Temperature Conversion Calculator
Inputs
Result
| Unit | Value |
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🔹 How to Use the Temperature Conversion Calculator
Convert quickly between Celsius (°C), Fahrenheit (°F), and Kelvin (K). Results update as you type and a table shows your input converted to all three units.
- Enter a value in the Value field (e.g., 10).
- Choose the From Unit (°C, °F, or K).
- Choose the To Unit you want.
- Click Convert or just start typing — the output and the all-units table will refresh automatically.
🔹 Formulas Used
| Conversion | Formula |
|---|---|
| °C → °F | F = (C × 9/5) + 32 |
| °F → °C | C = (F − 32) × 5/9 |
| °C → K | K = C + 273.15 |
| K → °C | C = K − 273.15 |
| °F → K | K = (F − 32) × 5/9 + 273.15 |
| K → °F | F = (K − 273.15) × 9/5 + 32 |
🔹 Tips & Common Use Cases
- Weather & climate: °C ↔ °F for forecasts and records.
- Science & engineering: Kelvin is absolute temperature—useful for thermodynamics and lab work.
- Cooking: Convert oven settings between °F and °C when following recipes from other countries.
Related tools: check our Length Conversion Calculator for distances.
🔹 What Is Temperature Conversion?
Temperature conversion changes a reading from one scale to another—most commonly between Celsius (°C), Fahrenheit (°F), and Kelvin (K). Conversions are essential because weather, cooking, engineering specs, and laboratory data often use different scales depending on region or discipline.
🔹 How the Scales Differ
| Scale | Zero Point | Degree Size | Freezing / Boiling of Water | Common Uses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Celsius (°C) | 0 °C = 273.15 K | 1 °C = 1 K | 0 °C / 100 °C | Global weather, science, cooking outside the U.S. |
| Fahrenheit (°F) | 32 °F = 0 °C | 1 °F = 5/9 °C | 32 °F / 212 °F | U.S. weather and cooking |
| Kelvin (K) | 0 K = absolute zero | 1 K = 1 °C | 273.15 K / 373.15 K | Physics, chemistry, thermodynamics |
🔹 Why Convert Temperatures?
- Weather & travel: Compare forecasts across countries (°F ↔ °C).
- Cooking & appliances: Convert oven settings when following international recipes.
- Laboratory work: Report results in Kelvin for absolute temperature or in °C/°F for readability.
- Engineering specs: Material properties and safety limits may be listed in different scales.
🔹 Common Conversion Mistakes
- Forgetting that Kelvin uses no degree symbol and cannot be negative in theory (0 K is the lower bound).
- Applying a simple ratio (like length conversions) — temperature scales also require an offset (e.g., +32 or +273.15).
- Rounding too soon; keep a couple more decimals and round only the final result.
🔹 How Temperature Conversion Works
Unlike length or weight conversions, temperature conversions are not simple multipliers — they require both a scale factor and an offset. This is because Celsius, Fahrenheit, and Kelvin scales were defined differently:
To convert Celsius to Fahrenheit, first multiply by 9/5 to adjust for degree size, then add 32 because the freezing point of water is offset.
Reversing requires subtracting the offset, then applying the scaling factor.
Kelvin is directly related to Celsius with a fixed offset of +273.15.
🔹 Conversion Logic
- Start by converting any input to Celsius as a base unit.
- Apply the formula to convert Celsius into the desired target unit.
- This two-step process ensures all conversions are consistent and accurate.
Example: 300 K → °F
Step 1: 300 K − 273.15 = 26.85 °C
Step 2: (26.85 × 9/5) + 32 = 80.33 °F
🔹 Worked Examples of Temperature Conversion
These step-by-step examples use the same formulas as the calculator to show exactly how each value is obtained.
K = 10 + 273.15 = 283.15 K
°F = (10 × 9/5) + 32 = 50 °F
°C = (86 − 32) × 5/9 = 30 °C
K = 30 + 273.15 = 303.15 K
°C = 300 − 273.15 = 26.85 °C
°F = (26.85 × 9/5) + 32 = 80.33 °F
| Given | Convert To | Formula | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 212 °F (boiling water) | °C | (F − 32) × 5/9 | 100 °C |
| -40 °C | °F | (C × 9/5) + 32 | -40 °F (same point) |
| 77 °F (room temp) | K | (F − 32) × 5/9 + 273.15 | 298.15 K |
Note: Round only the final answer unless a specification requires otherwise.
🔹 Real-Life Applications of Temperature Conversion
Temperature conversion is part of everyday life across science, cooking, travel, and industry. Here are some common cases where conversions are necessary:
- Cooking & Baking: European recipes list oven temperatures in °C while U.S. ovens use °F. Example: 180 °C → 356 °F.
- Weather & Travel: Travelers from the U.S. often convert Celsius forecasts to Fahrenheit, and vice versa.
- Science & Academia: Kelvin is used in physics and chemistry for absolute temperature, while data might need reporting in °C or °F.
- Medical Applications: Thermometers may be marked in °C in Europe and °F in the U.S.—knowing the conversion helps avoid misinterpretation.
- Industry & Manufacturing: Material properties, machine specs, and safety guidelines often differ by region and use different temperature scales.
You can also explore our Area Conversion Calculator and Length Conversion Calculator for related conversions in other measurement systems.
🔹 Frequently Asked Questions
🔹 References & Sources
The following sources were used to ensure accurate temperature conversion formulas and scientific context:
| Source | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|
| National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) | Defines exact relationships between Celsius, Fahrenheit, and Kelvin. | nist.gov |
| Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM) | Official definitions of the SI system, including Kelvin as the base unit of temperature. | bipm.org |
| World Meteorological Organization (WMO) | Guidelines on reporting and converting meteorological temperature data. | wmo.int |
| Calculator.net | Reference for common user conversion flows and benchmark comparisons. | calculator.net |