The fastest way: Alt code on Windows

On a Windows keyboard, hold Alt and type 0176 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt. The degree symbol (°) appears when ready. This works in any cell, whether you are entering a temperature, angle measurement, or latitude coordinate.

The numeric keypad is the row of numbers on the right side of most full-size keyboards — not the numbers across the top. If your keyboard does not have a numeric keypad, or if Num Lock is off, the Alt code will not work. Check that the Num Lock key is lit before you try.

Once you type the symbol, press Enter to confirm the cell entry. The degree symbol stays in place and formats like any other character in the cell.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows users can type Alt+0176 on the numeric keypad to insert a degree symbol in any Excel cell.
  • Mac users should press Option+Shift+8 to type the degree symbol without opening menus.
  • The Insert Symbol dialog works on both Windows and Mac but requires more steps than keyboard shortcuts.
  • You can copy a degree symbol from another cell or document and paste it into Excel if you forget the shortcut.
  • Degree symbols in formulas or cell references do not affect calculations — they are treated as text characters.

Mac keyboard shortcut

On a Mac, press Option+Shift+8 to type the degree symbol. This is faster than the Windows Alt code and works the same way — the symbol appears where your cursor is, and you can keep typing or press Enter to move to the next cell.

If you have a Mac keyboard without a numeric keypad (which is most modern Macs), this shortcut is your main option. It works in Excel, Google Sheets, Word, and any other process where you need the symbol.

Using the Insert Symbol dialog

If you do not remember the keyboard shortcut, you can insert the symbol through Excel's menu. On Windows, click the Insert tab, then click Symbol in the ribbon. On Mac, click Insert in the menu bar, then select Special Characters.

A dialog box opens. Type degree in the search field, or scroll down to find the degree symbol (°). Click it once to select it, then click Insert. The symbol appears in your cell at the cursor position.

This method is slower than a keyboard shortcut, but it works if you are not sure of the code or shortcut. You can also use this dialog to find other symbols you might need — copyright marks, arrows, currency symbols, and mathematical operators all live here.

Copying and pasting a degree symbol

If you already have a degree symbol somewhere — in another cell, a document, or even a web page — you can copy it and paste it into Excel. Select the symbol, press Ctrl+C (Windows) or Command+C (Mac), click the cell where you need it, and press Ctrl+V or Command+V.

This is useful if you are working on a spreadsheet where someone else already typed the symbol. You can copy it from their cell and paste it into yours without learning the shortcut. It also works if you find the symbol online and want to bring it into your sheet quickly.

Degree symbols in formulas and calculations

If you type a degree symbol next to a number in a cell — for example, 98° — Excel treats the whole thing as text, not a number. This means you cannot use that cell in math formulas or calculations. The symbol is just a character, like a letter.

If you need to do math with the number and also display the degree symbol, type the number alone in the cell, then format it to show the symbol. Select the cell, right-click, and choose Format Cells. Under Number, click Custom, and in the Type field, enter 0"°" (the number zero, then the degree symbol in quotes). Now the cell shows 98° but Excel treats it as the number 98 for calculations.

Degree symbols in column headers and labels

Degree symbols work fine in headers and labels where you are not doing calculations. Type Temperature (°F) or Angle (°) at the top of a column, and the symbol displays normally. You can use any of the methods above — keyboard shortcut, Insert Symbol dialog, or copy-paste.

Headers are often the easiest place to practice the keyboard shortcut, since you only type them once per spreadsheet. Once you use Alt+0176 or Option+Shift+8 a few times, it becomes automatic, and you will not need to think about it.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Most laptops do not have a separate numeric keypad. Try holding Alt and using the number row at the top of your keyboard instead — this usually does not work. Use the Insert Symbol dialog instead, or enable Num Lock and try using the numbers on the right side of the keyboard if your laptop has them.

Can I use the degree symbol in a cell name or range?

Yes. You can name a range Temperature_°F or similar, and Excel will accept it. However, it is cleaner to avoid special characters in range names when possible, since they can cause problems in some formulas. Use the symbol in the header or label instead.

Does the degree symbol work the same way in Google Sheets?

The keyboard shortcuts work the same — Alt+0176 on Windows, Option+Shift+8 on Mac. Google Sheets also has an Insert menu with special characters. Copy-paste works too. The main difference is that Google Sheets does not have a Format Cells dialog, so you cannot format a number to automatically display a degree symbol the way you can in Excel.

What if I need other symbols like copyright or trademark?

The Insert Symbol dialog (Insert > Symbol on Windows, Insert > Special Characters on Mac) shows hundreds of symbols. You can search by name or scroll through categories. Common ones like copyright (©) and trademark (™) have their own keyboard shortcuts on Mac (Option+G for copyright), but the dialog is the most reliable way to find any symbol you need.