Convert Fahrenheit to Celsius
Fahrenheit (°F) to Celsius (°C) temperature conversion — enter any value below for an instant result, or use the table for common values.
Results from this calculator are estimates provided for general informational purposes only, based on formulas, rates, and standards commonly accepted as of 2026. Figures may differ slightly from other calculators or professional sources due to rounding methods, differing assumptions, or regional regulations, and rules may change over time. Always consult a qualified professional — such as a financial advisor, healthcare provider, or other relevant specialist — before making decisions based on these results.
Result
1°F = -17.222222°C
Water's freezing and boiling points, for reference
Freezing point
32°F / 0°C
Boiling point
212°F / 100°C
Conversion chart: Fahrenheit to Celsius
Conversion table
| Fahrenheit (°F) | Celsius (°C) |
|---|---|
| 0.01 °F | -17.772222 °C |
| 0.1 °F | -17.722222 °C |
| 1 °F | -17.222222 °C |
| 2 °F | -16.666667 °C |
| 3 °F | -16.111111 °C |
| 5 °F | -15 °C |
| 10 °F | -12.222222 °C |
| 20 °F | -6.6666667 °C |
| 50 °F | 10 °C |
| 100 °F | 37.777778 °C |
| 1000 °F | 537.77778 °C |
Fahrenheit (°F)
Definition: A scale on which water freezes at 32° and boils at 212° under standard atmospheric pressure, giving 180 degrees between the two reference points.
History: Developed by physicist Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit around 1724. His original reference points were the freezing point of a brine (salt/ice) solution at 0° and, roughly, human body temperature at 96° — later refined to today's fixed water-based definition.
Current use: Still the everyday temperature scale in the United States for weather forecasts and home thermostats, even though US science and medicine use Celsius.
Celsius (°C)
Definition: The metric temperature scale on which water freezes at 0° and boils at 100° under standard atmospheric pressure.
History: Devised by Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius in 1742. His original scale was inverted — 0° was boiling and 100° was freezing — and was reversed to its familiar modern form shortly after his death, likely by instrument maker Daniel Ekström.
Current use: The standard temperature scale for weather, cooking, and science in nearly every country except the United States.
Supported Scales
| Scale | Symbol | Water Freezes | Water Boils |
|---|---|---|---|
| Celsius | °C | 0°C | 100°C |
| Fahrenheit | °F | 32°F | 212°F |
| Kelvin | K | 273.15K | 373.15K |
| Rankine | °R | 491.67°R | 671.67°R |
| Réaumur | °Ré | 0°Ré | 80°Ré |
About These Parameters
- Value
- The temperature reading you want to convert, in the "From" scale. Negative values are accepted.
- From Unit
- The scale your input value is currently measured in.
- To Unit
- The scale you want the result converted into. Use the swap button to flip From and To instantly.
How Temperature Conversion Works
The Formula
Because each scale has a different zero point, conversion needs both a scale factor and an offset, not just a multiplier. The three most common formulas:
°F = °C × 9/5 + 32 K = °C + 273.15 °C = (°F − 32) × 5/9
For Fahrenheit → Celsius: 1°F converts to -17.222222°C. Every conversion on this page routes through Celsius internally, then applies the target scale's own offset and factor.
Why Temperature Isn't a Simple Ratio
Length and weight conversions are pure multiplications because both scales share the same zero point (nothing weighs "negative zero"). Temperature scales don't: 0°C is water's freezing point, not the absence of heat, so "twice as hot" in Celsius doesn't mean "twice as hot" in Fahrenheit. Only Kelvin and Rankine start at true absolute zero, which is why they're used for scientific calculations involving ratios of temperature.
Absolute Zero
Absolute zero — 0 K, −273.15°C, −459.67°F, 0°R — is the coldest possible temperature, the point at which atoms have minimum possible thermal motion. It has never been reached experimentally, though physicists have cooled matter to within a fraction of a billionth of a degree above it.
Example
1°F equals -17.222222°C. For comparison, normal human body temperature (37°C) is 37°C — this value is 54.2°C cooler than body temperature.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Celsius are in 1 Fahrenheit?
1 Fahrenheit (°F) equals exactly -17.222222 Celsius (°C).
Why does the US use Fahrenheit while most of the world uses Celsius?
The US inherited Fahrenheit from British colonial-era usage and never mandated a switch to Celsius, unlike the UK and most other countries, which adopted Celsius alongside broader metrication in the mid-20th century.
What's the difference between Kelvin and Celsius?
They use the same size degree — a 1 K change equals a 1°C change — but Kelvin starts at absolute zero (0 K = −273.15°C) instead of water's freezing point, so Kelvin values are never negative.
Is the Réaumur scale still used anywhere?
Rarely. It was common in 18th and 19th century Europe but was almost entirely replaced by Celsius; it occasionally survives in older European recipes, particularly some traditional cheese-making and confectionery instructions.