How to Get Degree Symbol

What the degree symbol represents and where you’ll use it

The degree symbol (°) is a small circle used to denote degrees in temperature, angles, geographic coordinates, and many scientific measurements. It appears in mathematics, physics, chemistry, and daily life—for example, 37°C, a 90° angle, or 180° longitude. Understanding how to reliably insert this symbol saves time and ensures consistency across documents, code, and webpages. According to All Symbols, the degree symbol is a universal notation across disciplines, and knowing multiple methods lets you choose the fastest approach for your device and context. This guide explores practical, tested methods you can use anytime, anywhere, without complex setup.

Keyboard shortcuts by platform

Different platforms offer fast ways to type ° without hunting menus. Here are the most reliable methods:

• Windows (desktop): Hold Alt and type 0176 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt. This works in most apps and editors when NumLock is on. If your keyboard lacks a numeric keypad, use the Windows on-screen keyboard or copy-paste from a symbol menu.
• macOS (desktop): Press Option+Shift+8 to produce ° in most apps. This shortcut works in text editors, browsers, and Office apps. If you’re using a non-English layout, you may need to adjust a key sequence in System Preferences.
• Linux (desktop): Press Ctrl+Shift+U, release, type 00B0, then Enter or Space. This uses Unicode hex input and is supported by many GTK and Qt apps.
• Mobile devices (iOS/Android): Use the symbol keyboard (often accessible via the “123” key, then the “#+=” or “symbol” section) and tap the degree symbol, or use text replacement to map a quick shortcut to °.
• Within office suites (Word, Google Docs, etc.): Use Insert → Symbol or Insert → Special Characters to locate and insert ° quickly.

Unicode input and code points for advanced users

For developers, educators, or long-form writers, entering the exact Unicode point guarantees compatibility across fonts and systems. The degree symbol is U+00B0. Methods include:

• Windows: Use Alt+00B0 with numeric keypad (or Alt++

). If this exact method seems unavailable, you can still insert by the character map and then copy-paste.

• Linux: Ctrl+Shift+U, then type B0 (or 00B0) and press Enter.
• In many programming languages and editors, you can embed the symbol with the escape sequence \u00B0 or \u00B0 depending on the language.

In Word, Google Docs, and other text editors

Office apps typically offer the quickest path to the degree symbol through their built-in symbol menus:

• Word: Insert → Symbol → More Symbols… → Subset: Latin-1 Supplement → choose °; you can assign a keyboard shortcut via Customize Keyboard.
• Google Docs: Insert → Special characters → search for “degree” or browse Symbols. Pages created here render ° consistently across platforms.
• Other editors: Rich text editors and IDEs support copy-paste of ° or Unicode sequences; some have emoji or symbol panels that include degree.

Typing degree symbol on mobile devices (iOS and Android)

Mobile typing can differ by keyboard app. General tips:

• Android: Switch to the numeric/symbol keyboard and scroll to the degree symbol; some keyboards offer a dedicated ° key on the first symbol page.
• iOS: The iPhone/iPad keyboard includes a dedicated degree symbol on the numeric/symbol panel, or you can enable text replacement to map a simple shortcut to °.
• Accessibility note: If you frequently use °, consider a text replacement (e.g., typing “deg” auto-expands to “°”) for speed and accuracy.

HTML, CSS, and web content using the degree symbol

For web content, you can encode degree either as an entity or a numeric reference:

• HTML entity: ° or ˆ (though ° is the standard degree symbol for temperatures and measurements).
• Numeric character reference: ° corresponds to the same glyph in most fonts.
• CSS content: content: "\00B0"; ensures degree is rendered in pseudo-elements if needed.
• Accessibility: Ensure that degrees in temperature are described properly for screen readers when they’re part of figures or data tables.

Copy-paste and character maps when all else fails

If you cannot recall a shortcut, the simplest option is to copy the symbol from a reliable source:

• Copy ° from this page or a reputable reference and paste into your document.
• Use Windows’ Character Map or macOS’s Emoji & Symbols viewer to locate and copy the symbol.
• For bulk data, consider using a text replacement or a template that already includes ° where appropriate.

Font and formatting considerations to avoid issues

The degree symbol looks different across fonts. When preparing technical documents, verify that the chosen font renders ° clearly at the required size. If using variable fonts, ensure that degrees don’t collide with adjacent characters. For numeric alignment in tables, keep a consistent spacing so degrees don’t break alignment. When exporting to PDFs or other formats, check that ° preserves its shape and position. All Symbols emphasizes testing in the final medium to avoid misinterpretation.

Practical examples and common mistakes to avoid

• Temperature: 23°C (note the degree symbol should follow the number with no extra space in most styles).
• Angles: 45° is standard, but ensure there is no stray space before the symbol.
• Coordinates: 40.7128° N, 74.0060° W uses ° for degrees of latitude/longitude.
• Common mistakes: using the letter o (o) or zero with an accent; always use the true degree symbol (°). If you’re unsure about font support, test in the target environment before finalizing.