How to Insert Degree symbol in excel?

Adding a degree (°) symbol in Excel is very useful when you’re working with temperatures, angles, or measurements. Many beginners get confused because the degree symbol isn’t shown directly on the keyboard. The good news is, Excel makes it simple to insert this symbol in different ways—whether you’re typing numbers, formulas, or labels. In this beginner-friendly blog, we’ll explain in easy language how to insert the degree symbol in Excel step by step, so your data looks clear and professional.

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5 Ways to Insert the Degree Symbol in Excel

Method 1: Use the CHAR Function

• In any cell, type: =CHAR(176)
• Press Enter. Excel will display the degree symbol (°).
• You can also concatenate it with other text/numbers. For example: =A1 & CHAR(176) If A1 contains 45, the result will be 45°.

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Method 2: Keyboard Shortcut (Alt Code)

• Click in the Excel cell where you want the symbol.
• Press Alt, and using the numeric keypad, type 0176.
• Release Alt, and the degree symbol (°) appears.
• Note: This only works if you have a numeric keypad; the top-row number keys don’t work for this code.

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Method 3: Use the Symbol Dialog

• Go to the Insert tab on the Ribbon → Click Symbol → More Symbols…
• In the dialog:
  • Set Font to something standard (e.g., Calibri, Times New Roman)
  • In the Subset drop-down, pick Latin-1 Supplement to find the degree symbol.
• Select the degree symbol (°) → Click Insert → Click Close.

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Method 4: Use AutoCorrect for Repeated Use

If you frequently need the degree symbol:

1. Go to File → Options → Proofing → AutoCorrect Options.
2. In the “Replace” box, type a shortcut (for instance: deg).
3. In the “With” box, paste the degree symbol (°). You can copy it from somewhere or insert it using another method and then copy-paste.
4. Click Add, then OK.
5. Now, whenever you type deg followed by a space (or Enter), Excel will automatically replace it with °.

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Method 5: Use Custom Number Formatting

This method is great if you want numbers displayed with a degree symbol but still treat them as numbers (for calculations):

1. Select the cells you want to format.
2. Press Ctrl + 1 → Opens Format Cells dialog.
3. Go to Number → Custom.
4. In the Type box, enter a format like: 0° (You can change how many decimals you want, like 0.0°)
5. Click OK.
   Now the cells will show the degree symbol, but Excel will treat them as regular numbers, so you can do math with them.

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Conclusion

Inserting the degree symbol in Excel is easier than you might think. Whether you prefer a quick formula (=CHAR(176)), a keyboard shortcut (Alt + 0176), a manual insert using the Symbol menu, or setting up AutoCorrect for frequent use — Excel has you covered. And if you want those degree signs to show up automatically beside numbers (like temperatures), custom number formatting is the way to go.