About Temperature Conversion
Temperature conversion is different from length or weight conversion because the scales have different zero points. Celsius and Fahrenheit both place zero somewhere other than the coldest possible temperature, so converting between them requires both a multiplier and an offset. This is why °C to °F is not simply a multiplication — you have to add 32 after scaling.
The Kelvin scale is different: it starts at absolute zero (−273.15 °C), the theoretical minimum temperature where all molecular motion stops. Because Kelvin starts at the true zero of thermal energy, it has no negative values and is the standard unit for scientific work.
The five scales supported
| Scale | Symbol | Zero point | Used by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Celsius | °C | Water freezing point | Most of the world, science |
| Fahrenheit | °F | Brine freezing point | United States, some Caribbean |
| Kelvin | K | Absolute zero | Science, physics, astronomy |
| Rankine | °R | Absolute zero (Fahrenheit sized) | US engineering (thermodynamics) |
| Réaumur | °Ré | Water freezing point | Historical, some European cheese-making |
The conversion formulas
| From → To | Formula |
|---|---|
| Celsius → Fahrenheit | °F = °C × 9/5 + 32 |
| Fahrenheit → Celsius | °C = (°F − 32) × 5/9 |
| Celsius → Kelvin | K = °C + 273.15 |
| Kelvin → Celsius | °C = K − 273.15 |
| Fahrenheit → Kelvin | K = (°F − 32) × 5/9 + 273.15 |
| Celsius → Rankine | °R = (°C + 273.15) × 9/5 |
| Celsius → Réaumur | °Ré = °C × 4/5 |
Common reference temperatures
| Reference | °C | °F | K |
|---|---|---|---|
| Absolute zero | −273.15 | −459.67 | 0 |
| Water freezes | 0 | 32 | 273.15 |
| Room temperature | 20 | 68 | 293.15 |
| Human body | 37 | 98.6 | 310.15 |
| Water boils (sea level) | 100 | 212 | 373.15 |
Common use cases
Travel
Convert °F weather forecasts to °C for international trips.
Cooking
Convert oven temperatures between °C and °F for recipes.
Science
Convert to Kelvin for chemistry, physics and thermodynamics.
Medicine
Convert body temperatures between °C and °F.
HVAC & Engineering
Convert between °C, °F and Rankine for building systems.
Weather
Compare temperature forecasts and climate data across regions.
Privacy and accuracy
This temperature converter runs entirely in your browser. All formulas are the standard definitional equations, so the results are exact to the precision you choose. Nothing is uploaded, stored or logged.