Fahrenheit to Celsius Converter (°F to °C)
°F to °C Converter
Convert Fahrenheit (°F) to Celsius (°C) instantly with this free online temperature converter. Fahrenheit is widely used in the United States, while Celsius (historically known as Centigrade) is the universal standard for science, medicine, and weather reporting across nearly all other countries. Because the two scales have different zero baselines and degree intervals, converting between them requires both subtraction and division. This calculator handles the exact math instantly for cooking recipes, clinical thermometer readings, laboratory experiments, and travel weather.
How to use this converter
- Enter the temperature in degrees Fahrenheit into the Value field.
- Confirm °F is selected in the “From” menu and °C is selected in the “To” menu.
- The converted temperature in degrees Celsius displays instantly.
- Use the swap function or click the reverse link below to calculate Celsius to Fahrenheit.
Fahrenheit to Celsius conversion formula
To convert Fahrenheit to Celsius, first subtract 32 (to align the zero point with the freezing point of water), then divide the result by 1.8 (or multiply by 5/9).
Standard Formula:
°C = (°F – 32) / 1.8
Fractional Formula:
°C = (°F – 32) × 5/9
Reverse Formula:
°F = (°C × 1.8) + 32
Quick mental math trick for travelers
If you need a fast ballpark estimate of weather in Celsius without opening your phone: subtract 30 from the Fahrenheit reading and divide by 2. For example:
- 70°F weather: (70 – 30) = 40, divided by 2 = 20°C (exact is 21.1°C).
- 50°F weather: (50 – 30) = 20, divided by 2 = 10°C (exact is 10.0°C).
- 86°F weather: (86 – 30) = 56, divided by 2 = 28°C (exact is 30.0°C).
Oven temperature baking reference
Cooking recipes frequently require converting US oven temperatures into metric settings for European convection ovens:
- 300°F (Slow baking): (300 – 32) / 1.8 = 149°C (approx. 150°C)
- 325°F (Gentle roasting): (325 – 32) / 1.8 = 163°C (approx. 160°C)
- 350°F (Standard baking benchmark): (350 – 32) / 1.8 = 177°C (approx. 175°C to 180°C)
- 375°F (Crisp baking): (375 – 32) / 1.8 = 191°C (approx. 190°C)
- 400°F (Roasting meats and vegetables): (400 – 32) / 1.8 = 204°C (approx. 200°C)
- 425°F (Pizza crust and puff pastry): (425 – 32) / 1.8 = 218°C (approx. 220°C)
- 450°F (High heat searing): (450 – 32) / 1.8 = 232°C (approx. 230°C)
Fahrenheit to Celsius conversion table
| Fahrenheit (°F) | Celsius (°C) | Everyday Context |
|---|---|---|
| -40°F | -40.0°C | Exact equal point of both temperature scales |
| 0°F | -17.8°C | Zero-point benchmark on traditional Fahrenheit scale |
| 14°F | -10.0°C | Cold sub-freezing winter weather |
| 32°F | 0.0°C | Water freezes to ice at sea level |
| 50°F | 10.0°C | Cool spring morning |
| 68°F | 20.0°C | Comfortable climate-controlled room temperature |
| 72°F | 22.2°C | Ideal residential thermostat setting |
| 77°F | 25.0°C | Pleasant warm summer day |
| 86°F | 30.0°C | Hot beach weather |
| 98.6°F | 37.0°C | Normal clinical human body temperature |
| 100.4°F | 38.0°C | Medical threshold for clinical fever |
| 104.0°F | 40.0°C | Dangerous heatwave / high clinical fever |
| 212.0°F | 100.0°C | Water boils at sea level pressure |
| 350.0°F | 176.7°C | Standard oven temperature for cookies and cakes |
| 400.0°F | 204.4°C | High-heat oven roasting temperature |
Frequently asked questions
Why do you subtract 32 when converting Fahrenheit to Celsius?
The Fahrenheit scale sets 32° as the freezing point of water, whereas Celsius sets water’s freezing point at 0°. Subtracting 32 resets the zero point so the two scales share the same starting baseline before adjusting for degree step size.
What is normal human body temperature in Celsius?
Normal body temperature is generally cited as 98.6°F, which converts to exactly 37.0°C. In modern medical practice, normal body temperature typically ranges from 97.0°F to 99.0°F (36.1°C to 37.2°C).
How do I convert Fahrenheit to Kelvin?
First convert Fahrenheit to Celsius using (°F – 32) / 1.8, then add 273.15 to reach absolute Kelvin. For instance, 32°F converts to 0°C, which equals 273.15 K.
Why are Celsius degrees larger than Fahrenheit degrees?
Between the freezing and boiling points of water there are 100 degrees Celsius but 180 degrees Fahrenheit (212 – 32 = 180). Therefore, 180/100 = 1.8, making each Celsius degree 1.8 times larger than each Fahrenheit degree.
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