The fastest way: copy and paste from character map

Open the Windows Character Map process (search "Character Map" in your Start menu), find the degree symbol (°), click it, then click Copy. Go back to your Word document and paste it with Ctrl+V. This takes about 20 seconds and works every time, even if you forget the keyboard shortcut.

On Mac, open the Character Viewer by pressing Control+Command+Space, search for "degree", click the degree symbol, then double-click it to insert it directly into your document. You do not need to copy and paste separately. This method works regardless of your keyboard layout or whether you have a numeric keypad.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows users can type the degree symbol by holding Alt and pressing 0176 on the numeric keypad, then releasing Alt.
  • Mac users can type the degree symbol by holding Shift+Option and pressing 8.
  • If your keyboard has no numeric keypad, use Character Map on Windows or Character Viewer on Mac instead.
  • The degree symbol pastes into Word the same way as any other character and will print correctly in PDFs and emails.

Alt code method on Windows (numeric keypad required)

Position your cursor in the Word document where you want the degree symbol. Hold down the Alt key, type 0176 on the numeric keypad (the numbers on the right side of your keyboard, not the row above the letters), then release Alt. The degree symbol appears when ready.

This only works on the numeric keypad. If your keyboard is a laptop keyboard or does not have a separate numeric keypad on the right, this method will not work — use Character Map instead. The number must be 0176, not just 176. Some laptops have a hidden numeric keypad accessed through the Fn key, but Character Map is usually faster than hunting for it.

Keyboard shortcut on Mac

On a Mac, hold Shift and Option together, then press 8. Release all three keys. The degree symbol appears where your cursor is positioned.

This shortcut works in Word, Google Docs, email, and almost any other text field on a Mac. If it does not work, your keyboard layout may be set to something other than U.S. English — check System Preferences under Keyboard and Language. Once you confirm your layout is correct, the shortcut should work when ready.

Using Find and Replace to insert multiple degree symbols

If you need to type the degree symbol many times in one document, insert it once using any method above, then use Find and Replace to copy it. Open Find and Replace (Ctrl+H on Windows, Command+H on Mac), paste the degree symbol into the "Find" field, then type what you want to replace it with in the "Replace" field. This avoids typing the symbol over and over.

Alternatively, you can create an AutoCorrect entry in Word so that typing a shortcut like "deg" automatically becomes °. Go to File > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options, click the Replace tab, type "deg" in the Replace field and paste the degree symbol in the With field, then click Add. After you set this up once, you can type "deg" anywhere in Word and it will convert to the degree symbol automatically.

Why the degree symbol does not always look right

The degree symbol sometimes appears too large, too small, or misaligned depending on your font. This is normal — different fonts handle the symbol differently. If it looks wrong, try changing the font of just that symbol to a different one (select it, then change the font in the toolbar) or make it slightly smaller or larger by selecting it and adjusting the font size.

The symbol will print and display correctly in PDFs and emails. If someone else opens your document and the symbol looks different on their computer, it is because their version of the font renders it differently, not because anything is wrong with your document. The symbol itself is identical; only the visual appearance changes based on the font file installed on each computer.

Inserting the symbol through Word's Insert menu

Click Insert in the ribbon at the top of Word, then click Symbol (on the far right of the Insert tab). A dropdown menu appears. Click "More Symbols" at the bottom. In the window that opens, search for "degree" in the search box at the bottom, or scroll through the list until you find it. Click it once to select it, then click Insert.

This method is slower than the keyboard shortcut or Alt code, but it works on any computer and does not require you to remember anything. You can also click the degree symbol in the recent symbols list if you have used it before — Word remembers the last few symbols you inserted. This is the most reliable method if you are on an unfamiliar computer or keyboard.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the degree symbol work in a PDF or when I email the document?

Yes. The degree symbol is a standard character that every computer and email program recognizes. It will display and print the same way in PDFs, emails, and when someone else opens your Word file on a different computer.

What if the Alt code does not work on my laptop?

Laptops without a separate numeric keypad cannot use the Alt code method. Use Character Map instead: search "Character Map" in your Start menu, find the degree symbol, click Copy, then paste it into Word with Ctrl+V. This is just as fast once you know where to find it.

Can I use the degree symbol for both temperature and angles?

Yes, the same symbol (°) is used for both Fahrenheit and Celsius temperatures and for angle measurements in degrees. There is no separate symbol for each use.

How do I type the degree symbol on a Chromebook?

On a Chromebook, hold Ctrl+Shift+U, type 00b0, then press Space or Enter. The degree symbol appears. If you are using Google Docs, you can also use Insert > Special Characters and search for "degree".