How to convert degrees Fahrenheit to degrees Celsius
The two scales have different zero points and different step sizes, so the conversion is a formula rather than a single multiplication:
Worked example: 77 °F → (77 − 32) × 5/9 = 25 °C.
Quick mental estimate: Subtract 30 and halve it: 70 °F → 20 °C (exact answer 21.1 °C). Good enough for the weather.
Degrees Fahrenheit to degrees Celsius conversion table
| Degrees Fahrenheit (°F) | Degrees Celsius (°C) |
|---|---|
| -40 °F | -40 °C |
| 0 °F | -17.7778 °C |
| 10 °F | -12.2222 °C |
| 20 °F | -6.6667 °C |
| 32 °F | 0 °C |
| 40 °F | 4.4444 °C |
| 50 °F | 10 °C |
| 60 °F | 15.5556 °C |
| 70 °F | 21.1111 °C |
| 72 °F | 22.2222 °C |
| 80 °F | 26.6667 °C |
| 90 °F | 32.2222 °C |
| 98.6 °F | 37 °C |
| 100 °F | 37.7778 °C |
| 212 °F | 100 °C |
| 350 °F | 176.67 °C |
| 400 °F | 204.44 °C |
Values rounded to four decimals. For a value that is not in the table, use the converter above — it accepts decimals and negative numbers.
When you need this conversion
- Weather forecasts read abroad, where the same number means a heatwave or a cold snap depending on the scale.
- Cooking: oven temperatures in recipes follow the author’s country, and getting it wrong burns or undercooks the dish.
- Technical specifications — operating ranges for equipment, storage conditions for materials or medication — are published in either scale.
Getting it right
Temperature conversions are not multiplications: the two scales have different zero points as well as different step sizes, which is why the formula includes an offset of 32.
Temperature conversions are not multiplications: you cannot scale a Celsius figure by a factor to get Fahrenheit, because the two scales have different zero points as well as different step sizes.
About the units
Degree Fahrenheit (°F)
The degree Fahrenheit is the everyday temperature scale of the United States. Water freezes at 32 °F and boils at 212 °F; normal body temperature is about 98.6 °F.
Degree Celsius (°C)
The degree Celsius is the temperature scale used almost everywhere in the world. Water freezes at 0 °C and boils at 100 °C at sea level; a comfortable room is around 20–22 °C.
Frequently asked questions
How many degrees Celsius are in 1 degree Fahrenheit?
Temperature scales do not multiply: 1 °F corresponds to -17.2222 °C, but the step size is different — a change of 1 °F is a change of 0.5556 °C.
How do I convert degrees Fahrenheit to degrees Celsius in my head?
Subtract 30 and halve it: 70 °F → 20 °C (exact answer 21.1 °C). Good enough for the weather.
Is the °F to °C conversion exact?
The formula °C = (°F − 32) × 5/9 is exact by definition of the two scales.
How do I convert degrees Fahrenheit to degrees Celsius in Excel or Google Sheets?
Put the Fahrenheit value in A1 and use =(A1-32)*5/9. Excel and Google Sheets also accept =CONVERT(A1,"F","C").
How many decimal places should I keep?
For everyday use two decimals are plenty. Keep four if the result feeds another calculation, and round only at the very end — rounding intermediate steps is the most common reason a result comes out slightly wrong.