Looking for the degree sign on your keyboard? Find out here how to insert the degree symbol ( ° ) on Windows using a keyboard shortcut, Office Unicode or Character Map.
First, Dew Point Decimal
Every three to fifteen years, I look at the ever-present and always enigmatic dew point number in the weather’s current condition.
Then, I try to find out how to interpret it again. The bottom line is:
- Do not think, I tell myself, do not think of the dew point as a temperature.
- Think of the dew point as an absolute measure of the amount of water vapor in the air.
- The higher the number, the more water vapor.
It is not by mistake, of course, that the dew point is given as a temperature, and understanding the relationship can help draw conclusions from the number. For that, we first need to be able to write degrees, however… so, let’s find out how:
How to Insert the Degree Symbol ( ° ) with a Windows Keyboard Shortcut
Time needed: 1 minute
To enter the degree symbol ( ° ) on Windows using keyboard shortcuts:
- Enable and switch to the United States International keyboard layout.
US keyboard layout: The US QWERTY keyboard layout does not include a shortcut for typing the degree symbol; you can use other means to insert the sign, of course—see below.
Here’s how: After adding the US International layout, press Windows Space until United States-International is highlighted as the keyboard layout for your preferred language. - Position the cursor where you want to put the degree symbol.
Spacing: Put a non-breaking space (or narrow space) between the number and the degree symbol; follow the degree symbol with the letter for the degrees scale at once.
- Press AltGr Shift ;.
Latin American Spanish: Using the Latin American Spanish keyboard layout, press Shift |.
On a Mac? How to Find the Degrees Symbol ( ° ) on a Mac Keyboard
Type the Degree Symbol Using the Windows Alt-Number Keyboard Shortcut
To type the degree sign with its Alt-Numpad shortcut:
- Enable the numeric keyboard.
Here’s how: Press NumLock. - Press and hold the Alt key.
- Now press 0 1 7 6 in succession on the numeric keypad.
- Let go of the Alt key.
Is it ± a few degrees? How to Make the Plus and Minus Sign on Windows
Insert the Degrees Symbol with the Windows Character Map
To insert the degree symbol (or the degrees Celsius and degrees Fahrenheit Unicode characters) using Windows :
- Launch the Character Map application.
Here’s how: Press Windows, then start typingcharacter mapand select the Character Map application from search results. - Choose Lucida Sans Unicode unter Font :.
- Now type
degreeunder Search for :. - Click Search.
- Double-click the degree symbol (or ℃ or ℉) to insert it in text.
How to Insert the Degree Symbol in MS Word or WordPad
To quickly type the degree symbol (or even the symbols for degrees centigrade and Fahrenheit) in Microsoft Word, other Office applications and WordPad:
- Type
00B0for the degrees symbol ( ° ).
Other chars: Use2103for ℃ and2109for ℉. - Press Alt X immediately.
How to Insert the Degree Symbol ( ° ) with the Keyboard on Windows 10 and Windows 11: FAQ
How can I insert the degrees symbol without keyboard shortcuts on Windows?
To add the degree symbol without relying on keyboard shortcut on Windows:
- Use the Windows Character Map (see above) or
- copy and paste the symbols from below:
Degrees symbol ° | |
Degrees Fahrenheit symbol ℉ | |
Degrees centigrade symbol ℃ |
(How to insert the degree symbol ( ° ) with the keyboard tested with Windows 11 Version 22H2–23H2 and Windows 10 Version 21H1; first published November 2021, last updated September 2024)