How to type the degree symbol in Word
The fastest way to type the degree symbol in Word on Windows is to hold Alt and type 0176 on the numeric keypad. Without a keypad, type 00B0 and press Alt + X. In Word for Mac, press Option + Shift + 8.
Quick answer
Windows: Alt + 0176 on the keypad, or 00B0 then Alt + X. Mac: Option + Shift + 8.
Step by step
Turn on Num Lock
Alt codes only work with the digits on the numeric keypad, not the row above the letters.
Hold Alt and type 0176
Keep Alt pressed while you type 0 1 7 6, then let go. The ° appears at the cursor. The older code Alt + 248 gives the same result.
On a laptop, use Alt + X
Type 00B0 (zero, zero, B, zero) straight after the number, then press Alt + X. Word replaces the code with °.
Add the scale
Type C or F after the sign. For scientific writing, put a space between the number and the symbol: 25 °C.
From the Symbol menu
Click Insert → Symbol. The degree sign is often in the default grid of recent symbols; if not, choose More Symbols, set the font to “(normal text)” and the subset to Latin-1 Supplement, where ° sits between ¯ and ±. You can also type 00B0 into the Character code box with “from: Unicode (hex)”. The Shortcut Key button in that dialog lets you bind ° to a combination you will remember, such as Ctrl + Alt + D.
Writing temperatures and angles
Word will not stop you, but the conventions are worth knowing. International (SI) style writes a space before °C: 21 °C. Many newspapers close it up: 21°C. Angles never take a space: a 45° cut. Use a non-breaking space (Ctrl + Shift + Space in Word) between the number and °C so the temperature never splits across two lines.
Avoid the look-alikes Word’s Symbol dialog also offers. The masculine ordinal º (Alt + 0186) is a raised letter o used in Spanish, and the superscript formatting trick (typing a small o with Ctrl + Shift + =) looks close but is not a degree sign to spell checkers, search or screen readers.
Word for Mac
Option + Shift + 8 works in Word just as in every other Mac app. Option + K produces ˚, a ring accent, which is a different character, so check you are holding Shift. The same shortcut appears on our degree symbol on Mac page.
For every code and look-alike, see the degree symbol reference. If you work in spreadsheets too, read how to add a degree symbol in Excel, including a number format that adds °C automatically.
Frequently asked questions
Why does Alt + 0176 not work in Word?
Num Lock is off, or you used the number row instead of the keypad. On a laptop without a keypad, type 00B0 and press Alt + X.
Is there a Word shortcut for the degree sign?
Not by default, but you can create one. Insert → Symbol → More Symbols, select °, click Shortcut Key and press the keys you want.
Should I use ℃ or °C in Word?
Use ° followed by C. The single character ℃ exists for compatibility with East Asian fonts, and the Unicode Standard recommends the two-character form.