How to Type the Degree Symbol in Microsoft Word

This guide shows you every reliable way to insert or type the degree symbol (°) in Microsoft Word on Windows and Mac. You will learn keyboard shortcuts, the built-in Symbol menu, and how to set up an autocorrect rule so the symbol appears as you type. No prior setup is needed for most methods.

What You’ll Need

• Microsoft Word (2016, 2019, 2021, or Microsoft 365) on Windows or Mac
• A keyboard with a numeric keypad (only for the Alt-code method on Windows)
• For the Unicode method: a keyboard that can type the letter “u”

Step-by-Step

Method 1: Keyboard Shortcut (Fastest)

1. Place your cursor where you want the degree symbol to appear.
2. On Windows: hold down the Alt key and type 0176 on the numeric keypad (not the number row above the letters). Release Alt — the degree symbol appears.
3. On Mac: press Option + Shift + 8 simultaneously. The degree symbol appears immediately.
4. If you do not have a numeric keypad on Windows, use the next method instead.

Method 2: Unicode Entry (Works on Both Platforms)

1. Type the number 00B0 (that is zero-zero-B-zero) at the insertion point.
2. Immediately press Alt + X on Windows, or Option + X on Mac.
3. Word converts the four characters into the degree symbol.
4. If the conversion does not happen, make sure you typed exactly four characters: 0, 0, B, 0.

Method 3: Symbol Menu (No Shortcut Needed)

1. Click where you want the symbol.
2. Go to the Insert tab on the ribbon at the top.
3. Click Symbol (on the far right) and choose More Symbols… from the drop-down.
4. In the dialog box, make sure the Symbols tab is selected.
5. In the “Subset” drop-down, choose Latin-1 Supplement.
6. Scroll to find the degree symbol (°), click it once to highlight it, then click Insert.
7. Click Close when done. The symbol is now in your document.

Method 4: AutoCorrect (Typing Shortcut)

1. Insert a degree symbol using any method above (e.g., Alt+0176).
2. Select the symbol with your mouse, then press Ctrl + C to copy it.
3. Go to File > Options (Windows) or Word > Preferences (Mac).
4. Click Proofing (Windows) or AutoCorrect (Mac).
5. Click AutoCorrect Options….
6. In the “Replace” box, type something like deg (without quotes).
7. In the “With” box, paste the degree symbol you copied (Ctrl+V).
8. Click Add, then OK twice to close all dialogs.
9. Now typing “deg” followed by a space or punctuation will automatically become °.

Method 5: Copy and Paste (One-Time Use)

1. Copy the degree symbol from here: ° (select it and press Ctrl+C).
2. Paste it into your Word document with Ctrl+V (or Command+V on Mac).
3. Adjust the font size or formatting if needed, as the pasted symbol inherits the surrounding text style.

Common Mistakes

• Using the number row instead of the numeric keypad: On Windows, Alt+0176 only works with the keypad on the right side of the keyboard. The numbers above the letters will not work.
• Typing 00B0 with the wrong case: The letter must be a capital B, not lowercase b. Lowercase b gives a different character.
• Forgetting the space after “deg” in AutoCorrect: The replacement only triggers when you type a space, period, or other punctuation after the trigger word.
• Using the superscript letter “o” instead of the degree symbol: Typing “o” and formatting it as superscript looks similar but is not the true degree symbol and can cause font inconsistencies.
• Inserting from the wrong subset: If you cannot find the degree symbol in the Symbol dialog, you may be looking in “Basic Latin” instead of “Latin-1 Supplement.”

Tips

• For temperature ranges like 20–25 °C, type the degree symbol after the number, not before it, and leave a space before the C or F.
• If you use the degree symbol frequently, set up the AutoCorrect method once and it will save you time forever.
• On a laptop without a numeric keypad, enable the on-screen keyboard (Windows: press Win+R, type “osk”, press Enter) and use its numeric keypad section for the Alt-code method.
• In Word for Mac, the keyboard shortcut Option+Shift+8 works in most keyboard layouts, including US, UK, and International.
• If you are typing coordinates (e.g., 40.7128° N), place the degree symbol immediately after the number with no space.

Troubleshooting

Alt+0176 does nothing: Confirm you are using the numeric keypad, not the number row. If you are on a laptop without a keypad, try the Unicode method (00B0 + Alt+X) or the Symbol menu. Also check that Num Lock is on.

The degree symbol appears but looks too small or too large: Select the symbol and change its font size manually. Some fonts render the degree symbol smaller than others; switch to a standard font like Calibri or Arial for consistent appearance.

AutoCorrect does not trigger: Make sure you typed the trigger word exactly as you set it (case-sensitive). Also verify that “Replace text as you type” is checked in the AutoCorrect dialog.

00B0 + Alt+X shows a different symbol: You may have typed a lowercase “b” or added extra characters. Delete everything, retype exactly 00B0, and press Alt+X immediately without moving the cursor.

The Symbol menu does not show Latin-1 Supplement: Click the “Subset” drop-down and scroll to find it. If it is missing, close the dialog, reopen it, and try again — this is a rare rendering glitch that a restart of Word usually fixes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the degree symbol in headers and footers? Yes. Place your cursor in the header or footer area, then use any of the methods above. The symbol will appear and repeat on every page.

Does the degree symbol work in Word Online (browser version)? Yes. Use the Insert > Symbol menu or copy and paste. Keyboard shortcuts like Alt+0176 may not work in the browser.

What is the difference between ° and º? The first is the true degree symbol (U+00B0). The second is the masculine ordinal indicator (U+00BA), which looks similar but is a different character. Always use the first.

Can I change the AutoCorrect trigger word later? Yes. Go to File > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options, find your entry, select it, and click Delete. Then add a new one with a different trigger.

Why does the degree symbol sometimes appear as a small circle above the line? That is the correct rendering. The degree symbol is designed to sit slightly above the baseline, so it looks like a small raised circle.

Is there a way to type ° without leaving the keyboard? Yes. The fastest is Alt+0176 on Windows with a numeric keypad, or Option+Shift+8 on Mac. If you have neither, the Unicode method (00B0 + Alt+X) requires no mouse.

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