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Temperature Converter

Convert a temperature between Celsius, Fahrenheit, Kelvin and Rankine, with body, incubator and storage temperatures as common checks and absolute zero guarded.

Formula

TK=T∘C+273.15T_{\mathrm{K}} = T_{^\circ\mathrm{C}} + 273.15
T∘F=T∘C×95+32T_{^\circ\mathrm{F}} = T_{^\circ\mathrm{C}}\times\dfrac{9}{5} + 32
T∘R=TK×95T_{^\circ\mathrm{R}} = T_{\mathrm{K}}\times\dfrac{9}{5}
∘C^\circ\mathrm{C}
degrees Celsius
∘F^\circ\mathrm{F}
degrees Fahrenheit
KK
kelvin, the SI unit of thermodynamic temperature

How it works

The Celsius scale is the kelvin scale shifted so that 0 °C is 273.15 K, and the Fahrenheit scale is a stretched and shifted version of the Celsius scale, with 1 °C equal to 1.8 °F. Converting between them is therefore a scaling and an offset.

A temperature and a temperature difference convert differently: a difference of 1 °C is a difference of 1 K or 1.8 °F, with no offset. The tool rejects values below absolute zero.

Worked example

Normal body temperature, 37 °C.

  1. °F = 37 × 9/5 + 32 = 98.6 °F.
  2. K = 37 + 273.15 = 310.15 K.

37 °C is 98.6 °F and 310.15 K.

These are the values the calculator opens with, so you can check its output against this example.

Assumptions

  • The values are temperatures, not temperature differences.
  • Celsius is taken as defined from the kelvin, 0 °C = 273.15 K.

Common mistakes

  • Applying the offset to a temperature difference.
  • Using 273 instead of 273.15 where precision matters.
  • Forgetting that −40 °C and −40 °F are the same.

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