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Celsius Symbol (℃)
The Celsius symbol (℃) is the single-character form of 'degrees Celsius' — handy in text, though °C typed as two characters is the scientific standard.
Celsius Symbol codes
| Code | Value |
|---|---|
| Unicode code point | U+2103 |
| Unicode name | Degree Celsius |
| HTML named entity | None — use the decimal or hex code below |
| HTML decimal | ℃ |
| HTML hex | ℃ |
| CSS content code | \2103 |
| JavaScript / JSON | \u2103 |
| Windows Alt code | No standard Alt code — copy it from the card above |
Celsius Symbol variants (3)
3 related glyphs — click any tile to copy it. Tiles with a page open that symbol's own page.
Meaning & usage
℃ packs the degree sign and the letter C into one Unicode character, named after Anders Celsius, the Swedish astronomer who proposed the scale in 1742 (originally upside down — 0 for boiling, 100 for freezing!). Weather apps and appliance makers love the compact form, but careful publishers still write °C as two characters, because some systems split or misrender the combined glyph. Its Fahrenheit twin is ℉, and scientists use K (kelvin) with no degree sign at all.
Examples in use
- Today: sunny, 24℃
- Oven preheated to 200℃
- Body temperature 36.5℃
How to type the celsius symbol
Windows
There is no Alt code or direct key for ℃. In Microsoft Word, type 2103 and press Alt+X to convert it. Everywhere else, click the Copy button at the top of this page and paste it (Ctrl+V) — that always works.
Mac
There is no Option-key shortcut for ℃ on a Mac. Open the Character Viewer with Control+Command+Space, search for "Celsius Symbol", and double-click to insert — or copy it from this page.
iPhone & Android
Most phone keyboards have no built-in key for ℃. Open this page on your phone, tap Copy, then paste it into your message or bio. (On Android, Gboard's emoji search finds some symbols by name.)
Linux
Press Ctrl+Shift+U, type 2103 and press Enter (works in most GTK apps and terminals with IBus). Or copy it from this page.
Frequently asked questions
Should I write ℃ or °C?
For anything formal or scientific, write °C (degree sign + C as two characters) — it renders identically everywhere. ℃ is fine for casual text and tight spaces.
How do I type the Celsius symbol?
There is no standard keyboard shortcut for the single character ℃. Copy it here — or type ° (Alt+0176 on Windows, Option+Shift+8 on a Mac) followed by the letter C.
Why does ℃ sometimes show as a box or question mark?
The box (called tofu) means the device or font viewing it has no drawing for U+2103 (Degree Celsius). The character itself is fine — try a different font or a newer device, or use one of the variants on this page.
Is the Celsius Symbol free to use?
Yes. ℃ is a standard Unicode text character published in the Unicode Character Database. You may use it in personal and commercial documents, designs and products without permission or payment.
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Data: Unicode Character Database · Page updated 2026-11-13