The degree symbol (°) appears often in mathematics, science, and daily life, like in measurements for angles (54°) and temperatures (30°C). Here’s a straightforward guide to typing this symbol on your Mac using four easy methods.

Using Keyboard Shortcut
The quickest way to type the degree symbol on Mac is by using a keyboard shortcut. Here’s how:
- Place the cursor where you want the degree symbol to appear.
- Press Option (⌥) + Shift (⇧) + 8 simultaneously.
This will instantly insert the degree symbol (°). It’s efficient and works across all macOS applications.
Copy and Paste the Symbol
Degree Symbol Copy
°Another simple way to use the degree symbol is to copy it from a source and paste it where needed.
- Find the degree symbol (°) like DegreeCopy.com
- Click a Copy button to copy this symbol
- Paste it into your desired location using Command (⌘) + V.
The Character Viewer
macOS includes the Character Viewer, which offers access to a wide range of special characters, including the degree symbol.
1. Place the cursor in your desired location, such as your Word document, Messenger, Notes, etc.
2. Press Control (⌃) + Command (⌘) + Spacebar to open the Emoji & Symbols keyboard (Character Viewer). Or press Fn + E.
3. In the search bar, type “degree” to locate the symbol > Just click on the degree symbol (°) to insert it.
Using Text Replacement
If you regularly type the degree symbol, setting up a text replacement shortcut can save time.
1. Open System Settings and go to Keyboard > Text Input.
Click the Text Replacement to add a new text replacement. Then click + button.
- In the “Replace” field, enter a shortcut like ‘deg or ;degr
- In the “With” field, press Option (⌥) + Shift (⇧) + 8 or paste the degree symbol (°).
Click Done to save.
Quick Table
# | Replace | With |
1 | /deg | ° |
2 | ;deg | ° |
3 | /degc | ℃ |
4 | /degf | ℉ |
When you type ‘deg, it automatically converts to the degree symbol.