How To Use the Degree Symbol on a PC

Whether you’re talking temperature, direction, latitude or whatever, at some point you’re going to need to use a degree symbol. But where is it? It doesn’t appear on the keyboard or on the visual keyboard. So how do you use the degree symbol on a PC?

Much depends on the app you’re using. There are keyboard shortcuts and not so obvious commands to find it. Here are a few ways you can use the degree symbol on a PC.

Use the degree symbol in Windows

There are a few keyboard shortcuts you can use to quickly get a degree symbol up. For some reason, there are multiple ways to do it.

• Press Alt and 0176 on the numeric keypad (the number pad on the right).
• Press Alt and 248 on the numeric keypad.
• Press Alt and 8451 on the numeric keypad to get ℃.
• Press Alt and 8457 on the numeric keypad to get ℉.
• Press Alt and 8490 on the numeric keypad to get K.
• Press Alt and 730 on the numeric keypad to get ˚.
• Press Alt and 778 on the numeric keypad to get ̊.

In HTML, use ‘°’ to get a degree symbol.

To use the Unicode version of the degree symbol, you would use 00b0. You can combine code to create the output you want. For example, type ‘6500b0’ to create 65°. Be careful with Unicode because some apps will interpret it differently. Microsoft Word will require a space between 65 and 00b0 whereas other apps will not.

Use the degree symbol in Microsoft Word

To get a degree symbol in Microsoft Word, you can either use the Unicode method above, any of the Windows shortcuts or insert it using the ribbon.

1. Open Word and select Insert tab.
   
2. Select symbol on the right of the ribbon menu.
   
3. Select the degree symbol from the selection. If degree doesn’t appear in the quick selection box, select More Symbols.
   
4. You can also use the Unicode character code underneath the main selection menu.
   

Use the degree symbol in Microsoft Excel

There are a few ways to add degree symbols to Excel. You can use a formula, shortcut key or insert a symbol.

• The Formula is ‘=CHAR(176)’. Paste it into a cell to get the degree symbol to appear.
  
• Press Alt and 0176 on the numeric keypad
  
• Select Insert and symbol on the right of the ribbon menu and use the same method as in Word to select it.
  

You can also use Autocorrect to insert the degree symbol in any Microsoft Office product. If you use the symbol often, this might be useful.

1. In Word or Excel go to File and Options.
   
2. Select Proofing and Autocorrect options.
   
3. Type ‘DEGSYM’ into the Replace box and ° into the With box.
   
4. Select Add and then OK.
   

DEGSYM has to be in uppercase for this to work.

There you go. Several ways to use the degree symbol on a PC. Got any others you would like to share?