How to use the degree symbol
- Click the degree symbol (°) above to copy it to your clipboard.
- Paste it into your document, email or form with
Ctrl+V(Windows/Linux) orCmd+V(Mac). - On Windows, hold Alt and type
0176on the numeric keypad to produce the degree symbol directly. - On Mac, press
Option + Shift + 8to insert the degree sign without copying. - In HTML, use the entity
°or°to render the degree symbol on a web page.
How to Type the Degree Symbol on Every Platform
The method you use depends on your operating system. Here is how to type the degree symbol on each major platform.
| Platform | Method |
|---|---|
| Windows (Alt code) | Hold Alt, type 0176 on the numeric keypad, release Alt. Alternatively, Alt + 248 works in many programs. |
| Mac | Press Option + Shift + 8. |
| Linux (GTK / Compose) | Press Compose, then o, then o. The Compose key is often mapped to Right Alt or Menu. |
| iOS / Android | Switch to the numbers/symbols keyboard. Long-press the zero key (0) on many layouts, or find it in the symbols panel. |
| Chromebook | Press Ctrl + Shift + U, type 00B0, then press Enter. |
If your keyboard lacks a numeric keypad, the Windows Character Map (charmap) lets you search for "degree" and copy the character manually.
HTML Entities and Unicode Reference
Web developers need reliable ways to embed the degree symbol in markup. Use one of these HTML entities:
°produces ° (named entity)°produces ° (decimal numeric reference)°produces ° (hexadecimal numeric reference)
The Unicode code point is U+00B0. In UTF-8, the byte sequence is C2 B0. In CSS, you can insert it via the content property using "\00b0". For JavaScript strings, use "\u00B0".
Related characters have their own code points. Degree Celsius is U+2103 and Degree Fahrenheit is U+2109. However, the Unicode Consortium recommends using the plain degree sign followed by the letter C or F instead of these compatibility characters for new content.
Degrees, Minutes and Seconds Notation
In geography and astronomy, coordinates are often written in degrees, minutes and seconds (DMS). Each degree contains 60 arcminutes, and each arcminute contains 60 arcseconds. The symbols used are:
- Degree: ° (U+00B0)
- Arcminute (prime): ′ (U+2032), not an apostrophe
- Arcsecond (double prime): ″ (U+2033), not a quotation mark
A latitude might be written as 40° 26′ 46″ N. Using the correct prime characters rather than straight quotes ensures proper typography and avoids confusion in technical documents. On Windows, the prime symbol can be typed with Alt + 8242 (decimal) or inserted from Character Map.
Common Mistakes When Typing the Degree Sign
Several errors appear frequently when people try to insert a degree symbol:
- Using a superscript zero (⁰) instead of the degree sign (°). They look similar but have different Unicode code points. Screen readers and search engines treat them differently.
- Typing the Alt code on the top number row. Windows Alt codes require the numeric keypad. If your laptop has no numpad, enable Num Lock with the Fn key or use the Character Map.
- Confusing the degree symbol with a masculine ordinal indicator (º). The ordinal indicator is U+00BA and is used in Spanish and Portuguese abbreviations like 1º. It is slightly wider than the degree sign.
- Forgetting the semicolon in HTML entities. Writing
°without the trailing semicolon may render incorrectly in older browsers.
Always verify the character you pasted matches U+00B0 if precision matters.
Practical Uses of the Degree Symbol
The degree symbol appears across many fields. In meteorology, temperatures are written as 25°C or 77°F. In geometry and trigonometry, angles are measured in degrees, such as a right angle being exactly 90°. In navigation, GPS coordinates rely on DMS notation to pinpoint locations.
Beyond science, the degree sign shows up in everyday contexts: oven dials, thermostat displays, photography lens specifications (field of view), and even beer serving temperatures. Whenever you need to communicate a precise angle or temperature in plain text, the degree symbol is the standard typographic choice.
If you also need a check mark symbol for forms or lists, that tool provides similar copy-paste functionality for tick marks.
Worked examples
Each result below was produced by the same code the tool runs, so you can check your own numbers against them.
| Example | Input | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature reading | This input could not be calculated. | |
| GPS coordinate | This input could not be calculated. | |
| Right angle notation | This input could not be calculated. |
FAQ
What is the Alt code for the degree symbol?
Hold down the Alt key and type 0176 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt. You can also use Alt + 248 in many applications. Both produce the degree symbol (°).
How do I type the degree symbol on a Mac?
Press Option + Shift + 8. This keyboard shortcut inserts the degree sign directly into any text field on macOS.
What is the HTML code for the degree symbol?
Use the named entity ° or the numeric reference °. Both render the degree symbol in all modern browsers.
Is the degree symbol the same as a superscript zero?
No. The degree symbol is U+00B0, while the superscript zero is U+2070. They look similar but serve different purposes and have distinct Unicode identities.
How do I type the degree symbol on my phone?
On iOS and Android, switch to the numbers and symbols keyboard. On many layouts, long-pressing the zero key reveals the degree symbol as an option.
What is the Unicode code point for the degree sign?
The degree sign is U+00B0. Its UTF-8 byte representation is C2 B0.
Can I use the degree symbol in file names?
Most modern file systems support Unicode characters including the degree sign in file names. However, some older software or command-line tools may have trouble reading them, so plain ASCII alternatives are safer for maximum compatibility.
Reference pages
- Symbols to copy and paste: Unicode, HTML codes and Alt codes for popular symbols.