Degree Symbol in LaTeX

The quickest degree symbol is a superscript circle in math mode: $90^\circ$ gives 90°. In running text use \textdegree, and for units such as °C in scientific writing use the siunitx package: \qty{25}{\degreeCelsius}.

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Ways to write the degree sign

90^\circ
$90^{\circ}$
Math mode: a raised circle. Works everywhere, no package.
90^{\circ}\mathrm{C}
$90^{\circ} C$
Degrees Celsius in math mode.
\textdegree
$°$
Text mode ° (textcomp, loaded by current LaTeX).
\degree
$°$
Works in text and math with \usepackage{gensymb}.
\ang{90}
Text mode, no math preview
Angle with siunitx; \ang{12;30;0} for degrees, minutes, seconds.
\qty{25}{\degreeCelsius}
Text mode, no math preview
Temperature with siunitx (v3; older versions use \SI).

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LaTeX

Templates

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Degree symbol examples

Each result below is drawn from the LaTeX under it. Copy the code, edit it on this page, or open it in the full editor.

Angle
$∠ A B C = 90^{\circ}$
LaTeX
```
\angle ABC = 90^\circ
```
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Trigonometric value
$\sin 30^{\circ} = \frac{1}{2}$
LaTeX
```
\sin 30^\circ = \frac{1}{2}
```
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Temperature
$T = 25^{\circ} C$
LaTeX
```
T = 25\,^\circ\mathrm{C}
```
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Angle sum
$α + β + γ = 180^{\circ}$
LaTeX
```
\alpha + \beta + \gamma = 180^\circ
```
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Degrees to radians
$180^{\circ} = π rad$
LaTeX
```
180^\circ = \pi \text{ rad}
```
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Degrees, minutes, seconds
$12^{\circ} 30^{'} 15^{″}$
LaTeX
```
12^\circ 30' 15''
```
Edit here Open in editor

Which method to choose

For an occasional angle in a formula, ^\circ is enough and works in every LaTeX setup, including MathJax. It is a superscript of the composition circle, so it sits a little higher and lighter than a font degree sign.

If the degree sign appears in text as well as formulas, gensymb gives one command, \degree, for both. For lab reports and papers with many measurements, siunitx is the most consistent: it sets the number, the spacing and the unit together and follows the style rules for °C.

LaTeX

\usepackage{siunitx}
...
The sample was heated to \qty{80}{\degreeCelsius} and rotated by \ang{45}.

Degrees Celsius and spacing

SI style puts a space between the number and °C (25 °C) but no space before a plain angle degree sign (45°). With ^\circ you add the space yourself with \,; siunitx does it for you.

Common mistakes

A superscript letter o is italic and the wrong shape; \circ is the ring used for degrees.
Instead of
```
90^o
```
Write
```
90^\circ
```
^ and \circ only work in math mode; in text LaTeX stops with "Missing $ inserted".
Instead of
```
The angle is 90^\circ.
```
Write
```
The angle is $90^\circ$.
```
Standard LaTeX has no \degree; it comes from gensymb (MathJax accepts it without a package).
Instead of
```
\degree  % without gensymb
```
Write
```
\usepackage{gensymb}
```
In math mode the C becomes an italic variable. Set the unit upright with \mathrm.
Instead of
```
25^\circ C
```
Write
```
25\,^\circ\mathrm{C}
```

In Overleaf, MathJax and Word

Overleaf and pdfLaTeX
^\circ needs nothing; \textdegree works in text in current TeX Live; \degree needs gensymb; \ang and \qty need siunitx.
MathJax and KaTeX
MathJax renders ^\circ and also accepts \degree. KaTeX supports ^\circ and \degree. siunitx commands are not available on the web.
Microsoft Word
In a Word equation, \degree followed by Space gives the degree sign through Math AutoCorrect. In text, Insert › Symbol or Alt+0176 on Windows. Copy for Word from the editor here pastes angles as editable equations.