You’re staring at a half-finished weather report or a geometry assignment and there it is. That annoying little gap where the tiny circle should be. Most people just give up and type out "degrees," but that looks unprofessional. Honestly, it’s one of those things that feels like it should be on the keyboard, right next to the percent sign or the dollar sign, yet it’s hidden behind a secret handshake of keystrokes.
Keyboard shortcuts are weird.
If you're on a Windows machine, the way you get that little dot depends entirely on whether you have a full-sized keyboard with a number pad or a compact laptop. Mac users have it way easier—no surprise there—while mobile users are basically hunting through sub-menus. It’s a mess of inconsistent standards. But knowing how to make degree symbol without Googling it every single time is one of those tiny "life pro tips" that actually saves you five minutes of frustration every week.
The Windows Alt Code Struggle
Windows is a bit of a dinosaur when it comes to special characters. It still relies on ASCII codes, which feel like something out of a 1980s computer lab. If you have a desktop keyboard with that grid of numbers on the right side, you're in luck.
Hold down the Alt key. Don't let go. Now, type 0176 on the number pad. Release the Alt key.
Boom. $180°$.
But here is the catch—and this is where everyone gets stuck—it usually won't work if you use the numbers across the top of your keyboard. It has to be the Numpad. If you’re on a laptop without one, you have to hunt for the "Num Lock" function or use the Character Map. To find that, just hit the Windows key and type "map." It’s an old-school utility that lets you copy and paste every symbol imaginable, from the degree sign to obscure mathematical operators.
The Modern Windows Shortcut
Microsoft finally realized that nobody remembers four-digit codes anymore. If you're on Windows 10 or 11, there is a much faster way. Hit the Windows Key and the Period (.) key at the same time. This opens the emoji and symbol picker.
Click the "Symbols" icon (it looks like a little omega $\Omega$). Scroll down a bit, and you’ll find the degree symbol. It’s much more intuitive than memorizing 0176. It’s also where you’ll find things like the "plus-minus" sign or the "trademark" symbol.
Why the Mac Way is Just Better
Apple designers clearly thought about this. On a Mac, you don't need a number pad or a special menu. You just use an "Option" key combo.
- For a standard degree symbol: Press Option + Shift + 8.
- For the slightly smaller masculine ordinal (which looks like a degree symbol but is technically different): Press Option + 0.
Technically, the "Option + Shift + 8" is the "true" degree symbol used for temperature and angles. If you use the other one, a typography nerd might notice the difference in weight or height, but for a quick email about the weather in Phoenix, nobody cares.
Microsoft Word Has Its Own Rules
Sometimes you’re working in Word and the standard Windows shortcuts feel clunky. Word has its own internal logic for symbols. You can use the "Insert" tab, click "Symbol," and then "More Symbols," but that’s a lot of clicking.
Try this instead: Ctrl + Shift + @, then let go and hit the Spacebar.
It feels like playing a piano chord. It's fast once you get the muscle memory down. Word also has an "AutoCorrect" feature. You could technically set it up so that every time you type "(deg)", it automatically swaps it for the symbol. It’s a great hack if you’re writing a 50-page thesis on thermodynamics.
Mobile Devices and Tablets
On an iPhone or an Android, the process is actually pretty clever. You don't need a secret code. Open your keyboard and go to the numbers section (123). Now, long-press the zero key.
A little bubble will pop up with the degree symbol. Just slide your finger over to it and let go.
It’s one of those "hidden" features that makes sense once you know it, but is completely invisible otherwise. Interestingly, on some Android keyboards like Gboard, you might also find it in the symbols page (?123 then =<), but the zero-key trick is almost universal across modern smartphones.
Chromebooks: The Odd One Out
Chromebooks use ChromeOS, which handles special characters differently than Windows or Mac. You have to use a Unicode entry command. It’s a bit techy.
Press Ctrl + Shift + U. You’ll see a little underlined "u" appear on your screen. Type 00B0 (that’s zero-zero-B-zero) and hit Enter.
It’s definitely the least user-friendly way to do it. If you’re a Chromebook user, you’re honestly better off just Googling the symbol and copy-pasting it, or keeping a Google Doc open with your most-used symbols at the top.
HTML and Web Coding
If you are a web developer or just trying to fix a glitch on a Wordpress site, you shouldn't just paste the symbol into the code. It can sometimes break depending on the character encoding of the browser.
The safest way is to use the HTML entity.
Type ° or ° into your HTML. The browser will render it perfectly every time, regardless of whether the user is on an old PC or a brand-new iPhone. It’s the "gold standard" for web accuracy.
The Common Mistakes
People often confuse the degree symbol with a superscript letter "o" or the masculine ordinal indicator. In some fonts, they look identical. In others, the degree symbol is a perfect circle, while the letter "o" is an oval.
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If you're doing professional typesetting or scientific publishing, these distinctions matter. Using a superscript "o" can mess up screen readers for people with visual impairments—the software will literally read "70 degrees" as "70 oh." That’s why using the actual Alt code or the official symbol picker is better than "faking it" with formatting.
Quick Reference for Keyboards
- Windows (Numpad): Alt + 0176
- Windows (No Numpad): Win + . (Period)
- Mac: Option + Shift + 8
- iOS/Android: Long-press "0"
- Word: Ctrl + Shift + @, then Space
- HTML:
°
Actionable Steps for Your Workflow
Instead of struggling every time you need to type "98.6°F," pick the method that fits your hardware and stick to it. If you're on a laptop, get comfortable with the Win + . shortcut or the Option + Shift + 8 combo. They are the most reliable.
For those who do heavy data entry, consider a "text expander" tool. You can set a rule where typing ";deg" instantly turns into the symbol across your entire computer. It removes the friction entirely.
If all else fails, keep a single degree symbol on a "sticky note" app on your desktop. It’s the ultimate low-tech solution for a high-tech problem.
Check your document now. If you used a superscript "o," go back and replace it with the real thing using one of these shortcuts. It’s a small change that makes your work look significantly more polished. Stop typing out the word "degrees" like it's 1995. You've got the tools now.