Temperature Converter
8 units
Convert between Celsius, Fahrenheit, Kelvin, and other temperature scales with precision and ease.
Temperature Conversion
Enter a temperature value and select the units to convert between different temperature scales.
Common Temperatures
Reference points for temperature conversion
Absolute Zero
Coldest possible temperature
-273.15°C
-459.7°F
Water Freezing
Water turns to ice
0°C
32.0°F
Room Temperature
Comfortable indoor temperature
20°C
68.0°F
Human Body
Normal body temperature
37°C
98.6°F
Water Boiling
Water turns to steam
100°C
212.0°F
Temperature Scales
Understanding different temperature measurements
Celsius (°C)
Water freezes at 0°C, boils at 100°C
Fahrenheit (°F)
Water freezes at 32°F, boils at 212°F
Kelvin (K)
Absolute temperature scale, 0K = -273.15°C
Complete Temperature Conversion Guide
Understanding temperature measurement systems and professional applications
Professional Applications
HVAC and Climate Control
- • Building temperature management systems
- • Energy efficiency calculations
- • Thermostat programming and calibration
- • Heat pump performance optimization
Medical and Healthcare
- • Patient temperature monitoring
- • Medical equipment calibration
- • Vaccine and medication storage
- • Laboratory sample preservation
Food Safety and Cooking
- • Food safety temperature guidelines
- • Cooking temperature conversions
- • Food storage and preservation
- • Restaurant kitchen operations
Scientific Research
- • Laboratory experiment conditions
- • Chemical reaction temperature control
- • Materials testing and analysis
- • Environmental monitoring studies
Weather and Meteorology
- • Weather forecasting and reporting
- • Climate data analysis
- • Agricultural weather monitoring
- • Aviation weather services
Industrial Process Control
- • Manufacturing process optimization
- • Quality control temperature monitoring
- • Chemical plant operations
- • Power plant efficiency management
Essential Conversion Factors
Precise Conversion Formulas
°F to °C: (°F - 32) × 5/9
°C to °F: (°C × 9/5) + 32
°C to K: °C + 273.15
K to °C: K - 273.15
°F to K: (°F - 32) × 5/9 + 273.15
K to °F: (K - 273.15) × 9/5 + 32
Quick Mental Conversions
°C to °F (approximate): Double and add 30
°F to °C (approximate): Subtract 30 and halve
Room temperature: ~20°C = ~68°F
Body temperature: 37°C = 98.6°F
Freezing point: 0°C = 32°F
Boiling point: 100°C = 212°F
Scientific Applications
Absolute zero: -273.15°C = -459.67°F = 0K
Triple point of water: 0.01°C = 273.16K
Standard temperature: 0°C = 273.15K
Room temperature (lab): 25°C = 298.15K
Human body: 37°C = 310.15K
Water boiling (1 atm): 100°C = 373.15K
Engineering Applications
Steel melting point: ~1500°C = ~2732°F
Aluminum melting: 660°C = 1220°F
Lead melting: 327°C = 621°F
Copper melting: 1085°C = 1985°F
Glass transition: 500-600°C = 932-1112°F
Concrete curing: 10-32°C = 50-90°F
Precision and Accuracy Tips
When to Use Different Scales
Celsius: Daily weather, cooking, general science
Fahrenheit: US weather, medical (body temp), HVAC
Kelvin: Scientific calculations, thermodynamics
Rankine: Engineering (US), thermodynamic cycles
Historical scales: Specialized research only
Precision Requirements
Weather reporting: ±1°C or ±2°F
Medical applications: ±0.1°C or ±0.2°F
Scientific research: ±0.01°C or better
Industrial processes: ±0.1-1°C depending on application
Food safety: ±1°C for critical temperatures
Best Practices
Calibration: Regular calibration of instruments
Environment: Consider ambient conditions
Response time: Allow for thermal equilibrium
Significant figures: Match precision to application
Documentation: Record measurement conditions
Common Measurement Errors
Thermal lag: Insufficient equilibration time
Heat conduction: Probe affecting measurement
Ambient effects: Environmental temperature changes
Calibration drift: Uncalibrated instruments
Scale confusion: Using wrong temperature scale
Historical Context
Development of Temperature Scales
Fahrenheit (1724): Daniel Fahrenheit, based on brine freezing
Celsius (1742): Anders Celsius, water-based scale
Kelvin (1848): Lord Kelvin, absolute temperature
Rankine (1859): William Rankine, absolute Fahrenheit
Earlier scales: Rømer, Newton, Réaumur, Delisle
Regional Usage Patterns
Celsius: Most of the world, scientific community
Fahrenheit: United States, some Caribbean nations
Kelvin: Scientific research worldwide
Rankine: US engineering applications
Historical scales: Rarely used today
Scientific Importance
Absolute zero: Fundamental limit of temperature
Thermodynamics: Kelvin essential for calculations
Kinetic theory: Temperature relates to molecular motion
Phase transitions: Critical temperatures for materials
Quantum effects: Ultra-low temperature phenomena
Modern Applications
Space exploration: Extreme temperature management
Superconductivity: Ultra-low temperature physics
Climate science: Global temperature monitoring
Materials science: High-temperature applications
Cryogenics: Ultra-cold temperature applications
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between Celsius and Fahrenheit?
Celsius is based on water's freezing (0°C) and boiling (100°C) points. Fahrenheit uses 32°F for freezing and 212°F for boiling water, with a different scale division.
When should I use Kelvin?
Kelvin is used in scientific calculations as it's an absolute temperature scale starting from absolute zero (-273.15°C). It's essential for thermodynamics and physics calculations.
How accurate are these conversions?
Our conversions use standard formulas and are accurate to multiple decimal places for professional and scientific use. The precision is suitable for most applications.
What is absolute zero?
Absolute zero is the coldest possible temperature (-273.15°C, -459.67°F, or 0K) where all molecular motion theoretically stops. It's the foundation of the Kelvin scale.
Why are there so many temperature scales?
Different scales were developed for different purposes and regions. Celsius is intuitive for daily use, Fahrenheit offers finer resolution for weather, and Kelvin is essential for scientific calculations.
Which temperature scale is most accurate?
All scales are equally accurate when properly calibrated. The choice depends on application: Kelvin for science, Celsius for most international use, Fahrenheit in the US.