Complete Guide to Temperature Conversions: Celsius, Fahrenheit, and Kelvin

Temperature conversion is essential in science, cooking, weather forecasting, and international communication. This guide covers the three main temperature scales and how to convert between them.

The Three Temperature Scales

Celsius (°C)

The Celsius scale is used worldwide and is based on the freezing point (0°C) and boiling point (100°C) of water at standard atmospheric pressure.

Fahrenheit (°F)

Primarily used in the United States, the Fahrenheit scale sets water's freezing point at 32°F and boiling point at 212°F.

Kelvin (K)

The Kelvin scale is used in scientific applications and starts at absolute zero (-273.15°C). It uses the same degree size as Celsius.

Conversion Formulas

Celsius to Fahrenheit

°F = (°C × 9/5) + 32

Example: 25°C = (25 × 9/5) + 32 = 77°F

Fahrenheit to Celsius

°C = (°F - 32) × 5/9

Example: 77°F = (77 - 32) × 5/9 = 25°C

Celsius to Kelvin

K = °C + 273.15

Example: 25°C = 25 + 273.15 = 298.15K

Practical Applications

• Cooking: Recipe conversions between countries
• Weather: Understanding international forecasts
• Science: Laboratory measurements and calculations
• Medicine: Body temperature monitoring

Try our temperature converter for instant and accurate conversions between all three scales.