Fahrenheit to Celsius formula
Used for weather and cooking in the US. Water freezes at 32 °F; one Fahrenheit degree is 5/9 of a Celsius degree.
Fahrenheit to Celsius chart
| Degrees Fahrenheit (°F) | Degrees Celsius (°C) |
|---|---|
| 0 | -17.7778 |
| 32 | 0 |
| 50 | 10 |
| 60 | 15.5556 |
| 68 | 20 |
| 70 | 21.1111 |
| 75 | 23.8889 |
| 80 | 26.6667 |
| 90 | 32.2222 |
| 98.6 | 37 |
| 100 | 37.7778 |
| 100.4 | 38 |
| 104 | 40 |
| 212 | 100 |
| 250 | 121.1111 |
| 300 | 148.8889 |
| 325 | 162.7778 |
| 350 | 176.6667 |
| 375 | 190.5556 |
| 400 | 204.4444 |
| 425 | 218.3333 |
| 450 | 232.2222 |
| 475 | 246.1111 |
| 500 | 260 |
Values are rounded to 4 decimal places. The converter above shows more precision.
Worked examples
A US recipe baked at 350 °F
°C = (350 − 32) × 5/9 = 176.6667
350 degrees Fahrenheit = 176.6667 degrees Celsius. The exact figure is 176.67 °C, but ovens outside the US are marked in 10 or 20 degree steps, so set 180 °C (or 160 °C with a fan).
A thermometer reading of 100.4 °F
°C = (100.4 − 32) × 5/9 = 38
100.4 degrees Fahrenheit = 38 degrees Celsius. That is exactly 38 °C, the reading most health services, including the US CDC, treat as the start of a fever.
Converting degrees Fahrenheit to degrees Celsius in real life
American recipes, thermostats, weather apps and thermometers sold in the US use Fahrenheit. If you live almost anywhere else, you need to convert before you set an oven or decide whether a child’s temperature is a fever.
US oven settings come in steps of 25 °F. Their exact Celsius values are awkward, so round to the nearest 5 or 10 on your dial:
- 325 °F is 162.8 °C, usually set as 160 °C
- 350 °F is 176.7 °C, usually set as 180 °C
- 400 °F is 204.4 °C, usually set as 200 °C
- 425 °F is 218.3 °C, usually set as 220 °C
With a fan oven, set about 20 °C lower. Always subtract the 32 before you multiply; doing it the other way round gives the wrong answer.