Ever been typing 75°F, 350°F, or a 90° angle on your Mac and realized there’s no degree key on your keyboard? Good news: macOS makes it super easy to type the degree symbol (°)—you just need to know the right shortcut.
This guide covers every way to type ° on Mac, with examples Americans use most: weather, cooking, math, and travel.
Why You Might Need the ° Symbol
The degree symbol pops up in our daily life more often than we think:
- Weather: “It’s 32°F, time to grab your jacket.”
- Cooking: “Bake the cookies at 350°F for 10 minutes.”
- Math & Science: “Rotate the object by 90°.”
- Travel & GPS: “Statue of Liberty is at 40.6892° N, 74.0445° W.”
1. Quick Keyboard Shortcut (Fastest Way)
Shortcut:
Option + Shift + 8 → °
Example:
- Type:
75+ Option + Shift + 8 +F→ 75°F - Type:
90+ Option + Shift + 8 → 90°
✅ Works in Notes, Mail, Safari, Word, Pages, Google Docs, Messages, and almost any app.
✅ Most Americans use this for weather updates, recipes, and school assignments.
2. Use Emoji & Symbols Viewer (Beginner-Friendly)
If you forget the shortcut or want to browse symbols:
- Press Control + Command + Space to open the Character Viewer.
- Search for “degree” in the search bar.
- Click the ° symbol to insert it into your text.
This is great for occasional use, like adding ° in a recipe email:
“Bake at 375°F for 12 minutes.”
3. Copy-Paste ° (Easiest for Quick Fix)
Just copy the symbol below and paste it anywhere:
°
Perfect when you’re in a hurry—like typing:
“It’s 45°F and sunny in New York City.”
4. Inserting ° in Word, Pages, and Google Docs
No extra steps needed—just use the same Option + Shift + 8 shortcut.
For Google Docs:
- You can also go to Insert > Special Characters > type “degree” > click °.
For Pages and Word:
- Shortcut works instantly, saving time for homework or work docs.
5. Bonus: Use on Macs with Touch Bar
For MacBook Pro with Touch Bar:
- Go to System Settings > Keyboard > Customize Control Strip.
- Add Emoji & Symbols to the Touch Bar.
- Tap the button anytime to insert °.
6. Troubleshooting
If the shortcut isn’t working:
- Check System Settings > Keyboard > Input Source > make sure it’s set to U.S. keyboard.
- If you’re using a Windows-style keyboard, try Alt + Shift + 8 instead.
7. Popular Examples in the U.S.
Here’s how most Americans use the ° symbol:
| Use Case | Example Text |
|---|---|
| Weather | It’s 28°F and snowing in Chicago. |
| Cooking | Preheat oven to 350°F for brownies. |
| Math/Science | Turn the shape by 180° clockwise. |
| Travel/GPS | Yosemite Park is at 37.8651° N, 119.5383° W. |
8. Quick Tips
- The ° symbol is not the same as the letter “o”—using the real degree sign looks professional and avoids confusion.
- Save time by memorizing the shortcut: Option + Shift + 8.
Wrap-Up
That’s it! Now you know 3 easy ways to type the ° symbol on your Mac:
- Shortcut: Option + Shift + 8
- Emoji & Symbols Viewer
- Copy-Paste
No more Googling “degree sign copy” every time you type a recipe or weather update.
