Fahrenheit to Celsius Converter
Type a temperature in Fahrenheit to get Celsius. 98.6 °F, the traditional body temperature, is 37 °C.
98.6 °F =
37°C
98.6 degrees Fahrenheit is 37 degrees Celsius.
- In kelvin
- 310.15 K
How this works: Method, 3 sources, Checked against 1 worked example,
How this works
Method
Subtract 32 from the Fahrenheit reading, then multiply what is left by 5/9 (or divide it by 1.8). Taking away 32 first lines up the zero points, because 32 °F is where Celsius starts at 0; the 5/9 then shrinks the larger count of Fahrenheit degrees to the Celsius size. Full method
Sources
How it’s tested
One worked example for this page is checked by automated tests before every release: given the inputs, the tool must show the expected answer.
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Changes
- Ask understands “5 ft 9 in to cm” and “2 cups of flour in grams” and answers at once, and a decimal comma (“2,5”) reads as 2.5.
- First published: 89 everyday units across ten quantities, with 58 pages for common pairs such as cm to inches and Celsius to Fahrenheit.
How to convert Fahrenheit to Celsius
Subtract 32 from the Fahrenheit reading, then multiply what is left by 5/9 (or divide it by 1.8). Taking away 32 first lines up the zero points, because 32 °F is where Celsius starts at 0; the 5/9 then shrinks the larger count of Fahrenheit degrees to the Celsius size.
An American recipe that bakes at 350 °F: 350 − 32 = 318, and 318 ÷ 1.8 = 176.7 °C, which European ovens set as 175 or 180 °C. A thermostat at 72 °F gives 72 − 32 = 40, then 40 ÷ 1.8 = 22.2 °C.
Negative answers are normal below 32 °F. A winter morning at 14 °F is 14 − 32 = −18, divided by 1.8 is −10 °C.
°C = (°F − 32) × 5/9
- The Celsius value is t/°C = (t/°F − 32) / 1.8; a temperature difference of 1 °F is exactly 5/9 of a kelvin or Celsius degree. Source: NIST SP 811, Appendix B.8: conversion factors by unit.
How to estimate Fahrenheit to Celsius in your head
Take away 30, then halve. For 72 °F: 72 − 30 = 42, and half of 42 is 21 °C, about a degree under the exact 22.2. For 50 °F it is exact (10 °C), and for anything between freezing and a hot day it stays within a couple of degrees.
For oven settings use landmarks instead: 300 °F is about 150 °C, 350 °F about 175 °C, 400 °F about 205 °C and 450 °F about 230 °C. Each 25 °F step on the dial is roughly 14 °C.
Fahrenheit to Celsius chart
From a cold winter night to a very hot oven, with Celsius to two decimals.
| Degrees Fahrenheit (°F) | Degrees Celsius (°C) | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | -17.7778 | zero on Fahrenheit’s scale |
| 14 | -10 | |
| 32 | 0 | water freezes |
| 40 | 4.4444 | fridge |
| 50 | 10 | |
| 60 | 15.5556 | |
| 68 | 20 | |
| 72 | 22.2222 | thermostat setting |
| 80 | 26.6667 | |
| 90 | 32.2222 |
Show all 24 rowsShow fewer
| 98.6 | 37 | traditional body temperature |
| 100 | 37.7778 | |
| 145 | 62.7778 | |
| 165 | 73.8889 | USDA safe minimum for poultry |
| 212 | 100 | water boils (sea level) |
| 250 | 121.111 | |
| 300 | 148.889 | |
| 325 | 162.778 | |
| 350 | 176.667 | typical cake bake |
| 375 | 190.556 | |
| 400 | 204.444 | |
| 425 | 218.333 | |
| 450 | 232.222 | pizza and roasting |
| 500 | 260 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 98.6 °F in Celsius?
98.6 °F is exactly 37 °C: 98.6 − 32 = 66.6, and 66.6 ÷ 1.8 = 37.
What is 350 °F in Celsius for baking?
350 °F is 176.7 °C. Many recipes give a lower setting for fan (convection) ovens, so check which one the recipe means before you convert.
Why subtract 32 before multiplying?
Because the scales have different zero points. Multiplying first would also scale the 32-degree offset and give the wrong answer; only the gap above freezing should be shrunk by 5/9.