Adding the degree symbol in Word is useful for writing temperatures, angles, coordinates, and other measurements clearly. You can insert it from Word’s symbol menu, use a keyboard shortcut, or convert its Unicode code in Word for Windows. The exact method depends on your device and keyboard, but you do not need a special font or add-on. This guide covers desktop Word, Word for the web, and practical alternatives when a shortcut is unavailable.
What You’ll Need
- A document open in Microsoft Word, or access to Word for the web.
- A keyboard if you want to use a shortcut. A numeric keypad is only needed for some Windows Alt-code methods, which are not required here.
- The degree symbol itself, if you would rather copy and paste it: °.
Before inserting the symbol, click in the document where it should appear. If you are adding it to a measurement, decide whether the number and symbol should stay together on one line. For example, a temperature can be written as 8°C, while an angle can be written as 8°. In many contexts, a space is used between a value and a unit, so follow the style used in your document or required by your organization.
Step-by-Step
- Use Word’s symbol menu. Place the cursor where the degree symbol belongs. Select Insert on the ribbon, then open Symbol. In desktop Word, you may need to choose More Symbols to open the full dialog. Look for the small circle symbol, °, in the character grid. Select it and choose Insert. Close the dialog when you are done. The symbol should appear at the cursor position.
- Narrow the symbol list if it is difficult to find. In the full Symbol dialog, set the font to a standard text font or choose a font that matches the document. If the dialog offers a subset menu, choose Latin-1 Supplement. The degree sign is in this character group. Select the circle that sits high beside the baseline, rather than a superscript zero or a small letter. The character preview can help you confirm your selection before inserting it.
- Use the Unicode conversion shortcut in Word for Windows. Type 00B0 at the insertion point, then press Alt+X. Word converts that hexadecimal character code into °. If there are hexadecimal letters or digits immediately after the code, Word may treat them as part of the code instead. In that situation, select just 00B0 before pressing Alt+X. The code is a temporary way to enter the character; it is not normally left visible in the finished document.
- Try Word’s degree shortcut on a Windows keyboard. Press Ctrl+Shift+@, release the keys, and then press Space. On keyboards where the at sign requires Shift, this key combination may feel less direct than the symbol menu. If nothing appears, check that Word has focus and that the keyboard layout matches the keys you are pressing. Use the menu or Unicode conversion method if the shortcut does not work with your layout.
- On a Mac, try the macOS keyboard shortcut. In Word for Mac, press Option+Shift+8 to type the degree symbol on standard Mac keyboard layouts. If the key combination inserts a different character, your keyboard layout may assign that key differently. Use Insert > Symbol instead, or copy the symbol from this guide and paste it into the document. Check the result in Word before continuing with a long document.
- In Word for the web, use the available insert option or paste. Open the Insert tab and look for a symbol option. The controls can differ from desktop Word and may vary with the version or account. If you cannot find the degree sign in the available menus, copy ° from this page or another trusted document, then paste it at the cursor. Confirm that the symbol appears in the document and is not left behind in a comment or search box.
- On a phone or tablet, insert it with the on-screen keyboard or paste it. Some mobile keyboards show the degree sign after you open the symbols or numbers view; others do not. Look through the secondary character screens, or press and hold a related key if your keyboard offers alternate characters. If it is not available, copy ° and paste it into Word. The exact keyboard controls depend on the device and the keyboard app, so pasting is a reliable fallback.
- Check the symbol in context. Read the word or measurement around it to make sure the symbol is attached to the intended value and is visually clear. For a temperature, choose the format your document uses, such as 8°C or 8 °C. For an angle, the degree sign usually follows the value, as in 8°. Keep the format consistent throughout the document.
The symbol menu is the most dependable general method because it does not rely on memorizing a key combination. Shortcuts can be quicker once they work with your keyboard, and copy-and-paste is convenient for an occasional use. If you use the symbol repeatedly, insert it once, then copy that character within Word and paste it at each additional location.
Common Mistakes
- Typing a letter or superscript zero instead. The degree sign is °. It can look similar to a raised lowercase letter o or a superscript zero, but those are different characters. Use the symbol menu or paste the symbol from a known source if you are unsure.
- Leaving the Unicode code in the document. Typing 00B0 alone does not insert the degree symbol. In Word for Windows, you must press Alt+X after the code. If the conversion does not happen, select the code and try again.
- Using an incompatible shortcut. Keyboard shortcuts can behave differently with a Mac, a nonstandard keyboard layout, or an application other than desktop Word. Do not assume a shortcut that works on one device will work everywhere. Use the Insert menu when the result is uncertain.
- Choosing the wrong character in the symbol grid. A symbol can resemble a degree sign at small size. Use the preview or character code to confirm it is the degree character, rather than a ring accent or raised numeral.
- Adding inconsistent spacing. Some writing conventions put a space between a number and a unit, while common angle notation places the degree sign directly after the number. Decide which convention applies and use it consistently. Do not add a space just because the symbol looks crowded; adjust the font or formatting if needed.
- Confusing the degree sign with other symbols. A degree sign is not the same as a prime mark used for minutes, a quotation mark, or the small circle used in some scientific notation. Select the character that matches the meaning of the text.
Tips
For an isolated symbol, copying and pasting is often faster than opening a dialog. For a report with recurring measurements, choose one insertion method and keep the formatting consistent. You can also insert the symbol once and copy it from the document, which avoids repeatedly searching the character grid.
Use the font and text size already used for the surrounding measurement. Word usually displays the degree sign as part of the selected font, so changing the symbol to a different font can make it look too large, too small, or unevenly positioned. If its appearance seems wrong, select the symbol and compare its font settings with the adjacent text.
When using the Unicode method, remember that 00B0 is the character code and ° is the character you want to keep. The code conversion is especially useful when you know the code, but the menu is easier to inspect visually. If you are unsure whether the result is correct, copy the inserted sign into a plain-text field or compare it with the symbol shown here.
For documents that will be shared, save the file and reopen it or view it on another device if practical. The degree sign is a standard character and is generally supported by common fonts, but an unusual font or a conversion to another file format can affect how text looks. Reviewing the exported or shared version helps catch display problems before you send the document.
Troubleshooting
- Nothing appears after a shortcut: Click back into the document body and try again. Confirm that Word is the active app, then check the operating system and keyboard layout. If the shortcut still fails, open the symbol menu instead.
- Alt+X does not convert the code: Make sure you are using desktop Word for Windows and have typed 00B0 immediately before pressing the shortcut. Select only those characters and press Alt+X again. If the code is followed by other hexadecimal characters, selecting the code first can prevent Word from combining them.
- The wrong symbol appears: Undo the insertion, then choose the character from the symbol dialog and inspect its preview. Avoid substituting a raised zero or the letter o, since they may look close but are not the same character.
- The symbol changes after pasting: Try pasting directly into the document rather than into a special field, such as a comment, search box, or header control. If it still looks different, select it and apply the surrounding text’s font. You can also insert it through Word’s own symbol menu.
- You cannot find Symbol on the ribbon: Look under Insert for a symbol or special-character control. The ribbon can be simplified or arranged differently in some Word versions. If the control is hidden, use the application’s search or command box to find the symbol command, or paste the character directly.
If the sign appears as an empty box, the selected font or the destination app may not be displaying the character correctly. Change the character to a common text font and check again. If the problem only happens after sharing or exporting, compare the original Word document with the exported file to identify where the display changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the quickest way to type the degree symbol in Word?
On a standard Mac keyboard, try Option+Shift+8. In Word for Windows, type 00B0 and press Alt+X. If a shortcut does not work on your setup, use Insert > Symbol.
How do I insert the degree symbol without a numeric keypad?
Use Word’s symbol menu, the Unicode conversion method in Word for Windows, or copy and paste °. These options do not require a numeric keypad.
Can I use the same method in Word for the web?
The web version may provide a symbol option under Insert, though its controls can differ from desktop Word. If you do not see the symbol there, paste ° into the document.
Should there be a space before the degree symbol?
For angle notation, the symbol normally follows the value directly, as in 8°. Temperature formatting varies by style and unit: a document may use 8°C or 8 °C. Follow the convention required for your document and use it consistently.
Why does the degree symbol look like a small zero?
The degree sign is a small raised circle, so it can resemble a superscript zero at a glance. Use Word’s character preview or Unicode conversion to make sure you inserted °, not a different character.
Will the degree symbol remain when I share the document?
It is a standard text character and normally remains in a Word document. If its appearance matters, check the shared or exported copy, especially if the document uses an unusual font or is converted to another format.