Celsius and Fahrenheit symbols
The celsius symbol comes in two writings — the single character ℃ and the pair °C — and the degree celsius symbol question is really about which form belongs where. This page copies all four temperature marks (℃, ℉, °C and °F), explains the typography, and pins down the readings everyone converts.
Copy the temperature symbols
The anchor readings, ready to copy
℃ or °C — which writing when
| Form | What it is | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| °C / °F | Two characters: degree sign + letter | The standard in documents, science and publishing — searchable, sortable, always renders |
| ℃ / ℉ | Single compatibility characters (U+2103 / U+2109) | Compact spaces: East Asian typesetting, dense tables, some signage — avoid in running text |
| K (kelvin) | No degree sign at all | SI absolute temperature: 273.15 K, never “°K” — the one unit that drops the circle |
Style guides put a space between the number and the unit — 20 °C — in formal writing, while weather apps and headlines often close it up. The scale itself has a quirk worth knowing: Anders Celsius set his 1742 scale upside down, 0 at boiling and 100 at freezing; after his death the scale was flipped into the one the world uses.
How to type them
| Mark | Windows | Mac | HTML |
|---|---|---|---|
| ° | Alt + 0176; Word: B0 then Alt + X | Option + Shift + 8 | The “deg” entity (ampersand + deg;) or code 176 |
| ℃ | Word: 2103 then Alt + X | Character Viewer, or copy it here | No named entity — code 8451 |
Explore more
The circle itself — angles, coordinates and its keyboard life — is the degree symbol page; the units family around it gathers on the units and SI symbols page; and the full science set lives on the math symbols hub.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a space in 20 °C?
In formal and scientific style, yes — SI typography separates the number from the unit sign. Everyday writing and weather displays often write 20°C; both are understood, consistency in one document is what matters.
Why does kelvin have no degree sign?
Because kelvin measures from absolute zero — an absolute scale, not a relative “degree” of something. The SI unit is simply K: water freezes at 273.15 K.
Where do Celsius and Fahrenheit agree?
At −40: the one reading that needs no conversion, −40 °C = −40 °F — the coldest trivia in thermometry.
℃ or °C in a document?
°C. The single character ℃ exists for East Asian typesetting compatibility; in documents it can break searching and sorting, and some fonts draw it poorly. Copy ℃ for tight displays, type °C for text.
How do I convert quickly?
°C to °F: double it and add 30 for a close estimate (exact: ×9/5 + 32). °F to °C: subtract 32, then ×5/9. The anchors above cover most daily needs.