What is the Alt code for the degree symbol on Windows?

The primary Windows Alt code for the degree symbol is Alt + 0176 (using the numeric keypad). An alternate shortcut from older DOS code page 437 is Alt + 248.

How do I type the degree symbol on a Mac keyboard?

On macOS, press Option + Shift + 8 to type the standard degree symbol (°). You can also press Option + K to type the small ring degree sign (˚).

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

Press Windows Key + . (period) to open the Windows Emoji and Symbol Panel, click the Symbols tab (Omega icon), select General Punctuation, and click the degree sign (°). Alternatively, copy it with one click on WayToType.

Should there be a space between the number and the degree symbol?

For temperatures (Celsius and Fahrenheit), standard international style guides (NIST, SI, Chicago Manual of Style) recommend a space before the unit: 25 °C or 77 °F. However, for plane angles and geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude), there is no space between the number and the degree symbol: 45° 15′ 30″ N.

What is the difference between the degree symbol (°) and the masculine ordinal indicator (º)?

The degree symbol (Unicode U+00B0) is a clean, perfectly round circular glyph used for temperatures, angles, and coordinates. The masculine ordinal indicator (Unicode U+00BA, º) is an alphabetical character used in Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian for numbered items (like 1º for primero) and frequently has an underline or oval shape depending on the font typeface.

How do I insert the degree symbol in Microsoft Excel?

In Excel, you can use the formula ="75" & CHAR(176) & "F", press Alt + 0176 inside any cell while editing, or apply a Custom Number Format such as 0.0"°C".

How to Type the Degree Symbol (°) — Windows, Mac, Word, Excel & Mobile Shortcuts

QUICK REFERENCE

Degree Symbol Keyboard Shortcut Matrix

Whether you are drafting an engineering report, logging weather observations, completing physics homework, or coding a responsive web application, the degree symbol (°) is one of the most frequently required technical characters in digital typography. Below is your comprehensive cheat sheet for every major platform:

Platform / Application	Primary Keyboard Shortcut	Secondary Method / Fallback	Glyph Output
Windows (Full Keyboard)	`Alt` + `0176` (NumPad)	`Alt` + `248` (DOS code page 437)	`°`
Windows (Laptop / No Numpad)	`Win` + `.` (Emoji Panel → Symbols → General Punctuation)	Character Map search `degree`	`°`
macOS (Apple Mac)	`Option` + `Shift` + `8`	`Option` + `K` (Ring degree)	`°` / `˚`
Microsoft Word (Windows)	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `@`, then `Space`	Type `00B0` then press `Alt` + `X`	`°`
Microsoft Excel	`Alt` + `0176` (in cell editor)	Formula: `=A1 & CHAR(176) & "C"`	`°`
Google Docs	`Insert` → `Special Characters` → Search "degree"	Mac: `⌥`+`⇧`+`8` \| Win: `Alt`+`0176`	`°`
iPhone & iPad (iOS)	Long-press `0` (zero) key on numbers keypad	QuickType predictive text: Type "degree"	`°`
Android (Gboard / Samsung)	Tap `?123` → `=<` → Tap `°`	Long-press `0` (zero) on number row	`°`
Linux (X11 / GNOME)	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `U`, type `00b0`, press `Enter`	Compose key: `Compose` + `o` + `o`	`°`
HTML / Web Development	`°` or `°`	UTF-8 Hex: `°`	`°`
LaTeX	`^\circ` (Math Mode) or `\\textdegree`	Package `siunitx`: `\\ang{45}` or `\\SI{25}{\\celsius}`	`°`

WINDOWS OS

How to Type the Degree Symbol on Windows (4 Methods)

Windows offers four native ways to produce the degree symbol depending on whether your hardware includes a standalone 10-key numeric keypad, a compact laptop keyboard, or a touch screen.

Method 1: Windows Alt Code (0176 / 248)

Fastest for Full Desktop Keyboards

If your keyboard features a dedicated 10-key number pad on the right side:

Ensure Num Lock is activated (the LED indicator should be illuminated).
Press and hold the Alt key located to the left of the Space bar.
While holding Alt, type 0 1 7 6 sequentially on the numeric keypad.
Release the Alt key; the degree symbol (°) will appear immediately.
Alternative: You can also type Alt + 248 for the legacy IBM ASCII degree sign.

Method 2: Windows Emoji & Symbol Panel

Best for Laptops without Numeric Keypad

Modern Windows 11 and Windows 10 laptops include an integrated symbol viewer:

Press Win + . (Windows Key + Period) or Win + ; (Semicolon).
In the popup modal, click the Symbols icon (the Greek Omega Ω icon at top).
Select the General Punctuation category (or search "degree" in the search box).
Click the degree symbol (°) to insert it into your active cursor position.

Method 3: Windows Character Map Utility

Universal Built-In Windows Program

The classic Character Map provides access to all Unicode code points:

Press Win + R, type charmap, and hit Enter.
Check the Advanced view checkbox at the bottom.
In the "Search for" input, type degree and click Search.
Double-click the degree symbol (°), then click Copy to paste anywhere.

Method 4: US-International Keyboard Layout

Ideal for Multilingual Typists

If your Windows language keyboard is set to "United States-International":

Press AltGr (Right Alt) + Shift + ; (Semicolon) on some European regional profiles.
Alternatively, press AltGr + Shift + 8.
This layout is excellent for typing accented letters and scientific symbols without numeric keypads.

Why Alt + 0176 does not work with top-row numbers

Windows Alt codes exclusively recognize scan codes generated by the hardware numeric keypad. Pressing the numbers above the QWERTY letter keys (1 through 0) while holding Alt will not produce a degree symbol. If your compact laptop lacks a physical number pad, use the Windows Emoji Panel (Win + .) or our 1-click copy and paste symbols hub.

MACOS & APPLE

How to Type the Degree Symbol on Apple Mac (macOS & iOS)

Apple macOS provides streamlined native keyboard combos that work universally across Safari, Pages, Keynote, Notes, Slack, and Google Chrome without requiring extra software or number pads.

Mac Shortcut: Option + Shift + 8

Standard Temperature Degree Symbol (°)

This is the standard, internationally recognized degree sign (Unicode U+00B0):

Press and hold Option (or ⌥).
Press and hold Shift (or ⇧).
Tap the number 8 key on the top row.
The standard degree sign (°) will be inserted.

Mac Shortcut: Option + K

Small Ring Above / Diacritical Degree (˚)

A secondary smaller ring glyph (Unicode U+02DA):

Press and hold Option (or ⌥).
Tap the letter K key.
This produces the small ring diacritic symbol (˚). Note: For temperature and math, Option + Shift + 8 is the grammatically correct choice.

iPhone & iPad (iOS Keyboard)

Built-In Long-Press Gesture

Typing degree on iOS takes less than one second:

Tap the 123 key on your on-screen keyboard to switch to numbers.
Press and hold the 0 (zero) key.
A popover bubble will display the degree symbol (°).
Slide your finger upward to select it and release.

macOS Character Viewer

Visual Palette with Font Previews

For inspecting glyph variations and related weather units:

Press Cmd + Ctrl + Space to open the Character Viewer.
Type degree in the search bar in the top-right corner.
Double-click the symbol to insert into your document.

OFFICE & PRODUCTIVITY

How to Insert the Degree Symbol in Microsoft Word, Excel & Google Docs

Professional office applications include dedicated shortcuts, formula functions, and custom formatting rules for adding degree symbols seamlessly to spreadsheet columns and formatted documentation.

Microsoft Word Shortcuts

Fast In-Line Word Processing

Word supports three dedicated methods:

Native Shortcut: Press Ctrl + Shift + @ (which is Ctrl+Shift+2), then press Space.
Hex Code Toggle: Type 00B0 and press Alt + X to instantly convert the hexadecimal value into °.
Insert Ribbon: Go to Insert → Symbol → More Symbols → Subset: Latin-1 Supplement → Select ° → Insert.

Microsoft Excel Formulas & Formatting

Spreadsheet Automation

Format numeric cells without breaking calculation formulas:

Concatenation Formula: Combine numerical data with the degree character: =A1 & " " & CHAR(176) & "C".
Custom Number Format: Right-click cell → Format Cells → Custom → Type 0.0" °C". The cell retains raw numeric value for math formulas while displaying 24.5 °C visually.
In-Cell Editing: Double-click any cell and press Alt + 0176.

Google Docs & Slides

Cloud Documents Insertion

Add degree symbols in browser-based Google Docs:

Click Insert in the top menu → Special Characters.
In the search box on the right, type degree.
Click the degree symbol (°) in the results box to insert it.
Tip: You can also draw a small circle in the interactive drawing pad to find it immediately.

DEVELOPER & TECHNICAL

Technical Specifications: Unicode, HTML Entities, LaTeX & Programming Escapes

For software engineers, front-end developers, scientific researchers, and technical writers, here are the verified character encodings across major development environments:

Standard / Language	Syntax / Code Pattern	Example Code Snippet	Output
Unicode Standard	`U+00B0` (Decimal: 176)	`Character Name: DEGREE SIGN`	`°`
HTML Named Entity	`°`	`<span>72°F</span>`	72°F
HTML Decimal Entity	`°`	`<span>25°C</span>`	25°C
HTML Hexadecimal Entity	`°`	`<span>180°</span>`	180°
JavaScript / TypeScript	`\u00B0` or `\u{00B0}`	`const temp = val + '\u00B0C';`	`25°C`
Python 3	`\u00b0` or `chr(176)`	`print(f"{temp}\u00b0F")`	`75°F`
CSS Content Pseudo-Element	`\00B0`	`.temp::after { content: "\00B0"; }`	`°`
C / C++ / C#	`\u00B0`	`Console.WriteLine("90\u00B0");`	`90°`
LaTeX (Math Mode)	`^\circ`	$90^\circ$ or $25\ ^\circ\text{C}$	`90°`
LaTeX (Text Mode)	`\textdegree`	`\usepackage{textcomp} ... \textdegree`	`°`
LaTeX (SI Unitx Package)	`\ang{}` / `\SI{}{}`	`\ang{45;30;15} → 45° 30′ 15″`	`45° 30′ 15″`
URL / Percent Encoding	`%C2%B0`	`https://example.com/?q=25%C2%B0C`	`25°C`

EDITORIAL & GRAMMAR

The 7 Golden Rules of Degree Symbol Typography & Spacing

Using the degree symbol correctly requires adhering to international scientific standards (SI / BIPM, NIST, ISO 80000-2) and editorial style books (Chicago Manual of Style, AP Stylebook, APA, Oxford Guide to Style). Here are the essential rules:

Rule 1: Temperature Spacing (SI & NIST Standard): In scientific and formal academic writing (NIST Special Publication 811 and BIPM SI Brochure), a non-breaking space ( ) is required between the numeric quantity and the degree symbol with unit: 25 °C and 77 °F (NOT 25°C or 25° C).
Rule 2: AP Stylebook Exception for Weather Broadcasts: In journalism and newspaper headlines following the Associated Press (AP) Stylebook, temperatures are frequently written with the symbol closed against the figure: 75° or 75 degrees, omitting the letter F or C when obvious from context.
Rule 3: Plane Angles & Geometry (Zero Spacing): In mathematics, trigonometry, and geometry, there is never a space between the number and the degree symbol: 90° angle, sin(45°), 360° rotation.
Rule 4: Geographic Coordinates (Degrees, Minutes, Seconds): When specifying GPS latitude and longitude coordinates, place no space between numbers and their respective symbols, with a space between subdivisions: 40° 42′ 46″ N, 74° 00′ 21″ W (New York City). Use the true prime (′, U+2032) and double prime (″, U+2033), not typewriter apostrophes (') or quote marks (").
Rule 5: The Kelvin Temperature Exception: Temperatures on the absolute Kelvin thermodynamic scale never use a degree symbol: write 300 K, NOT 300 °K. The kelvin is an absolute SI base unit named after Lord Kelvin.
Rule 6: Never Confuse Degree (°) with Masculine Ordinal (º): The degree symbol (Unicode U+00B0) is a perfect geometric circle. The masculine ordinal indicator (Unicode U+00BA, º, Alt 167) is an alphabetical character used in Romance languages (e.g., 1º = primero) and often has an underline or oval shape that renders incorrectly in scientific contexts.
Rule 7: Use Non-Breaking Spaces in Web Code: In HTML web design, always write temperatures using non-breaking spaces: 25 °C. This guarantees that your layout will never orphan the degree symbol on a new line during mobile text wrapping.

Context	Correct Usage	Incorrect Usage	Standard Authority
Celsius Temperature	`25 °C`	`25° C` or `25 C`	SI Brochure / NIST SP 811
Fahrenheit Temperature	`68 °F`	`68° F` or `68 F°`	NIST / Chicago Manual
Kelvin Scale	`293.15 K`	`293.15 °K`	CGPM Resolution (1967)
Right Angle	`90°`	`90 °` (spaced)	ISO 80000-2 / Mathematics
GPS Longitude	`122° 25′ 10″ W`	`122 deg 25' 10" W`	ISO 6709 (Coordinates)

KNOWLEDGE BASE

Frequently Asked Questions About the Degree Symbol

The primary Windows Alt code for the degree symbol is Alt + 0176 (using the numeric keypad on the right side of the keyboard). An older alternative from legacy DOS code page 437 is Alt + 248. Both generate the standard Unicode degree sign (U+00B0).

On modern Windows 10 and 11 laptops without a 10-key number pad, press Win + . (Windows Key + Period) to open the Windows Emoji and Symbol Panel, click the Symbols (Omega Ω) tab, select General Punctuation, and click the degree sign. You can also copy it in one click from the top of this page.

On macOS, press Option + Shift + 8 to type the standard degree sign (°, Unicode U+00B0). If you want the smaller ring diacritic (˚, Unicode U+02DA), press Option + K.

On an iPhone (iOS), tap the 123 key, then press and hold the 0 (zero) key until a popup menu appears, and slide to select °. On Android (Gboard), tap ?123, then =<, and tap the degree sign, or long-press zero.

The degree symbol (°, Unicode U+00B0) is a symmetrical circle used for temperatures, geometric angles, and geographic coordinates. The masculine ordinal indicator (º, Unicode U+00BA, Alt 167) is an alphabetical letter glyph used in Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese for ordinal numbers (such as 1º for "first"). In many typography fonts, º has an underline or oval shape that should not be used in scientific temperatures.

In HTML, use the named entity ° or numeric entity °. In CSS pseudo-elements (::before or ::after), write content: "\00B0";. In JavaScript, write "\u00B0".

How to Type the Degree Symbol (°): Windows, Mac, Word & Mobile Shortcuts