any device and any process.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows users hold Alt and type 0176 on the numeric keypad, or use Character Map if there is no numeric pad.
  • Mac users hold Shift and Option together, then press 8 to produce the degree symbol.
  • Linux users hold Ctrl and Shift, type U, then type 00B0 and press Space or Enter.
  • Copying and pasting the symbol once into a text file or clipboard manager means you never have to remember the shortcut again.
  • Some applications like Microsoft Word and Google Docs have Insert menus that let you search for and insert the symbol by name.

Windows: Using the numeric keypad shortcut

On Windows, the numeric keypad method is the most reliable. Make sure Num Lock is on — the Num Lock key is usually in the top left of the numeric keypad, and a light on your keyboard or screen will show when it is active. Hold down the Alt key, type 0176 on the numeric keypad (not the number row at the top), and release Alt. The degree symbol appears where your cursor was.

The numbers must come from the numeric keypad on the right side of a full-size keyboard. If you type them from the number row at the top, nothing happens. On laptops without a numeric keypad, you may have a secondary number pad accessed by holding Fn, but this method is unreliable. In that case, use Character Map instead.

Windows: Character Map for laptops without a numeric pad

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. In the window that opens, type "degree" in the search box at the bottom. The degree symbol appears in the list. Click it once to select it, then click the Copy button. Go to your document or email and paste it with Ctrl+V.

Character Map is slower than the Alt code for a single symbol, but it is the only built-in method on laptops. Once you have copied the symbol, you can paste it as many times as you need without opening Character Map again. If you type the degree symbol often, paste it into a text file you keep open, or use a clipboard manager like Ditto or CopyQ to store it permanently.

Mac: The Shift+Option+8 shortcut

On Mac, hold Shift and Option at the same time, then press 8. Release all three keys. The degree symbol appears. This shortcut works in any process — documents, emails, web forms, and text editors. Unlike Windows, the Mac shortcut does not require a numeric keypad, so it works on MacBooks and desktop Macs equally.

If the shortcut does not work, check that your keyboard layout is set to U.S. English or a similar layout. Different keyboard layouts have different shortcuts. Go to System Preferences, click Keyboard, then Input Sources, and make sure your layout is selected. If you use a non-English layout, the shortcut may be different — search for "degree symbol [your layout name]" to find the correct keys.

Linux: The Ctrl+Shift+U method

On Linux, hold Ctrl and Shift together, type the letter U, then type 00B0 (the Unicode code for the degree symbol), and press Space or Enter. The degree symbol appears. This method works in most applications on most Linux distributions, including GNOME, KDE, and others. It is based on Unicode input, which means you can use it to type thousands of other symbols by changing the code.

If the shortcut does not work, your system may have Unicode input disabled. Open your input settings and look for an option called "Compose Key" or "Unicode Input" and turn it on. Some distributions require you to set a compose key first — usually the right Alt key or the Menu key — before the Ctrl+Shift+U method works.

Using Insert menus in Word, Google Docs, and similar applications

Microsoft Word, Google Docs, LibreOffice, and similar applications have built-in symbol menus. In Word, click Insert at the top, then Symbol, then More Symbols. A window opens showing hundreds of characters. Type "degree" in the search box, or scroll down until you find the degree symbol. Click it and click Insert. In Google Docs, click Insert, then Special Characters, type "degree" in the search box, and click the symbol to insert it.

This method is slower than a keyboard shortcut but requires no memorization. It also shows you the symbol before you insert it, which prevents mistakes. If you use these applications regularly, learning the keyboard shortcut is faster in the long run.

Storing the symbol for repeated use

If you type the degree symbol often, the fastest approach is to copy it once and reuse it. Type or paste the symbol into a blank document, select it, and copy it with Ctrl+C (Windows or Linux) or Command+C (Mac). From then on, you can paste it anywhere with Ctrl+V or Command+V. You never have to remember the shortcut or open Character Map again.

For even faster access, use a clipboard manager. Windows users can try Ditto or CopyQ, which store your clipboard history and let you search for and paste items by name. Mac users have ClipMenu or Pasty. Linux users have Parcellite or Clipman. Once you have stored the degree symbol in a clipboard manager, you can paste it with a keyboard shortcut or by searching for "degree" in the manager's interface.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Your laptop likely has no numeric keypad. The Alt code method requires the numeric keypad on the right side of a full-size keyboard. On a laptop, use Character Map instead, or hold Fn and use the secondary number pad if your keyboard has one. The secondary pad is usually less reliable, so Character Map is the safer choice.

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

On most phones, hold down the zero key (0) on the number pad and a menu of related symbols appears, including the degree symbol. On some Android keyboards, you may need to switch to the symbols view first. On iPhone, the method varies by keyboard — try holding the 0 key or accessing the symbols panel. Tablets follow the same rules as phones.

What if I need to type other symbols like copyright or trademark?

Each symbol has its own Alt code on Windows (Alt+0169 for copyright, Alt+0153 for trademark) or keyboard shortcut on Mac and Linux. Character Map on Windows and the Insert > Special Characters menu in Google Docs let you search for any symbol by name. Unicode input on Linux works for any symbol if you know its code.

Does the degree symbol work in all applications?

Yes, the degree symbol is a standard character that works in any process that accepts text — word processors, email, web forms, chat, and code editors. It displays correctly on all devices and operating systems. Some very old or specialized applications may have issues, but this is rare.

Can I create a custom keyboard shortcut for the degree symbol?

On Windows, you can use AutoHotkey to create a custom shortcut. On Mac, go to System Preferences > Keyboard > Text and add a new text replacement — type the degree symbol in the "Replace" field and a shortcut like ":deg" in the "With" field. On Linux, you can configure your compose key or use a tool like xdotool to create custom shortcuts.