Fahrenheit to Celsius Converter
Enter the value that you want to convert Fahrenheit (°F) to Celsius (°C) or Celsius to Fahrenheit.Also written as °F to °C conversion.
1 Fahrenheit = -17.2222222 Celsius
Formula: °C = (°F − 32) × 5/9
°F to °C — Fahrenheit to Celsius
10 Fahrenheit = -12.22222 Celsius
Popular Temperature Converters:
Temperature Scale Comparison Chart
Fahrenheit to Celsius for International Communication
When an American says "it's 95 degrees outside," most of the world needs the Celsius equivalent (35°C) to understand. International news, scientific papers, and multinational company communications require this conversion. Medical thermometers sold globally show both scales — a fever starts at 100.4°F (38°C).
How Fahrenheit Relates to Celsius
What is Fahrenheit?
Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit developed this scale in 1724, setting 0°F as the temperature of a brine solution and 96°F as human body temperature.
Fahrenheit (°F) remains the primary temperature scale in the United States, the Bahamas, and a few other countries. Water freezes at 32°F and boils at 212°F. Americans use it for weather reports, cooking (oven temperatures: 350°F, 400°F, 450°F), thermostat settings, and body temperature (98.6°F normal). The scale offers finer resolution for weather — the 0-100°F range covers most human-habitable temperatures.
Understanding the Celsius
The Celsius scale was proposed by Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius in 1742, originally with 0° as the boiling point and 100° as freezing — later inverted.
Celsius (°C) is the most widely used temperature scale globally, adopted by every country except the United States for everyday use. It sets water's freezing point at 0°C and boiling point at 100°C at standard atmospheric pressure. The scale is used in weather forecasts, cooking, medicine (normal body temperature ≈ 37°C), scientific research, and industrial processes worldwide. Since 1954, it has been defined relative to the Kelvin scale: °C = K − 273.15.
Temperature Scales in Context
Temperature conversion is one of the few non-linear unit conversions people encounter daily. Celsius dominates scientific work and most countries, Fahrenheit remains standard in the US for weather and cooking, Kelvin is required in thermodynamics and gas law calculations, and Rankine appears in some US engineering applications. Converting between these scales requires formulas rather than simple multiplication.
Fahrenheit to Celsius metric conversion table
| 0.01 °F | = | -17.77222 °C |
| 0.1 °F | = | -17.72222 °C |
| 1 °F | = | -17.22222 °C |
| 2 °F | = | -16.66667 °C |
| 3 °F | = | -16.11111 °C |
| 4 °F | = | -15.55556 °C |
| 5 °F | = | -15.00000 °C |
| 6 °F | = | -14.44444 °C |
| 7 °F | = | -13.88889 °C |
| 8 °F | = | -13.33333 °C |
| 9 °F | = | -12.77778 °C |
| 10 °F | = | -12.22222 °C |
| 11 °F | = | -11.66667 °C |
| 12 °F | = | -11.11111 °C |
| 13 °F | = | -10.55556 °C |
| 14 °F | = | -10.00000 °C |
| 15 °F | = | -9.44444 °C |
| 16 °F | = | -8.88889 °C |
| 17 °F | = | -8.33333 °C |
| 18 °F | = | -7.77778 °C |
| 19 °F | = | -7.22222 °C |
| 20 °F | = | -6.66667 °C |
| 30 °F | = | -1.11111 °C |
| 40 °F | = | 4.44444 °C |
| 50 °F | = | 10.00000 °C |
| 60 °F | = | 15.55556 °C |
| 70 °F | = | 21.11111 °C |
| 80 °F | = | 26.66667 °C |
| 90 °F | = | 32.22222 °C |
| 100 °F | = | 37.77778 °C |
| 200 °F | = | 93.33333 °C |
| 300 °F | = | 148.88889 °C |
| 400 °F | = | 204.44444 °C |
| 500 °F | = | 260.00000 °C |
| 600 °F | = | 315.55556 °C |
| 700 °F | = | 371.11111 °C |
| 800 °F | = | 426.66667 °C |
| 900 °F | = | 482.22222 °C |
| 1000 °F | = | 537.77778 °C |
How to Convert °F to °C (Fahrenheit to Celsius)?
We can convert Fahrenheit to Celsius by using an example.
Example:
Convert 20 Fahrenheit to Celsius?
We know 1 Fahrenheit = -17.2222222 Celsius; 1 Celsius = 33.8000000 Fahrenheit.
20 Fahrenheit = ___°C
20 × -17.2222222 = -6.66667 °C (we know 1 Fahrenheit = -17.2222222 Celsius)
Answer:
20 Fahrenheit = -6.66667 Celsius
Converting Fahrenheit to Celsius: Complete Method
To convert Fahrenheit to Celsius, you reverse the Celsius-to-Fahrenheit formula. First subtract the 32-degree offset, then scale down by multiplying by 5/9 (since Celsius degrees are larger than Fahrenheit degrees).
- Start with the temperature in Fahrenheit (°F).
- Subtract 32 from the Fahrenheit value.
- Multiply the result by 5/9 (or divide by 1.8).
- The answer is the temperature in Celsius (°C).
Fahrenheit to Celsius Conversion Table
Reference values for interpreting US weather forecasts and medical temperatures:
| Fahrenheit | Celsius |
|---|---|
| 32 °F | 0 °C |
| 50 °F | 10 °C |
| 68 °F | 20 °C |
| 77 °F | 25 °C |
| 86 °F | 30 °C |
| 98.6 °F | 37 °C |
| 100.4 °F | 38 °C |
| 104 °F | 40 °C |
| 212 °F | 100 °C |
Solved Examples: Fahrenheit to Celsius
Question 1: Convert 72 °F (typical indoor temperature) to Celsius.
Solution:
Formula: °C = (°F − 32) × 5/9
°C = (72 − 32) × 5/9
°C = 40 × 5/9
°C = 200/9
Answer: 72 °F = 22.22 °C
Question 2: A patient has a temperature of 101.3 °F. What is it in Celsius?
Solution:
°C = (101.3 − 32) × 5/9
°C = 69.3 × 5/9
°C = 346.5/9
Answer: 101.3 °F = 38.5 °C (indicates a fever)
Question 3: The forecast says 95 °F. Convert to Celsius.
Solution:
°C = (95 − 32) × 5/9
°C = 63 × 5/9
°C = 315/9
Answer: 95 °F = 35 °C
Question 4: Convert 14 °F (a cold winter day in the US) to Celsius.
Solution:
°C = (14 − 32) × 5/9
°C = (−18) × 5/9
°C = −90/9
Answer: 14 °F = −10 °C
Question 5: An oven is set to 350 °F. What is the Celsius equivalent?
Solution:
°C = (350 − 32) × 5/9
°C = 318 × 5/9
°C = 1590/9
Answer: 350 °F ≈ 176.7 °C
Test Your Understanding
Try solving these on your own to test your understanding:
- Convert 60 °F to Celsius. (Answer: 15.56 °C)
- What is 0 °F in Celsius? (Answer: −17.78 °C)
- A fever reads 102.2 °F. What is it in °C? (Answer: 39 °C)
- Convert 40 °F to Celsius. (Answer: 4.44 °C)
- What is 212 °F in Celsius? (Answer: 100 °C)
Interpreting US Weather Forecasts from Abroad
If you live outside the US and encounter Fahrenheit temperatures, use these benchmarks: 30s °F means freezing; 50s °F is cool jacket weather; 70s °F is pleasant; 90s °F is very hot; above 100 °F is dangerous heat. US weather services also report wind chill and heat index in Fahrenheit, so knowing the conversion helps you plan for travel or interpret news reports.
Medical Temperature Readings
In the US, clinical thermometers display in Fahrenheit. Normal body temperature is 98.6 °F (37 °C). A temperature of 100.4 °F (38 °C) or higher is generally considered a fever. For children, any reading above 100 °F warrants attention. Understanding Fahrenheit-to-Celsius conversion is critical for healthcare workers trained in metric countries who practice in the US.
The 32-Degree Offset Explained
The number 32 in the formula comes from the fact that water freezes at 32 °F but 0 °C. Daniel Fahrenheit originally set 0 °F at the coldest temperature he could reliably produce in his lab (a brine ice mixture) and 96 °F as body temperature. The modern scale was later adjusted to fix the boiling point of water at exactly 212 °F, which placed freezing at 32 °F — creating the 180-degree span between freezing and boiling.
Key Takeaways
- Formula: °C = (°F − 32) × 5/9.
- Subtract 32 first, then scale by 5/9.
- Normal body temperature: 98.6 °F = 37 °C.
- A fever starts at about 100.4 °F (38 °C).
- Quick estimate: subtract 30, divide by 2.
- There are 180 Fahrenheit degrees between water freezing and boiling, compared to 100 Celsius degrees.
Fahrenheit to Celsius Conversion Formula
°C = (°F − 32) × 5/9
1 Fahrenheit = -17.2222222 Celsius
1 Celsius = 33.8000000 Fahrenheit
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Celsius are in 1 Fahrenheit?
1 Fahrenheit equals -17.22222 Celsius. Note: Temperature conversion uses a formula, not simple multiplication.
How do I convert Fahrenheit to Celsius?
Use the conversion formula shown above. For example, -15.00 Celsius equals 5 Fahrenheit. Temperature scales have different zero points, so a formula (not simple multiplication) is required.
How do I convert Celsius to Fahrenheit?
Use the reverse formula. 1 Celsius equals 33.80000 Fahrenheit. See the formula section above for the exact equation.
What is 10 Fahrenheit in Celsius?
10 Fahrenheit is equal to -12.22222 Celsius.
What is 100 Fahrenheit in Celsius?
100 Fahrenheit is equal to 37.77778 Celsius.