°F to °C Converter
Convert Fahrenheit temperatures into Celsius values
Fahrenheit to Celsius FAQ
How do you convert Fahrenheit to Celsius exactly?
The standard formula is: °C = (°F − 32) × 5⁄9. First you subtract 32 from the Fahrenheit temperature, then you multiply by 5/9. For example, 68 °F becomes (68 − 32) × 5/9 = 20 °C. This calculator applies that °F to °C formula for you and formats the result in a neat line you can read at a glance or copy into homework, reports or notes.
Why is there a “minus 32” in the formula?
The Fahrenheit and Celsius scales have different zero points as well as different step sizes. Water freezes at 32 °F but at 0 °C. Subtracting 32 shifts the Fahrenheit number so that the freezing point lines up with zero in Celsius. Multiplying by 5/9 then adjusts the size of the degree step so that 180 °F between freezing and boiling (32 °F to 212 °F) matches 100 °C between 0 °C and 100 °C.
What is 32 °F, 68 °F and 100 °F in Celsius?
Some common reference points are:
- 32 °F = 0 °C (water freezes)
- 68 °F ≈ 20 °C (a typical room temperature)
- 86 °F ≈ 30 °C (a hot summer day)
- 100 °F ≈ 37.8 °C (close to normal body temperature)
The calculator uses the exact formula for any value you type, including negative temperatures and decimals.
Can I use this for weather apps and travel?
Yes. Weather websites and apps often let you switch between °F and °C, but not all do. If you are travelling between countries that use different scales, a quick Fahrenheit to Celsius conversion helps you understand local forecasts, hotel descriptions and climate guides. You can quickly check what “high of 77 °F” means if you normally think in °C.
Is this suitable for oven and cooking temperatures?
It is. Many recipes from the US use oven settings in °F, while European or international cookbooks may show °C. This tool gives accurate °F to °C conversions so you can match fan ovens, gas marks and electric ovens to the recipe’s original intent. Remember that real ovens can run a little hot or cold, so the converter gives the target temperature and you can adjust in practice with your own experience or an oven thermometer.
Does this work for science and lab calculations?
Yes. The Fahrenheit and Celsius scales are both linear, so the same (°F − 32) × 5/9 formula works from everyday ranges up to very high and very low temperatures in physics or chemistry problems. For work that needs absolute temperatures, you may convert to Celsius first and then to Kelvin using K = °C + 273.15, or go directly to a dedicated Kelvin converter page.
How many decimal places of °C do I need?
For weather, comfort and oven settings, one decimal place or even whole degrees are usually enough. For example, 68 °F is often rounded to 20 °C rather than 20.0 °C. In lab reports or engineering work, you may want more digits. The calculator keeps the full precision of the formula and then formats the result in a readable way so you can choose how to round for your situation.
From everyday Fahrenheit readings to clear Celsius values
This °F to °C converter is designed for the common situation where you see a temperature in Fahrenheit but think in Celsius. That might be a weather forecast from a US site, an oven dial in °F, or a reference temperature in a science or HVAC guide. Instead of remembering the formula or doing mental arithmetic, you type the Fahrenheit value, tap convert, and get a clean line such as “68 °F = 20 °C”.
1. Simple one-box interface
The layout is intentionally minimal: one field for the Fahrenheit input and a result card underneath. You can enter whole numbers like 72 °F for room temperature or decimals such as 98.6 °F for body temperature. The converter immediately applies the (°F − 32) × 5/9 relationship and prints the Celsius result with sensible formatting that works on phones, tablets and desktops.
If you regularly think in Celsius and sometimes need the reverse conversion, the “Swap Units” button on the form takes you straight to the dedicated °C to °F page so both directions stay just one click apart.
2. Exact linear relationship between the scales
The Fahrenheit and Celsius scales are both linear temperature scales with fixed points for the freezing and boiling of water at standard pressure. Fahrenheit sets these at 32 °F and 212 °F, while Celsius uses 0 °C and 100 °C. The distance between these reference points is 180 °F versus 100 °C, which leads directly to the 5/9 factor in the formula. This page uses that exact relationship so your results align with textbooks, standards and scientific calculators.
When you need to move beyond °F and °C to Kelvin or other scales, the temperature conversion calculator helps you connect multiple temperature units in one place.
3. Common °F to °C values at a glance
Here are some quick reference points that match what the calculator produces. They are handy when you want to sanity-check a reading or build intuition for the scales:
| Fahrenheit (°F) | Celsius (°C) |
|---|---|
| 32 °F | 0 °C |
| 50 °F | 10 °C |
| 68 °F | 20 °C |
| 77 °F | 25 °C |
| 86 °F | 30 °C |
| 95 °F | 35 °C |
| 104 °F | 40 °C |
| 212 °F | 100 °C |
A rough mental rule is to subtract 30 and divide by two. For example, 86 °F → (86 − 30) / 2 ≈ 28 °C, which is close to the exact 30 °C. This converter replaces those rough estimates with precise values whenever you need accuracy for planning, cooking or coursework.
4. Where the °F to °C converter shines
You will most often reach for this tool in situations like:
- Weather and travel — interpret forecasts from countries that publish temperatures in Fahrenheit when you think in Celsius.
- Cooking and baking — match oven dial settings in °F with recipes written in °C or vice versa.
- HVAC and building work — align thermostat set points, comfort ranges and equipment specs across °F and °C documentation.
- Science and homework — convert temperatures in textbook problems or lab notes that still use Fahrenheit.
- Everyday comparisons — understand what “90 °F outside” or “a 40 °F fridge” feel like in Celsius terms.
Because it is based on the official linear relationship between the two scales, you can return to this Fahrenheit to Celsius converter any time and get consistent, predictable results that work for everyday life and more technical use cases.
References and further reading on Fahrenheit and Celsius
These references explain how the Fahrenheit and Celsius temperature scales are defined and used:
- Fahrenheit — describes the Fahrenheit scale, its history and reference points.
- Celsius — explains the Celsius scale, its relation to Kelvin and common usage worldwide.
- SI Units — Temperature (NIST) — gives official background on temperature units and the Kelvin/Celsius relationship.
For critical scientific, industrial or regulatory work, always follow your organisation’s official conversion and rounding rules when moving between Fahrenheit, Celsius and Kelvin.