How to Type the Degree Symbol for Fahrenheit (°F) on Any Keyboard

Whether you are writing a recipe, a weather report, a science document, or a product description, knowing how to type the degree symbol followed by F — as in 98.6°F — is a small but important typographic detail. This guide covers every way to type the degree symbol on any device and platform, along with everything you need to know about using it correctly.

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What Is the Degree Symbol?

The degree symbol ° is a small raised circle used to indicate degrees of temperature, angles, geographic coordinates, and alcohol content. When followed by F, it specifically denotes degrees Fahrenheit — the temperature scale used primarily in the United States, the Cayman Islands, and Liberia.

The symbol has been part of the Unicode Standard since version 1.1 and has its own dedicated code point:

Symbol	Name	Unicode	HTML Entity
°	Degree sign	U+00B0	°
°F	Degrees Fahrenheit	U+00B0 + U+0046	°F
°C	Degrees Celsius	U+00B0 + U+0043	°C

Important distinction: The degree symbol ° (U+00B0) is different from the masculine ordinal indicator º (U+00BA), which looks nearly identical but sits at a slightly different height and has a different Unicode value. Always use U+00B0 for temperature notation.

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How to Write Degrees Fahrenheit Correctly

Before covering how to type it, it is worth knowing how to format it correctly — style guides differ on the details:

Spacing

• No space between the number and the degree symbol: 98.6°F ✓
• Space before °F (some scientific styles): 98.6 °F ✓
• Never a space between ° and F: 98.6° F ✗

The most widely used convention in everyday writing, journalism, and web content is no space between the number and the full °F unit: 98.6°F.

When to Use °F vs. Fahrenheit

• °F — Use in tables, recipes, technical specs, weather data, and anywhere space is limited
• Fahrenheit — Spell out on first reference in formal writing or when the audience may not be familiar with the abbreviation
• degrees Fahrenheit — The fully spelled-out form used in formal scientific or legal writing

Common Fahrenheit Reference Points

Temperature	°F	Context
Freezing point of water	32°F	Weather, cooking
Normal body temperature	98.6°F	Medicine
Comfortable room temperature	72°F	HVAC, comfort
Boiling point of water	212°F	Cooking, science
Typical oven temperature	350°F	Baking
Extremely hot day	100°F	Weather
Dangerously cold wind chill	-20°F	Winter weather

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How to Type the Degree Symbol on Windows

Method 1: Alt Code (Fastest on Windows)

Make sure Num Lock is on, hold Alt, type the code on the numeric keypad, then release Alt:

Alt + 0176 → °

Then simply type F to complete: °F

The shorter code Alt + 248 also produces ° on many Windows systems, though the four-digit version Alt + 0176 is more universally reliable across all applications and fonts.

Method 2: Unicode Input (Microsoft Word)

1. Type 00B0
2. Immediately press Alt + X
3. Word converts it to °
4. Type F to complete °F

Method 3: Copy and Paste

Copy directly from this page and paste anywhere: °F

Works in every browser, app, text field, and document editor with no setup required.

Method 4: Character Map

1. Open Start and search “Character Map”
2. Search for “degree” in the search box
3. Select °
4. Click Select, then Copy
5. Paste into your document and type F after it

Method 5: Windows Emoji Panel

1. Press Windows key + . (period)
2. Go to the Symbols tab
3. Search for “degree”
4. Click ° to insert, then type F

Method 6: AutoCorrect in Word

Set Word to automatically replace a typed shortcut with °F:

1. Go to File > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options
2. In Replace, type something like degf
3. In With, paste °F
4. Click Add, then OK

Now typing degf anywhere in Word auto-produces °F.

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How to Type the Degree Symbol on Mac

Method 1: Keyboard Shortcut (Fastest — Works Everywhere)

Mac has a direct built-in shortcut for the degree symbol:

Shift + Option + 8 → °

Then type F to complete: °F

This works in every app on macOS — no setup, no copy-paste, no character viewer needed. It is one of the most useful Option key shortcuts to memorize.

Method 2: Press and Hold

On macOS, press and hold the 0 (zero) key — the degree symbol may appear in the popup on some keyboard configurations. If it does not appear via zero, use the Shift + Option + 8 shortcut instead.

Method 3: Character Viewer

1. Press Control + Command + Space
2. Search for “degree”
3. Double-click ° to insert it
4. Type F to complete °F

Method 4: Unicode Hex Input

1. Enable Unicode Hex Input under System Settings > Keyboard > Input Sources
2. Hold Option and type 00B0
3. Releases as °
4. Type F to complete °F

Method 5: Text Replacement

1. Go to System Settings > Keyboard > Text Replacements
2. Click +
3. In Replace, type degf
4. In With, paste °F
5. Click Add

Now typing degf in any macOS app auto-suggests °F.

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How to Type the Degree Symbol on iPhone and iPad

Method 1: Press and Hold the 0 Key (Built-In — Easiest)

The iPhone keyboard includes the degree symbol behind the zero key:

1. Tap 123 to switch to the numbers keyboard
2. Press and hold the 0 (zero) key
3. A popup appears showing °
4. Slide to ° and release
5. Type F to complete °F

This is the standard method for iPhone users — built in, no setup, works in every app.

Method 2: Text Replacement Shortcut

For even faster access:

1. Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement
2. Tap +
3. In Phrase, paste °F
4. In Shortcut, type degf or *f
5. Tap Save

Typing your chosen shortcut will now auto-suggest °F.

Method 3: Copy and Paste

Copy °F from this page and paste it directly into any iOS app — the simplest one-time solution.

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How to Type the Degree Symbol on Android

Method 1: Press and Hold the 0 Key (Gboard)

Like iOS, Gboard includes the degree symbol behind the zero key:

1. Tap ?123 to switch to the numbers keyboard
2. Press and hold the 0 (zero) key
3. A popup appears with ° among the options
4. Slide to ° and release
5. Type F to complete °F

Method 2: Symbols Panel

On some Android keyboards:

1. Tap ?123 to switch to numbers
2. Tap =< to open the extended symbols panel
3. Look for ° in the symbols list
4. Tap to insert, then type F

Method 3: Personal Dictionary Shortcut

1. Go to Gboard Settings > Dictionary > Personal Dictionary
2. Select your language
3. Tap +
4. Add °F as the word and degf as the shortcut
5. Gboard will suggest °F whenever you type degf

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How to Type the Degree Symbol in Microsoft Word

Word offers more options for the degree symbol than almost any other application.

Method 1: Alt + X (Fastest in Word)

Type 00B0 then press Alt + X — Word instantly converts it to °. Type F after to complete °F.

Method 2: Built-In Word Shortcut

Word has its own keyboard shortcut for the degree symbol:

Ctrl + Shift + @ then Space → °

Press Ctrl + Shift + @ (which is the same as Ctrl + @), then press Space. Word produces the degree symbol. Type F after it.

Note: This shortcut follows the same dead-key pattern as other Word accent shortcuts. The @ acts as a modifier and Space triggers the standalone symbol rather than applying it to a letter.

Method 3: Insert > Symbol

1. Go to Insert > Symbol > More Symbols
2. Set Subset to Latin-1 Supplement
3. Find ° (degree sign)
4. Click Insert
5. Close the dialog and type F

Method 4: AutoCorrect

1. Go to File > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options
2. In Replace, type degf
3. In With, paste °F
4. Click Add, then OK

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How to Type the Degree Symbol in Google Docs

Method 1: Insert > Special Characters

1. Go to Insert > Special Characters
2. Search for “degree”
3. Click ° to insert
4. Type F to complete °F

Method 2: Substitutions

1. Go to Tools > Preferences > Substitutions
2. In Replace, type degf
3. In With, paste °F
4. Click OK

Google Docs will auto-replace degf with °F as you type.

Method 3: Copy and Paste

Copy °F from this article and paste directly into your Google Doc.

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Degree Symbol in HTML and CSS

For web developers and publishers, here are all the correct ways to render the degree symbol in code:

Method	Code	Result
HTML named entity	°	°
HTML numeric (hex)	°	°
HTML numeric (decimal)	°	°
Full °F (named)	°F	°F
Full °C (named)	°C	°C
CSS content property	content: "\00B0";	°
Direct UTF-8	paste ° directly	°

HTML example for a weather widget:

html

<p>Current temperature: <span class="temp">98.6&deg;F</span></p>

CSS example:

css

.temp::after {
  content: "\00B0F";
  font-size: 0.85em;
  vertical-align: super;
}

Best practice: ° is a named HTML entity with universal browser support dating back to HTML 2.0. Use it freely for any temperature display. If your file is UTF-8 encoded (always include <meta charset="UTF-8"> in your <head>), you can also paste ° directly into your markup.

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Degree Symbol in LaTeX

For academic papers, scientific documents, and technical writing:

latex

% Basic degree Fahrenheit
The temperature was 98.6\textdegree F.

% Using the gensymb package (recommended)
\usepackage{gensymb}
The temperature was $98.6\degree$F.

% Using siunitx package (best for scientific writing)
\usepackage{siunitx}
\SI{98.6}{\degree F}
% or
\SI{98.6}{\fahrenheit}

The siunitx package is the gold standard for scientific unit notation in LaTeX — it handles spacing, formatting, and unit consistency automatically.

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°F vs. °C: Converting Between the Two

Since Fahrenheit content often requires conversion context, here are the formulas and common reference points:

Conversion Formulas

• °F to °C: subtract 32, multiply by 5/9 → (°F − 32) × 5/9 = °C
• °C to °F: multiply by 9/5, add 32 → (°C × 9/5) + 32 = °F

Quick Reference Conversion Table

°F	°C	Context
-40°F	-40°C	The two scales intersect
0°F	-17.8°C	Extremely cold
32°F	0°C	Freezing point of water
50°F	10°C	Cool spring day
68°F	20°C	Comfortable room temperature
72°F	22.2°C	Ideal room temperature
98.6°F	37°C	Normal body temperature
100°F	37.8°C	Hot summer day / low-grade fever
212°F	100°C	Boiling point of water
350°F	176.7°C	Standard baking temperature
425°F	218.3°C	High oven temperature

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Degree Symbol vs. Similar Characters

The degree symbol is frequently confused or substituted with visually similar characters. Here is how they differ:

Symbol	Unicode	Name	Correct Use
°	U+00B0	Degree sign	Temperature (°F, °C), angles (45°), coordinates
º	U+00BA	Masculine ordinal indicator	Ordinal numbers in Spanish/Italian (1º, 2º)
˚	U+02DA	Ring above (modifier)	Phonetic transcription
∘	U+2218	Ring operator	Mathematics — function composition
⁰	U+2070	Superscript zero	Mathematical superscripts
○	U+25CB	White circle	Bullet points, game notation

The most common mistake is using the masculine ordinal indicator º (U+00BA) instead of the degree sign ° (U+00B0). They look nearly identical in most fonts but are different characters. Always use U+00B0 for temperature notation.

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Fahrenheit in Context: Where the Scale Is Used

The Fahrenheit scale was developed by German physicist Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit in 1724. It remains the official temperature scale in:

• United States — Used in everyday weather, cooking, medicine, and HVAC
• Cayman Islands — Official scale
• Liberia — Official scale

Most other countries use Celsius (°C) or Kelvin (K) for scientific work. The United States is notable for being the only large industrialized nation that still uses Fahrenheit as its primary everyday temperature scale, though Celsius is used in scientific, medical research, and pharmaceutical contexts even within the US.

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Related Temperature and Measurement Symbols

Symbol	Name	Unicode	Mac Shortcut	Windows Alt	HTML Entity
°	Degree sign	U+00B0	Shift + Option + 8	Alt + 0176	°
℃	Degree Celsius (combined)	U+2103	Character Viewer	Alt + 8451	℃
℉	Degree Fahrenheit (combined)	U+2109	Character Viewer	Alt + 8457	℉
K	Kelvin	U+004B	K key	K key	K
µ	Micro sign	U+00B5	Option + M	Alt + 0181	µ
±	Plus or minus	U+00B1	Option + Shift + =	Alt + 0177	±
²	Superscript 2	U+00B2	Character Viewer	Alt + 0178	²
³	Superscript 3	U+00B3	Character Viewer	Alt + 0179	³

Note on ℉ (U+2109): Unicode includes a precomposed Fahrenheit symbol ℉ that combines the degree and F into a single character. While technically available, it is not recommended for general use — most fonts do not render it well, and combining ° + F separately gives you better typographic control and broader compatibility.

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Quick Reference: Degree Symbol Cheat Sheet

	°	°F
Unicode	U+00B0	U+00B0 + U+0046
HTML entity	°	°F
HTML numeric	°	°F
Windows Alt code	Alt + 0176	Alt + 0176, then F
Word shortcut	Ctrl+Shift+@ then Space	Same, then F
Word (Alt+X)	Type 00B0 + Alt+X	Same, then F
Mac shortcut	Shift + Option + 8	Same, then F
Mac (Viewer)	Ctrl+Cmd+Space, search “degree”	Same, then F
iPhone	Hold 0 key, slide to °	Same, then F
Android	Hold 0 key, slide to °	Same, then F
CSS escape	\00B0	\00B0F
LaTeX	\textdegree	\textdegree F

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Final Thoughts

The degree symbol is one of the more accessible special characters across all platforms — it is tucked behind the 0 key on iPhone and Android, accessible with Shift + Option + 8 on Mac, and reachable via Alt + 0176 on Windows. Once you have the ° symbol, typing F immediately after completes the °F unit. For web content, °F is a clean, universally supported HTML entity that has worked in every browser since the 1990s. And if you are typing temperature frequently — in recipes, weather writing, or product descriptions — setting up a simple text replacement shortcut on your device means you will never need to hunt for it again.