Reviewed & updated for 2026 by Rakesh Choudhary, PhD · How we calculate
Common reference temperatures
| Reference | °F | °C | K |
|---|---|---|---|
| Absolute zero | -459.67 | -273.15 | 0 |
| Water freezes | 32 | 0 | 273.15 |
| Cool room | 68 | 20 | 293.15 |
| Comfortable room | 72 | 22.2 | 295.4 |
| Body temperature | 98.6 | 37 | 310.15 |
| Hot summer day | 95 | 35 | 308.15 |
| Hot summer extreme | 110 | 43.3 | 316.5 |
| Water boils (sea level) | 212 | 100 | 373.15 |
| Oven (bread) | 350 | 176.7 | 449.8 |
| Pizza oven | 500 | 260 | 533.15 |
| Surface of sun | ~10,000 | ~5,538 | ~5,811 |
Conversion formulas
- Fahrenheit to Celsius: C = (F − 32) × 5/9
- Celsius to Fahrenheit: F = (C × 9/5) + 32
- Celsius to Kelvin: K = C + 273.15
- Kelvin to Celsius: C = K − 273.15
- Fahrenheit to Kelvin: K = (F − 32) × 5/9 + 273.15
- Fahrenheit to Rankine: R = F + 459.67
Oven temperature conversions
Recipes from the UK and Europe give oven temperatures in Celsius or gas marks. These are the standard US Fahrenheit equivalents bakers use (rounded to the conventional oven settings):
| Oven | °C | °F | Gas mark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cool | 140 °C | 275 °F | 1 |
| Slow | 150 °C | 300 °F | 2 |
| Moderate | 180 °C | 350 °F | 4 |
| Mod. hot | 200 °C | 400 °F | 6 |
| Hot | 220 °C | 425 °F | 7 |
| Very hot | 240 °C | 475 °F | 9 |
Fan (convection) ovens usually run about 20 °C / ~25 °F cooler than the conventional figure, so set a fan oven to roughly 160 °C for a 180 °C recipe.
FAQs
How do you convert Fahrenheit to Celsius?
Formula: C = (F − 32) × 5/9. Example: 100°F = (100 − 32) × 5/9 = 68 × 0.5555 = 37.78°C. So 100°F is roughly body temperature plus a degree.
How do you convert Celsius to Fahrenheit?
Formula: F = (C × 9/5) + 32. Example: 30°C = (30 × 1.8) + 32 = 54 + 32 = 86°F. So 30°C feels like a hot summer day.
What is 100 Fahrenheit in Celsius?
100°F equals 37.78°C, roughly the same as human body temperature (98.6°F or 37°C). When weather reaches 100°F, it's a heat warning day in most US climates.
What is 32 Fahrenheit in Celsius?
32°F equals exactly 0°C, the freezing point of water. The Fahrenheit and Celsius scales meet at -40 degrees: -40°F = -40°C.
What is Kelvin?
Kelvin (K) is the SI unit of absolute temperature, used in science. 0 Kelvin is absolute zero (-273.15°C or -459.67°F), the theoretical lowest possible temperature. Conversion: K = C + 273.15. Water freezes at 273.15 K and boils at 373.15 K at sea level.
Why does the US use Fahrenheit?
Historical inertia. Fahrenheit was developed in 1724 and was the first widely-adopted temperature scale, used throughout the British Empire including the American colonies. While Britain switched to Celsius in 1962, the US never officially converted. Daniel Fahrenheit's scale has some practical merits: 0°F to 100°F covers most ambient temperatures people experience.
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