Celsius to Fahrenheit Converter — Convert °C to °F (Exact: °F = °C × 9/5 + 32)
Fast, accurate Celsius (°C) to Fahrenheit (°F) converter using the exact formula °F = °C × 9/5 + 32. Built for cooking, weather, HVAC, science labs, travel, and education.
Exact identity: °F = °C × 9/5 + 32. Browse more in our temperature metric tools collection.
About Celsius to Fahrenheit Conversion
Celsius (°C) dominates science, medicine, and most everyday usage worldwide. Fahrenheit (°F) remains the standard in the United States and appears in many cookbooks, oven dials, HVAC thermostats, and public weather feeds. Converting °C → °F keeps your readings consistent across regions and devices. If you’re comparing multiple temperatures or preparing content for a North American audience, aligning on °F improves clarity without changing the underlying measurement.
Celsius to Fahrenheit Formula
Exact relationship
Use the scale-alignment equation:
°F = °C × 9/5 + 32Example:
30 °C × 9/5 = 54; 54 + 32 = 86 °FRelated Temperature Converters
What is Celsius?
The Celsius scale anchors to water’s phase changes: 0 °C at freezing and 100 °C at boiling (standard pressure). Its 100-step interval makes mental math intuitive for lab work, climate science, and everyday life. Most thermometers outside North America display °C by default.
What is Fahrenheit?
Fahrenheit sets 32 °F for water’s freezing point and 212 °F for boiling, giving 180 equal intervals between them. The scale’s granularity often feels “finer” for daily weather in the 0–100 °F range, which is one reason it persists in consumer contexts across the U.S.
Step-by-Step: Converting °C to °F
- Multiply the Celsius value by 9/5 (or 1.8).
- Add 32 to shift baselines.
- Round to the precision you need (whole degrees for weather; decimals for lab/HVAC tuning).
Example walkthroughs:
Room temperature: 22 °C × 1.8 + 32 = 71.6 °F
Oven setting: 180 °C × 1.8 + 32 = 356 °F
Body temperature: 37 °C × 1.8 + 32 = 98.6 °FWhy Convert °C to °F?
- 🍽️ Cooking & baking: Match international recipes to local oven dials and thermometer readouts.
- 🌦️ Weather & travel: Read forecasts and advisories in the format your audience expects.
- 🏠 HVAC/thermostats: Align set points and service notes across °C and °F documentation.
- 🧪 Education & science: Present results in both scales without losing precision.
Common Conversions
Everyday checks for kitchens, classrooms, and weather desks
| °C | °F |
|---|---|
| 0 | 32 |
| 10 | 50 |
| 20 | 68 |
| 25 | 77 |
| 30 | 86 |
| 37 | 98.6 |
| 100 | 212 |
Quick Reference Table
| °F | °C |
|---|---|
| 32 | 0 |
| 68 | 20 |
| 86 | 30 |
| 98.6 | 37 |
| 122 | 50 |
| 212 | 100 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the exact formula for converting Celsius to Fahrenheit?
Use °F = °C × 9/5 + 32. This comes from aligning the fixed points of water on both scales (0 °C ↔ 32 °F; 100 °C ↔ 212 °F) and the 180-degree Fahrenheit interval between them.
How do I convert Fahrenheit back to Celsius?
Use °C = (°F − 32) × 5/9. Both formulas are exact; round only at the display layer for readability.
Why do some recipes list oven temperatures in °F and others in °C?
North American cookbooks and appliances typically use Fahrenheit, while most other countries use Celsius. Converting keeps bake profiles consistent across ovens and regions.
Is 20 °C really 68 °F?
Yes. 20 × 9/5 = 36, 36 + 32 = 68 °F. Room temperature is often given as ~20–22 °C (68–72 °F).
What precision should I use when converting temperatures?
Weather and household values usually display as whole degrees. Lab work may keep one or two decimals depending on instrument resolution.
Are Celsius and Centigrade the same?
Yes. 'Centigrade' is an older term for the Celsius scale; modern usage prefers 'Celsius (°C)'.
Do I need to convert absolute temperatures differently?
If you’re working with absolute thermodynamics, use Kelvin for formulas and then convert the result to a reporting scale if needed. For routine temperatures, the standard °C↔°F equations are correct.
Why does the conversion add 32 after scaling by 9/5?
Because the zero points differ: 0 °C aligns with 32 °F. The multiplier adjusts interval size; the +32 shifts the baseline.
What are common Celsius values in Fahrenheit for daily life?
0 °C = 32 °F (freezing), 10 °C = 50 °F (cool), 20 °C = 68 °F (mild), 30 °C = 86 °F (hot), 37 °C = 98.6 °F (average body temperature).
Can I approximate quickly without a calculator?
A handy mental rule: °F ≈ (°C × 2) + 30. It’s not exact but close for everyday ranges. Use the precise formula in this tool for accuracy.
Tips for Working with °C & °F
- For oven conversions, cross-check with your appliance’s manual; some models use step sizes that prefer whole °F.
- In lab notes, record the original measurement scale and instrument resolution; convert only in your published results layer.
- When communicating to mixed audiences, include both °C and °F to avoid back-and-forth clarifications.
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