Typing the degree symbol on a Mac is simple once you know the correct keyboard shortcut, but it is also easy to confuse it with similar-looking characters. Whether you are writing a temperature, an angle, a geographic coordinate, or a scientific note, using the proper symbol ° helps your text look accurate and professional.
TLDR: On most Mac keyboards, type the degree symbol by pressing Option + Shift + 8. This inserts the correct degree sign: °. Avoid using Option + K if you need the degree symbol, because that usually produces a different character called the ring above: ˚. If the shortcut does not work for your keyboard layout, use the Mac Character Viewer or Unicode input instead.
The fastest way to type the degree symbol on Mac
The standard Mac keyboard shortcut for the degree symbol is:
Option + Shift + 8
To use it, place your cursor where you want the symbol to appear, then hold down the Option key and the Shift key at the same time. While holding both keys, press 8. The result should be the degree sign:
°
For example:
- 25 °C
- 90° angle
- 37.7749° N
- The oven is set to 180 °C
This shortcut works in most Mac applications, including Pages, Notes, Mail, Safari, Chrome, Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and many text fields across macOS.
Do not confuse ° with ˚
One of the most common mistakes on Mac is using Option + K instead of Option + Shift + 8. These two shortcuts create characters that look similar, but they are not the same.
- Option + Shift + 8 produces °, the proper degree sign.
- Option + K produces ˚, a ring above accent mark.
The difference may be subtle visually, especially in certain fonts, but it matters in serious writing. The degree sign ° is the correct symbol for temperature, angles, coordinates, and measurements. The ring above ˚ is a diacritical mark used in some languages and phonetic systems. It is not the correct replacement for the degree symbol.
If you are preparing a report, academic paper, engineering note, legal document, medical record, spreadsheet, or product specification, it is worth using the correct character. In professional contexts, small typographic details can affect clarity and credibility.
How to type the degree symbol using Character Viewer
If the keyboard shortcut does not work, or if you do not remember it, macOS includes a reliable built-in tool called the Character Viewer. This tool lets you search for and insert special characters, including the degree sign.
To insert the degree symbol using Character Viewer:
- Click where you want to insert the symbol.
- Press Control + Command + Space.
- In the search field, type degree.
- Select the degree symbol °.
- Double-click it, or click it once depending on the app, to insert it into your text.
The Character Viewer is especially useful if you frequently need other symbols, such as mathematical operators, currency signs, arrows, Greek letters, or accented characters. It also helps you confirm that you are choosing the correct degree sign rather than a similar-looking mark.
How to type ° using Unicode Hex Input
For users who work with technical documents, coding, publishing, or multilingual text, Unicode input can be another dependable method. The Unicode code point for the degree sign is U+00B0.
To use Unicode Hex Input on a Mac, you may first need to enable it:
- Open System Settings.
- Go to Keyboard.
- Find Input Sources and add a new input source.
- Search for and add Unicode Hex Input.
- Switch to Unicode Hex Input from the menu bar input menu.
Once Unicode Hex Input is active, place the cursor where you want the symbol and type:
Option + 00B0
Hold the Option key while typing 00B0. This inserts the correct degree sign: °.
This method is not necessary for most everyday Mac users, but it is precise and useful if you regularly work with Unicode characters.
Typing the degree symbol in Microsoft Word on Mac
In Microsoft Word for Mac, the easiest method is still Option + Shift + 8. Word recognizes the symbol correctly, and it should appear immediately in your document.
You can also use Word’s symbol menu:
- Open your Word document.
- Click where you want the degree symbol.
- Go to Insert in the menu.
- Choose Advanced Symbol or Symbol, depending on your Word version.
- Find and insert the degree sign °.
For most people, however, the keyboard shortcut is faster and more consistent. If you use the degree symbol often, you may want to memorize Option + Shift + 8 rather than opening the symbol menu each time.
Typing the degree symbol in Google Docs on Mac
In Google Docs, the Mac shortcut Option + Shift + 8 generally works directly in the document. Click into the document body, press the shortcut, and the degree sign should appear.
If you prefer using the Google Docs menu, you can also insert it this way:
- Open your Google Docs document.
- Click Insert.
- Select Special characters.
- Search for degree.
- Click the degree sign ° to insert it.
This is a good backup option if your keyboard layout or browser behavior interferes with the shortcut.
Typing the degree symbol in Excel or Numbers
Spreadsheets often include temperatures, angles, coordinates, engineering values, or scientific measurements. On a Mac, you can insert the degree symbol in Microsoft Excel or Apple Numbers with the same shortcut:
Option + Shift + 8
For example, a spreadsheet cell might contain:
- 32 °F
- 100 °C
- 45°
- 51.5072° N
If you use formulas, remember that the degree symbol is text. A cell containing 25 °C is usually treated as text rather than a pure number. If you need to calculate with the value, it may be better to keep the number in one cell and the unit label in another, or use formatting carefully.
Correct spacing with the degree symbol
Using the correct symbol is important, but spacing also affects readability. Different style guides may vary, but the following rules are widely accepted in technical and professional writing:
- For angles, do not place a space between the number and the degree symbol: 90°.
- For coordinates, do not place a space between the number and the degree symbol: 40.7128° N.
- For temperatures in formal scientific writing, use a space between the number and the unit: 25 °C.
- In casual writing, you may often see 25°C, but 25 °C is usually preferred in formal measurement style.
In general, be consistent within the same document. If you are writing for a company, publisher, school, or scientific organization, follow its style guide.
What to do if the shortcut does not work
If pressing Option + Shift + 8 does not create the degree symbol, the cause is usually related to keyboard layout, application settings, or a shortcut conflict. The following steps can help resolve the issue:
- Check your keyboard layout: Go to System Settings, then Keyboard, and review your input source. Some non-US layouts may place symbols differently.
- Try another app: Test the shortcut in Notes or TextEdit. If it works there, the issue may be specific to the original app.
- Use Character Viewer: Press Control + Command + Space and search for degree.
- Restart the app: Occasionally, text input problems are temporary and app-specific.
- Check custom shortcuts: Some productivity tools or keyboard utilities may override default macOS behavior.
Even if the keyboard shortcut fails, Character Viewer remains the most dependable built-in alternative because it works across many applications and does not require remembering symbol codes.
Can you create a text replacement for the degree symbol?
Yes. If you type the degree symbol frequently, a text replacement can save time. For example, you can make macOS automatically replace a short phrase such as deg or ;deg with °.
To create a text replacement:
- Open System Settings.
- Go to Keyboard.
- Find Text Replacements.
- Add a new replacement.
- Set the shortcut text, such as ;deg.
- Set the replacement text to °.
Choose a trigger that you would not normally type by accident. A prefix such as a semicolon can help prevent unwanted replacements. For instance, ;deg is safer than deg, because the letters “deg” may appear naturally in words or abbreviations.
Copy and paste the degree symbol
If you need the symbol immediately, you can copy it from here:
°
Copying and pasting is not the most efficient long-term method, but it is useful when you are working on an unfamiliar Mac, using a remote desktop, or dealing with a keyboard layout you do not know.
Final recommendation
For most Mac users, the best and fastest method is Option + Shift + 8. It inserts the correct degree symbol ° and works in most common applications. If you need a backup method, use Control + Command + Space to open Character Viewer and search for degree.
The key point is to use the true degree sign rather than a similar-looking accent or substitute character. In everyday writing this may seem minor, but in technical, scientific, academic, and professional documents, accuracy matters. Once you learn the shortcut, typing temperatures, angles, and coordinates on a Mac becomes quick, reliable, and precise.