Why does Fahrenheit to Celsius subtract 32?
The two scales have different zero points. Subtracting 32 aligns Fahrenheit with the Celsius freezing point before the scale ratio is applied.
Celsius to Fahrenheit and Fahrenheit to Celsius
For Celsius to Fahrenheit, multiply Celsius by 9/5 and add 32. For Fahrenheit to Celsius, subtract 32 and multiply by 5/9. Temperature conversions need an offset as well as a scale change, so they are not simple multiply-only unit conversions.
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Temperature formulas
Use the same formulas for weather, cooking, science, and reference tables.
Celsius to Fahrenheit
F = C x 9 / 5 + 32Fahrenheit to Celsius
C = (F - 32) x 5 / 9Celsius to Kelvin
K = C + 273.15Kelvin to Celsius
C = K - 273.15Popular temperature conversions
- 0 C = 32 F, useful for freezing point lookup.
- 20 C = 68 F, common room temperature.
- 37 C = 98.6 F, common body-temperature reference.
- 100 C = 212 F, water boiling point at standard pressure.
- 273.15 K = 0 C.
Temperature converter FAQ
Can Kelvin be negative?
Kelvin values below 0 are not physically meaningful on the thermodynamic scale. The converter still applies the formula to typed values, so verify scientific inputs.
