How to Type the Degree Symbol on Windows Mac iPhone and Android

Inserting the degree symbol (°) is a frequent necessity for professionals, students, and casual users alike. Whether communicating weather forecasts, geometric angles, or geographic coordinates, this small superscript circle carries significant meaning. While the symbol is ubiquitous in science and daily life, it is notably absent from the primary keys of most standard physical keyboards.

The method to produce this character varies significantly depending on the operating system, the specific hardware configuration, and the application being used. This comprehensive guide outlines every reliable method to insert the degree symbol across all major platforms and professional software environments.

Quick Shortcuts for Inserting the Degree Symbol

For those who need the symbol immediately, these are the most common keyboard shortcuts:

Windows: Hold Alt and type 0176 on the numeric keypad.
macOS: Press Shift + Option + 8.
iOS (iPhone/iPad): Long-press the 0 (zero) key on the numeric keyboard.
Android: Long-press the 0 (zero) key or find it in the symbols (?123) menu.
Microsoft Word: Type 00B0 and then press Alt + X.

Detailed Methods for Windows Users

Windows provides several ways to access special characters. The "best" method often depends on whether your keyboard has a dedicated numeric keypad and which version of Windows you are running.

Using Alt Codes with the Numeric Keypad

The Alt code method is a legacy feature that remains the most reliable way to insert symbols in Windows. However, it requires a keyboard with a separate 10-key numeric pad.

Ensure Num Lock is turned on.
Place the cursor where the symbol is needed.
Hold down the Alt key.
Type 0176 on the numeric keypad.
Release the Alt key.

Note: Using the number row above the QWERTY keys will not work for this method. If you are using a laptop without a numeric keypad, you may need to use the Function (Fn) key to activate the "embedded" numeric pad, or use the alternative methods below.

The Windows Emoji and Symbols Panel

For users on Windows 10 or Windows 11, the Emoji Panel is the most modern and intuitive tool for finding symbols.

Press the Windows Key + . (period) or Windows Key + ; (semicolon).
When the panel appears, click on the Symbols icon (represented by the Omega symbol Ω).
Scroll through the categories or look for the "General Punctuation" section.
Alternatively, use the search bar within the panel and type "degree."
Click the degree symbol (°) to insert it.

Character Map Utility

The Character Map is a long-standing Windows utility that allows users to view every character available in a specific font.

Press the Windows Key, type Character Map, and press Enter.
Select the font you are using (e.g., Arial or Times New Roman).
Check the Advanced view box.
In the "Search for" field, type "degree" and hit Enter.
Click the symbol, click Select, and then click Copy. You can now paste it into your document.

Methods for macOS Users

Apple’s macOS makes inserting special characters relatively straightforward through dedicated keyboard shortcuts and a visual character viewer.

The Standard Keyboard Shortcut

Mac users have a built-in shortcut that works across almost all applications, including Safari, Pages, and Mail.

Shortcut: Option + Shift + 8

By holding Option and Shift simultaneously and then pressing 8, the degree symbol appears instantly. It is important to distinguish this from Option + K, which produces a similar-looking but technically different "ring" symbol (˚) often used in linguistics.

Using the Character Viewer

If you prefer a visual interface or cannot remember the shortcut, the Character Viewer is the solution.

Navigate to the Edit menu in your current application and select Emoji & Symbols, or press Control + Command + Space.
In the search bar at the top, type "degree."
The search will display various degree-related symbols (including Celsius and Fahrenheit units).
Double-click the degree symbol (°) to insert it into the active text field.

How to Insert the Degree Symbol on Mobile Devices

Typing on mobile requires a different approach since there are no physical "Alt" or "Option" keys.

iOS (iPhone and iPad)

Apple’s virtual keyboard hides the degree symbol behind the number keys to save space.

Tap the 123 button to switch to the numeric layout.
Locate the 0 (zero) key.
Press and hold the 0 key for a second.
A small pop-up bubble will appear containing the degree symbol (°).
Slide your finger over to the symbol and release.

Android Devices

Most Android keyboards, including Gboard (Google Keyboard) and Samsung Keyboard, follow a similar logic to iOS.

Tap the ?123 or 123 button to access numbers and symbols.
Switch to the second page of symbols if necessary (often labeled =\< or 1/2).
Look for the degree symbol directly, or long-press the 0 (zero) key.
On many Gboard versions, the degree symbol is readily visible on the secondary symbols layout without needing a long press.

Degree Symbol in Professional Software Applications

Specific applications often provide their own shortcuts or menus that can be faster than system-wide methods.

Microsoft Word and Outlook

Word includes a powerful Unicode conversion feature that is highly efficient for power users.

Unicode Shortcut: Type 00B0 (the hex code for the degree symbol) and immediately press Alt + X. Word will convert the code into the symbol.
Ribbon Menu: Go to the Insert tab, click Symbol on the far right, and select More Symbols. In the "Subset" dropdown, choose Latin-1 Supplement. Find the degree symbol, select it, and click Insert.
Built-in Shortcut: Word also supports Ctrl + @, Space (Press Ctrl and Shift and @, then release and press Space).

Google Docs and Google Slides

Since Google Docs runs in a browser, it does not always support system-level Alt codes perfectly.

Open your document and go to Insert > Special characters.
In the search bar of the pop-up window, type "degree."
Alternatively, you can draw a small circle in the drawing box provided, and Google will suggest the degree symbol among the results.

Microsoft Excel

Excel handles the degree symbol similarly to Word via the Insert > Symbol menu. However, if you need to include a degree symbol within a formula or a concatenation, you can use the CHAR function.

Formula: ="Temperature: " & 25 & CHAR(176) & "C"
The code 176 is the ANSI code for the degree symbol.

Adobe Creative Cloud (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign)

Graphic designers often need precise control over glyphs.

In applications like InDesign, go to Type > Glyphs.
Set the "Show" filter to Entire Font.
Locate the degree symbol or search for it in the glyphs panel.
Double-clicking the glyph will insert it into your text frame.
In Photoshop/Illustrator, the standard Windows/Mac shortcuts mentioned above also work seamlessly.

Web Development and Programming

When writing code or designing websites, inserting a literal "°" can sometimes lead to encoding issues if the file is not saved in UTF-8. It is often safer to use character entities or Unicode escapes.

HTML Entities

HTML provides named and numeric entities that browsers will always render correctly.

Named Entity: ° (Example: 25°C)
Decimal Entity: °
Hexadecimal Entity: °

CSS

If you are inserting a degree symbol via CSS "content" properties (e.g., for pseudo-elements), use the escaped hex code.

CSS: content: "\00B0";

JavaScript

In JavaScript strings, you can use the Unicode escape sequence.

JS: console.log("It is 90\u00B0 outside");

LaTeX

For scientific and mathematical papers, LaTeX uses specific commands depending on the packages loaded.

Basic Math Mode: $^\circ$ (This creates a superscript circle).
Using gensymb package: \degree
Using siunitx package: \ang{90} or \SI{25}{\celsius} (This is the preferred method for professional scientific documents).

Technical Specifications and History

Understanding the technical background of the degree symbol helps in troubleshooting rendering issues.

Unicode and Encoding

The degree symbol is standardized in the Unicode character set as U+00B0. It is part of the Latin-1 Supplement block. This standardization ensures that whether you type it on a Linux server or an iPhone, the underlying data remains the same.

Historically, the degree symbol emerged in the late 17th century as a shorthand in mathematical and astronomical texts. It was eventually codified into early computer character sets like ASCII (via extended sets) and ISO 8859-1 before being adopted by Unicode in 1991.

Degree Symbol vs. Similar Characters

One of the most common mistakes in professional typesetting is using a character that looks like a degree symbol but is technically incorrect.

Masculine Ordinal Indicator (º): Unicode U+00BA. Used in Spanish and Portuguese (e.g., 1º for "first"). It often has an underline or a different shape depending on the font.
Ring Above (˚): Unicode U+02DA. Used as a diacritic mark.
Superscript Zero (⁰): Unicode U+2070. Used in mathematical powers.
The Letter 'o' or Number '0': Using a superscript "o" is a common "hack" but is poor practice because screen readers will announce it as a letter, not a degree.

Best Practices for Typographic Usage

Proper use of the degree symbol involves more than just inserting the character; it requires following established style guides like the International System of Units (SI) or the APA Style.

Spacing Rules

Temperature: According to the SI brochure and NIST guidelines, there should be a space between the numerical value and the degree symbol when followed by a unit (e.g., 25 °C or 77 °F). However, some regional styles (like US English in non-scientific contexts) often omit the space (25°C).
Angles: When used to denote plane angles in geometry, there should be no space between the number and the symbol. (Example: a 90° angle).
Coordinates: Geographic coordinates also omit the space. (Example: 40°42′46″N).

Font Compatibility

While almost every modern font includes the degree symbol, some highly specialized or decorative fonts might omit it. If the symbol appears as a "tofu" block (a square with a cross or question mark), try switching the font to a standard one like Arial, Helvetica, or Times New Roman.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Why does my Alt code not work?

If typing Alt + 0176 does nothing or produces a different character:

Check Num Lock: It must be enabled.
Use the Numpad: The horizontal numbers above the letters do not work for Alt codes.
Check Keyboard Language: Some international keyboard layouts remap keys in a way that interferes with Alt codes.

Why does the symbol look different in different apps?

The degree symbol's design is tied to the font. In some fonts, it is a perfect circle; in others, it might be slightly oval or have a different line thickness. For consistency in professional documents, always use a single font family for your body text and symbols.

Screen Reader Accessibility

For accessibility purposes, it is vital to use the correct Unicode degree symbol. Screen readers like JAWS or NVDA are programmed to recognize U+00B0 and announce it as "degrees." If you use a superscript "o" or "0," the user will hear "twenty-five oh," which can be confusing in scientific or medical contexts.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the difference between the degree symbol and the Celsius symbol?

The degree symbol (°) is a standalone character. While there is a specific Unicode character for "Degrees Celsius" (℃, U+2103), it is generally recommended to use the standard degree symbol followed by a capital 'C' (°C) for better compatibility and searchability.

Is there a shortcut for the degree symbol on a Chromebook?

Yes. On a Chromebook, you can use the Unicode entry method. Press Ctrl + Shift + U, type 00B0, and then press Enter.

How do I type the degree symbol on a laptop without a numeric keypad?

The easiest way on a laptop is to use the Windows Emoji Panel (Win + .) or the macOS shortcut (Shift + Option + 8). If you are on Windows and absolutely need the Alt code, you may need to use an external USB numeric keypad.

Can I use the degree symbol in a URL?

While you can use it, it is generally not recommended. Browsers will percent-encode the symbol (converting it to %C2%B0), which makes the URL long and difficult for users to read.

How do I type the degree symbol in LaTeX without packages?

You can use the native command ^\circ in math mode, such as $90^\circ$ .

Summary

Inserting a degree symbol is a simple task once you identify the correct shortcut for your specific device. On Windows, the Alt code (0176) and the Emoji Panel are the primary tools. Mac users benefit from a dedicated shortcut (Shift + Option + 8), while mobile users can rely on the long-press functionality of the zero key.

In professional and technical writing, precision is key. Always ensure you are using the true Unicode degree symbol (U+00B0) rather than visual substitutes, and follow the spacing conventions appropriate for your field—no space for angles, and a space for temperatures in formal scientific contexts. By mastering these methods, you ensure your documents remain professional, accessible, and technically sound across all digital platforms.