How to Insert a Degree Symbol in Google Docs

To insert a degree symbol (°) in Google Docs, click Insert > Symbols > Special characters, type degree or the code 00B0 in the search box, and click the ° symbol. You can also use a keyboard shortcut: hold Alt and type 0176 on a Windows number pad, or press Option + Shift + 8 on a Mac with a U.S. keyboard layout.

The Docs steps follow Google’s Insert emojis & special characters help page. The keyboard methods come from Microsoft and Apple support pages, linked in each section.

In this article:

• Use the Special characters tool
• Keyboard shortcuts for Windows, Mac and iPhone
• Make your own Google Docs shortcut
• Add a degree symbol in Google Sheets
• Tips for temperatures and angles
• FAQs

How to Insert a Degree Symbol in Google Docs

The Special characters tool works on any computer, whatever keyboard you have.

1. Open your document in Google Docs on a computer.
2. Click where you want the degree symbol.
3. Click Insert > Symbols > Special characters.
4. Type degree in the search box, or enter the Unicode value 00B0.
5. Click the ° symbol to add it to your document.
6. Close the Special characters window.

Google lists other ways to find a character in the same window. You can pick from categories, enter a Unicode value, or draw the character in the box on the right.

The same menu is available in Google Slides, so these steps also work in a presentation.

Result: The ° symbol appears at your cursor, in the same font and size as the text around it.

Degree Symbol Keyboard Shortcuts

If you type the symbol often, a keyboard shortcut is faster than the menu. These work in Google Docs because they come from your computer or phone, not from Docs itself.

Windows

Microsoft’s guide to ASCII and Unicode characters uses the degree sign as its example: press and hold Alt while typing 0176 on the numeric keypad. You must use the number pad, not the row of numbers above the letters, and Num Lock needs to be on if your keyboard requires it.

Mac

On a Mac with a U.S. keyboard layout, press Option + Shift + 8. If that doesn’t work on your layout, open the Character Viewer by pressing Fn/Globe + E or choosing Edit > Emoji & Symbols, then search for degree. Apple explains the viewer in Use emoji and symbols on Mac.

iPhone and iPad

In the Google Docs app, switch to the number keyboard, then touch and hold the 0 key and slide to °. Apple’s onscreen keyboard guide explains that touching and holding a letter, number or symbol shows related characters. For more detail, see how to insert a degree symbol on an iPhone.

Result: You can type ° straight into your document without leaving the keyboard.

How to Make Your Own Degree Shortcut in Google Docs

Google Docs keeps its automatic replacements in the Substitutions list, which Google covers in Manage Autocorrect in Google Docs. You can add your own entry so a short code turns into °.

1. In Google Docs on a computer, click Tools > Preferences > Substitutions.
2. In the empty row, type a code you won’t use by accident, such as (deg), in the Replace box.
3. Paste or insert ° in the With box.
4. Click OK.

Make sure Automatic substitution stays checked, or the replacement won’t happen. If you have turned autocorrect off before, see how to turn Google Docs autocorrect on or off. Google notes that you can only manage these settings on a computer, not in the Android or iPhone app.

Result: Typing your code followed by a space changes it to ° in your Google Docs.

How to Add a Degree Symbol in Google Sheets

Google says you can’t insert special characters directly in Google Sheets. Instead, insert the ° in a Google Doc, copy it, and paste it into a cell. The Windows, Mac and iPhone keyboard shortcuts above also work when you type in a cell.

Tips for Temperatures and Angles

• Use the real degree sign (°, Unicode 00B0) rather than a superscript letter o or zero. They look similar, but screen readers and search tools treat them differently.
• For temperatures, type the symbol and then the letter, such as 72°F or 22°C.
• Unicode also has single-character Celsius and Fahrenheit symbols, but the ° followed by a regular C or F is the more common style.
• For angles, put the symbol right after the number with no space, such as 90°.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why doesn’t Alt + 0176 work on my laptop?

Microsoft says you must use the numeric keypad. Many laptops don’t have one, so use the Special characters tool or a Google Docs substitution instead.

Can I insert special characters in the Google Docs mobile app?

Google’s Special characters steps are for a computer. On a phone or tablet, use your keyboard instead, such as holding the 0 key on an iPhone.

Does the degree symbol change with my font?

Yes. The ° takes on the font, size and color of the text where you insert it, just like any other character.

Related Google Docs Guides

• How to search for a word in Google Docs
• How to create a drawing in Google Docs
• How to get a word count in Google Docs
• How to insert a checkbox in Google Docs