How to Insert or Type the Degree Symbol in Word (5 Ways to Insert °)

Insert the Degree Symbol or Sign in Microsoft Word Documents (with Shortcuts)

by Avantix Learning Team | Updated August 23, 2021

Applies to: Microsoft^® Word^®  2013, 2016, 2019 or 365 (Windows)

You can insert or type the degree symbol in Microsoft Word documents using the Ribbon or by using keyboard shortcuts. The degree symbol or sign is automatically entered in superscript. The term degree is used in several temperature scales including Celsius and Fahrenheit.

In this article, we’ll look at 5 ways to insert the degree symbol in Word documents:

1. Use the Insert Symbol command
2. Use an Alt code shortcut by pressing Alt and then enter a number sequence
3. Use a built-in Word shortcut
4. Create and use your own custom keyboard shortcut
5. Create and use your own AutoCorrect shortcut

Recommended article: How to Keep Text Together in Microsoft Word

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1. Inserting the degree symbol using Insert Symbol

To insert the degree symbol in Word using Insert Symbol:

1. Position the cursor where you want to insert the degree symbol.
2. Click the Insert tab in the Ribbon.
3. In the Symbols group, click Symbol. A drop-down menu appears.
4. Click More Symbols. A dialog box appears.
5. If necessary, click the Symbols tab.
6. Select (normal text) from the Font drop-down menu and then Basic Latin from the Subset menu. Alternatively, you could select the Symbol font.
7. Scroll through the list of symbols until you find the degree symbol and click it.
8. Click Insert.
9. Click Close.

Below is the Insert Symbol dialog box:

2. Inserting the degree symbol using an Alt code keyboard shortcut

You can press the Alt key in combination with numbers on the numeric keypad to insert the degree symbol.

To insert the degree symbol in a Word document using an Alt code keyboard shortcut:

1. Position the cursor where you want to insert the degree symbol.
2. Press Alt + 0176 or Alt + 248 on the numeric keypad.

If the sequence doesn’t work, press NumLock on the numeric keypad.

3. Inserting the degree symbol using a built-in shortcut

To insert the degree symbol using a built-in shortcut:

1. Position the cursor where you want to insert the degree symbol.
2. Press Ctrl + Shift + 2 (at the top of the keyboard).
3. Press the Spacebar.

The benefit of this method is that it works if you don’t have a numeric keypad.

4. Creating your own custom keyboard shortcut

If you insert the degree symbol frequently, you can create your own keyboard shortcut as well.

To create a custom Word keyboard shortcut for the degree symbol:

1. Position the cursor in a Word document.
2. Click the Insert tab in the Ribbon.
3. In the Symbols group, click Symbol. A drop-down menu appears.
4. Click More Symbols. A dialog box appears.
5. If necessary, click the Symbols tab.
6. Select (normal text) from the Font drop-down menu and then Basic Latin from the Subset menu. Alternatively, you could select the Symbol font.
7. Scroll through the list of symbols until you find the degree symbol and click it.
8. Click Shortcut. A dialog box appears.
9. Click in the box below Assign New Shortcut key.
10. Press the keys you want to assign (such as Ctrl + Alt + D). Don’t type any text, just press the keys. Be careful not to override a useful built-in shortcut such as Ctrl + D.
11. Click Assign. Typically the location for these shortcuts is the Normal (or default) template.
12. Click Close twice.

Test the shortcut in your document by pressing the assigned keys.

Below is the Customize Keyboard dialog box in Word:

This shortcut is typically added to the Normal template so when you exit the program, Word will prompt you to save the Normal template. If your IT department has disabled modification of the Normal template, you won’t be able to use this method.

5. Creating your own AutoCorrect shortcut

To add your own AutoCorrect shortcut for the degree symbol:

1. Position the cursor in a Word document.
2. Click the Insert tab in the Ribbon.
3. In the Symbols group, click Symbol. A drop-down menu appears.
4. Click More Symbols. A dialog box appears.
5. If necessary, click the Symbols tab.
6. Select (normal text) from the Font drop-down menu and then Basic Latin from the Subset menu. Alternatively, you could select the Symbol font.
7. Scroll through the list of symbols until you find the degree symbol and click it.
8. Click AutoCorrect. A dialog box appears.
9. Enter the characters you want to use in the Replace dialog box such as (d). The degree symbol should appear on the right.
10. Click Add.
11. Click OK.
12. Click Close.

To use the AutoCorrect entry, type the characters you entered in Replace, such as (d), and then press the Spacebar.

The AutoCorrect dialog box appears as follows:

The AutoCorrect shortcut is typically added to the Normal template so when you exit the program, Word will prompt you to save the Normal template. If your IT department has disabled modification of the Normal template, you won’t be able to use this method.

This article was first published on August 14, 2020 and has been updated for clarity and content.

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