Fahrenheit to Celsius Converter
Convert °F to °C instantly — weather, ovens, and health.
Type a temperature in Fahrenheit and get the exact Celsius equivalent instantly. The converter applies the proper offset formula — °C = (°F − 32) × 5/9.
How it's calculated
°C = (°F − 32) × 5/9. Subtract the 32-degree offset first, then scale by 5/9 — order matters because the scales start at different zeros.
How the Fahrenheit-to-Celsius conversion works
Converting Fahrenheit to Celsius reverses the forward formula: first subtract the 32-degree offset that separates the scales' zero points, then multiply by 5/9 to shrink Fahrenheit's smaller degrees down to Celsius size: °C = (°F − 32) × 5/9.
Order matters. Subtracting 32 first is essential — multiplying first and then adjusting gives a wrong answer. The converter handles the order automatically, so 68 °F cleanly becomes 20 °C and 98.6 °F becomes exactly 37 °C.
Common Fahrenheit to Celsius reference points
Weather anchors: 32 °F is 0 °C (freezing), 50 °F is 10 °C, 68 °F is 20 °C (room temperature), 86 °F is 30 °C, and 104 °F is 40 °C (dangerous heat).
Oven and body anchors: 350 °F is 176.7 °C (usually rounded to 180 °C in recipes), 400 °F is 204.4 °C, 98.6 °F is 37 °C (body temperature), 100.4 °F is 38 °C (fever threshold), and 212 °F is 100 °C (boiling).
Where you'll use Fahrenheit to Celsius
Americans traveling abroad meet Celsius on every weather forecast, thermostat, and oven dial — 75 °F comfort is 23.9 °C, so setting a European thermostat to 24 °C feels like home. US recipes used overseas need the reverse: 350 °F bakes at about 180 °C.
Medical thermometers sold in the US read Fahrenheit while most health guidance worldwide is written in Celsius. Converting a 101 °F reading to 38.3 °C lets you compare against international fever charts without guessing.
Frequently asked questions
What is 68°F in Celsius?
68 °F is 20 °C ((68 − 32) × 5/9 = 20). Enter 68 in the converter above to verify.
How do I convert Fahrenheit to Celsius in my head?
Subtract 30, then halve the result: 68 → 38 → 19 °C, close to the exact 20 °C. For better accuracy subtract 32 instead of 30 before halving.
What Fahrenheit temperature is a fever in Celsius?
The standard fever threshold of 100.4 °F converts to 38 °C. Anything at or above that deserves attention per most medical guidelines.
Why does the formula subtract 32 first?
Because 0 °C equals 32 °F — the scales are offset. You must remove the offset before scaling, otherwise the 5/9 multiplication would shrink the offset too and give a wrong answer.