Convert Fahrenheit to Celsius
Conversion Formula
°C = (°F - 32) × 5/9To convert Fahrenheit to Celsius, use the formula above. This is the standard conversion factor used worldwide.
Conversion Table
| Fahrenheit (°F) | Celsius (°C) |
|---|---|
| 32 | -0.00 |
| 50 | 10.00 |
| 68 | 20.00 |
| 212 | 100.00 |
Why convert Fahrenheit to Celsius
A US recipe gives an oven temperature in Fahrenheit, and someone following it on a European oven that only displays Celsius needs the converted figure before baking anything. Scientific and medical contexts default to Celsius worldwide, so a Fahrenheit reading from a US thermometer needs converting before it means anything in a lab notebook or an international conversation.
Where the number comes from
The formula is C = (F - 32) x 5/9, the inverse of the Celsius to Fahrenheit relationship, affine rather than a simple ratio because the scales are offset, not just scaled differently. Subtracting 32 first is not optional: it repositions the reading onto the same zero point as Celsius before the 5/9 factor applies.
Quick reference
| 32 F | 0 C | water freezes |
| 212 F | 100 C | water boils at sea level |
| 98.6 F | 37 C | normal human body temperature |
| -40 F | -40 C | the one point where both scales agree |
| 350 F | 176.7 C | a common US baking oven temperature |
| 72 F | 22.2 C | a common US indoor thermostat setting |
Common mistakes
- Skipping the minus-32 step and just multiplying by 5/9 is the most common mistake, producing a result that looks plausible but is wrong by a fixed offset, easy to miss unless checked against a known point like 32 F freezing at 0 C.
- The other frequent error is applying this to a temperature change instead of a reading: a 20 degree Fahrenheit swing is an 11.1 degree Celsius swing using only the 5/9 factor, no subtraction involved, and the full formula gives a nonsensical answer on a difference.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert a US oven's 350 F setting to Celsius for a European oven?
Subtract 32 to get 318, multiply by 5/9 to get 176.7 C, then round to the nearest setting your oven dial actually offers, usually 175 or 180 C.
Do I subtract 32 before or after multiplying by 5/9?
Before. Subtracting first repositions the reading onto the same zero point as Celsius; multiplying first and subtracting after gives a different, wrong answer.
How do I convert a Fahrenheit temperature change rather than a specific reading?
Multiply the change by 5/9 with no subtraction at all, since the offset that connects the two scales' zero points doesn't apply to a gap between two readings.
Why do European oven dials round Celsius temperatures to numbers like 175 or 180?
Most European ovens are built with dial or digital increments in round Celsius steps, so a converted Fahrenheit figure like 176.7 C gets rounded to the nearest available setting rather than dialed in precisely.