If you are writing about the weather, typing out a recipe with oven temperatures, or working on geometry homework, spelling out the word “degrees” every single time looks cluttered and unprofessional. You need to use the actual degree symbol (°).
Because the degree symbol is not printed on any of the physical keycaps on an Apple keyboard, many users resort to Googling “degree symbol,” copying the result, and pasting it into their document. This completely breaks your typing flow.
Fortunately, macOS includes a built-in keyboard shortcut that allows you to type the degree symbol instantly in any application, anywhere in the operating system.
The Keyboard Shortcut
Typing the degree symbol on a Mac requires a simple three-key combination using the modifier keys.
- Place your text cursor exactly where you want the symbol to appear (e.g., right after the number 72).
- Press and hold the Option key and the Shift key simultaneously.
- While holding both of those keys down, press the number 8 key.
- Release all three keys.
The standard degree symbol (°) will immediately appear in your text (e.g., 72°).
Option + K vs Option + Shift + 8
If you search online, you may find old forums suggesting you type Option + K to create a degree symbol. While this does create a small circle (˚), it is technically the wrong character.
- Option + K types a Diacritic Ring. This is a linguistic modifier meant to be placed above letters in certain Scandinavian languages, not a mathematical symbol. It is smaller and often sits higher on the text line than a true degree symbol.
- Option + Shift + 8 types the actual typographical Degree Symbol (°). This is the correct character to use for temperatures and angles.
Always use the Option + Shift + 8 combination to ensure your documents look professionally formatted and are accessible to screen readers.