How to Insert a Degree Symbol in Word

The quickest way to type a degree symbol (°) in Word for Windows is to hold Alt and type 0176 on the numeric keypad with Num Lock turned on. On a Mac, press Shift+Option+8. If your keyboard has no number pad, use Insert > Symbol, or type 00B0 and press Alt+X in desktop Word for Windows.

Pick the method that fits your keyboard and how often you need the symbol. If you type temperatures or angles all day, set up an AutoCorrect entry once and let Word do the work.

Which method should you use?

Your setup	Fastest method
Windows keyboard with a number pad	Alt+0176 on the number pad
Windows laptop without a number pad	Type 00B0, then press Alt+X
Mac with a US keyboard layout	Shift+Option+8
Word for the web	Insert > Symbol, or your computer’s own shortcut
You need it many times a day	An AutoCorrect entry

Type Alt+0176 on a numeric keypad (Windows)

This Alt code works in desktop Word and most other Windows programs. It only works with the separate number pad on the right side of a full keyboard, not the number keys above the letters.

1. Click where you want the symbol, for example right after 72.
2. Make sure Num Lock is on. Most keyboards show a small light when it is.
3. Press and hold the Alt key.
4. While holding Alt, type 0, 1, 7, 6 on the number pad.
5. Let go of Alt. The ° appears at the cursor.

Word for Windows also has its own built-in combination. With a US keyboard, press Ctrl+Shift+@ (the 2 key), release the keys, and then press the Spacebar. You get a degree sign without needing a number pad.

Use Alt+X on a laptop without a number pad

Every character has a Unicode code, and the degree sign’s code is 00B0 (that is zero, zero, the letter B, zero). Desktop Word for Windows can turn that code into the symbol for you.

1. Type 00B0 where you want the symbol.
2. Press Alt+X right away, without typing a space first. The four characters change into °.

If the code sits right after a letter or number, such as 2500B0, Word may read too many characters and create the wrong symbol. Select just 00B0 before you press Alt+X, or add the number after the symbol is in place. Pressing Alt+X again on a symbol switches it back to its code, which is a handy way to check what a character really is.

Alt+X is a Word for Windows feature. It does not work in Word for the web or in Word for Mac.

Alt+X works with other Unicode codes too; typing 20B9 and pressing Alt+X gives the Indian rupee symbol in Word.

Insert the symbol from the Insert tab

The Symbol menu works in every version of Word and is the best choice if you only need the symbol once. It’s also the way to reach the AutoCorrect and shortcut settings described below.

1. Click where you want the symbol.
2. Select the Insert tab, then select Symbol at the right end of the ribbon.
3. If ° shows in the small gallery, click it and you’re done. Word keeps recently used symbols here, so after the first time it’s usually one click away.
4. Otherwise, select More Symbols. In Word for Mac, the option is called Advanced Symbol.
5. Leave Font set to (normal text) so the symbol matches your text.
6. In Word for Windows, open the Subset list and choose Latin-1 Supplement. The degree sign is near the top of that group.
7. Select the ° symbol. On Windows, the Character code box should show 00B0.
8. Select Insert, then Close.

Microsoft’s own Insert degree symbol page walks through the same Symbol dialog for Windows. For other characters, such as arrows, fractions, or currency signs, see our wider guide on inserting symbols in Word.

Make your own degree shortcut with AutoCorrect

AutoCorrect replaces a short piece of text with the ° symbol as you type. These steps are for desktop Word for Windows.

1. Go to Insert > Symbol > More Symbols and select the degree sign, as described above.
2. Select AutoCorrect at the bottom of the dialog. The With box already contains °.
3. In the Replace box, type a short code you would never type by accident, such as (deg).
4. Select Add, then OK.
5. Test it: type (deg) in your document, then press the Spacebar. Word swaps it for °.

If you prefer a key combination, select Shortcut Key in the same Symbol dialog instead. Press the keys you want to use in the Press new shortcut key box. Word shows Currently assigned to if that combination already does something, so pick one that is unassigned, then select Assign. The same approach works for other characters, like the ones in our guide to typing a check mark in Word.

Type a degree symbol in Word for Mac

On a Mac with a US English keyboard layout, press Shift+Option+8. This is a macOS shortcut, so it works in Word and almost any other Mac app. Other keyboard layouts may place the symbol on a different key.

If the shortcut doesn’t work for your layout, use one of these instead:

• In Word, select Insert > Symbol and pick ° from the gallery or from Advanced Symbol.
• Press Control+Command+Space to open the macOS Character Viewer, type degree in the search box, and double-click the result.

Add a degree symbol in Word for the web

In a browser, select Insert > Symbol. If ° isn’t in the short list, choose More Symbols and find it there.

Your computer’s own shortcuts also work in the browser, because the operating system types the character, not Word. On Windows, that means Alt+0176 on a number pad. On a Mac, use Shift+Option+8. Alt+X and Word’s AutoCorrect setup steps are not available in Word for the web.

Other options when shortcuts won’t work

• Windows emoji and symbol panel: On Windows 10 or 11, press Windows key+Period (.), open the symbols section (marked Ω), and browse the categories for °.
• Copy and paste: Copy a ° from anywhere in your document, or from this sentence, and paste it with Ctrl+V (Command+V on a Mac).
• Character Map: On Windows, search the Start menu for Character Map, find °, select Select, then Copy, and paste it into Word.

The Windows emoji panel (Windows key + period) also has a symbols tab, and it’s the same tool you use to insert emoji in Word.

Common problems

Alt+0176 types nothing or the wrong character

Check that Num Lock is on and that you’re using the number pad, not the top row of numbers. Keep Alt held down until you’ve typed all four digits, including the leading zero. On some laptops the number pad is built into the letter keys and needs an Fn key; if that feels awkward, use 00B0 and Alt+X instead.

The symbol looks like a small underlined o

You may have inserted the masculine ordinal indicator (º, used in Spanish and Portuguese), which looks similar. Select the character and press Alt+X. If you see 00BA instead of 00B0, delete it and insert the real degree sign.

How do I write degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit?

Type the degree sign followed by a capital letter with no space: 20°C or 68°F. That form is widely used and easy to read. If you need other special characters for science or math, our guide to adding special characters in Word covers the Symbol dialog in more depth.

Can I make the degree symbol bigger or smaller?

Yes. The ° is a normal text character, so select it and change the font size or style the same way you would any letter.