Degree (°)

Definition

One 360th of a full turn — the everyday unit of angle.

History

The degree, one 360th of a full turn, goes back to ancient Babylonian astronomers, whose base-60 counting made 360 a natural division of the circle. It has been the everyday angle measure ever since.

Where it is used

Degrees are used in geometry, navigation and construction, wherever angles are set out or read off.

Typical uses include geometry, navigation, construction angles.

Conversion pages

These pages convert degree to or from another unit in angle.

• Radian to degree

Other Angle units

• Radian (rad)
• Gradian (gon)
• Revolution (rev)

Sources

• BIPM SI BIPM SI Brochure (2019); ISO 80000-3 (angle) · Dataset reviewed Nov 11, 2026