How to Make the Degree Symbol on a Mac

macOS seamlessly integrates the degree symbol through intuitive shortcuts and built-in character tools. Whether you're using macOS Sonoma, Ventura, Sequoia, or earlier versions, typing the degree symbol is quick and straightforward.

The degree symbol is essential for temperature readings, angles, and geographic coordinates. This guide covers four reliable methods that work across all macOS applications, including Pages, Notes, TextEdit, and Microsoft Word for Mac.

Important Note: Option + 0 produces the ordinal indicator (º, U+00BA), which is different from the degree symbol (°, U+00B0). Always use Option + Shift + 8 for the true degree symbol in measurements.

Favorites Feature: In the Character Viewer, you can drag frequently used symbols to the sidebar favorites section for even quicker access in the future.

iCloud Sync: Text replacements sync automatically across all your iCloud devices, including iPhone and iPad, making the degree symbol accessible everywhere.

Voice Dictation: If you have voice dictation enabled (System Settings > Accessibility > Spoken Content), you can say "degree symbol" and macOS will insert it automatically.

In Pages and Keynote, you can also access special characters through Insert > Special Characters, which opens the same Character Viewer.

For developers using Terminal or code editors, you can use Unicode escape sequences: \u00B0 in code, or simply copy-paste the symbol.

If you're using an external keyboard with a different layout (e.g., UK keyboard), the shortcut may vary. For UK keyboards, try Option + Shift + O. Ensure your keyboard layout is set to US in System Settings.

The Option + Shift + 8 shortcut has remained consistent since macOS 10.14 (Mojave), so it works on older Macs as well.

For non-Apple applications that don't recognize macOS shortcuts, use the copy-paste fallback method or the Character Viewer.

Method 1: Keyboard Shortcut (Instant)

• Press Option + Shift + 8 simultaneously.
• The degree symbol (°) appears instantly at your cursor position.
• Example: Type "25" then press Option + Shift + 8 → 25°.

Method 2: Character Viewer (Visual Search)

1. Press Control + Command + Space (or go to Edit > Emoji & Symbols).
2. The Character Viewer popup appears.
3. Type "degree" in the search bar at the top.
4. Double-click the degree symbol (°) to insert it into your document.

Method 3: Text Replacement (Automation)

1. Open System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS).
2. Navigate to Keyboard > Text Replacements.
3. Click the + button to add a new replacement.
4. In the "Replace" field, enter a shortcut like deg.
5. In the "With" field, paste the degree symbol (°) from elsewhere.
6. Click Done to save.
7. Now, typing "deg" followed by a space automatically converts to the degree symbol.

Method 4: App-Specific Methods

• In Pages and Keynote, use Insert > Special Characters (opens Character Viewer).
• For Terminal or code editors, use Unicode escape: \u00B0 or copy-paste the symbol.

Troubleshooting Tips