Celsius to Fahrenheit
celsius-fahrenheit• Convert °C and °F instantly, both ways. • With a reference table of weather and oven temperatures.
By Celsius
By Fahrenheit
350 F is the temperature you will meet most often in oven recipes.
The Celsius to Fahrenheit formula
Multiply Celsius by 9, divide by 5, then add 32. Going back, subtract 32 first, then multiply by 5 and divide by 9. Forgetting the 32 is by far the most common mistake. Unlike other unit conversions, the two temperature scales put their zero in different places, so scaling alone will never give the right answer. The proof is that 0 C is 32 F, not 0 F.
For mental arithmetic, subtract 30 from the Fahrenheit figure and halve it. 68 F becomes 38, halved to 19, against a true value of 20 C — one degree out. Going the other way, double the Celsius and add 30. When you are reading a forecast for a trip, that is close enough to decide what to pack.
A few anchors are worth memorising. 0 C is 32 F, where water freezes. 100 C is 212 F, where it boils. 37 C is 98.6 F, body temperature. And minus 40 is the single point where the two scales agree. In the kitchen, 350 F is 176.7 C and turns up in more recipes than any other figure, with 400 F at 204.4 C and 425 F at 218.3 C close behind.
Frequently asked questions
What is the formula for Fahrenheit to Celsius?
Subtract 32 first, then multiply by 5 and divide by 9. Going the other way, multiply Celsius by 9, divide by 5 and add 32. Forgetting the 32 is by far the most common mistake. The two scales put their zero in different places, so scaling alone always gives the wrong answer. The proof is that 0 C is 32 F rather than 0 F.
What is 100 F in Celsius?
100 F is about 37.8 C, close to body temperature, which is why Americans treat it as the mark of a seriously hot day. 80 F is 26.7 C, 90 F is 32.2 C, and going the other way 30 C is 86 F. For a rough figure in your head, subtract 30 from the Fahrenheit value and halve it.
What is 98.6 F in Celsius?
98.6 F is exactly 37 C, the figure usually quoted as normal body temperature. The 38 C commonly used as the fever threshold is 100.4 F, and 37.5 C, often called a low grade fever, is 99.5 F. That is why 100.4 F turns up so often in American clinical notices and travel health forms.
My recipe says 350 F. What should I set the oven to?
350 F is 176.7 C, so 180 C is the usual setting. 400 F is 204.4 C, so use 200 C. 425 F is 218.3 C, so use 220 C. And 300 F is 148.9 C, so 150 C works. Ovens vary by ten degrees or more from their dial anyway, so that rounding rarely matters.
Is it true that Celsius and Fahrenheit meet at minus 40?
Yes. Minus 40 is the single point where the two scales agree, so minus 40 C is also minus 40 F. Put it through the formula: minus 40 times 9 divided by 5 is minus 72, and adding 32 brings you back to minus 40. It is why minus 40 shows up so often on cold weather gear and antifreeze labels.
Why does the US use Fahrenheit, and how does Kelvin relate?
Fahrenheit was devised in the early 18th century and became established across the English speaking world first. The US never completed a switch to metric for everyday temperature. American science still uses Celsius and Kelvin. Kelvin is simply Celsius plus 273.15, so 0 C is 273.15 K.