How to Insert a Degree Symbol in Microsoft Excel

When working with temperature data, geographical coordinates, or engineering angles in Microsoft Excel, you will frequently need to use the degree symbol (°). Unlike common punctuation marks, the degree symbol does not have a dedicated key on standard keyboards. While you can always copy and paste the symbol from a web search, Excel provides several built-in methods to insert it quickly and efficiently directly into your spreadsheets.

Method 1: Using a Keyboard Shortcut (Fastest)

If you have a keyboard with a dedicated numeric keypad (the block of numbers on the right-hand side of a full-size keyboard), using an Alt code is the fastest and most professional way to insert the symbol while typing.

1. Double-click the cell where you want to insert the symbol, or click the formula bar, to enter edit mode.
2. Type your number (e.g., “98”).
3. Press and hold the Alt key on your keyboard.
4. While holding the Alt key, type 0176 using the numeric keypad. (Note: You must use the numeric keypad; the number row above the letters will not work).
5. Release the Alt key. The degree symbol (°) will immediately appear.

Method 2: Using the Excel Insert Symbol Menu

If you are using a laptop without a numeric keypad, the built-in Symbol menu is the most reliable alternative.

1. Select the cell where you want the degree symbol to appear.
2. Navigate to the Insert tab on the main Excel ribbon.
3. Look to the far right of the ribbon and click on Symbol (often located inside a “Symbols” group).
4. In the Symbol dialog box, ensure the “Font” dropdown is set to (normal text).
5. Use the “Subset” dropdown menu on the right and select Latin-1 Supplement.
6. Look through the grid of characters and locate the degree symbol (°).
7. Click on the symbol to highlight it, then click the Insert button at the bottom of the window. Click Close when finished.

Method 3: Using the CHAR Formula

If you are dynamically generating text strings using formulas (e.g., combining a number from cell A1 with a text label in cell B1), you can use the CHAR function to generate the degree symbol programmatically without manual typing.

The ASCII character code for the degree symbol is 176. Therefore, you can use the formula =CHAR(176).

For example, if cell A1 contains the number `72`, and you want cell B2 to display “72°”, you would enter the following formula into cell B2:

=A1 & CHAR(176)

This method is highly scalable, allowing you to append the degree symbol to thousands of rows of temperature data instantly using a single formula copied down a column.