Fahrenheit to Celsius
Type degrees Fahrenheit (°F), see degrees Celsius (°C).
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How to convert degrees Fahrenheit to degrees Celsius
To change degrees Fahrenheit into degrees Celsius: subtract 32, then divide by 1.8.
degrees Celsius = (degrees Fahrenheit − 32) ÷ 1.8
Going the other way: degrees Fahrenheit = degrees Celsius × 1.8 + 32
A reading of 1 degree Fahrenheit is -17.22222222 degrees Celsius, but a step of 1 degree Fahrenheit is 0.55555556 degrees Celsius — the two scales start counting from different places, which is why the formula shifts as well as scales. Both numbers in it are exact definitions, not rounded estimates.
Worked example
You have 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. Subtract 32, then divide by 1.8. (98.6 − 32) ÷ 1.8 = 37 °C.
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 |
| 32 °F | 0 °C |
| 40 °F | 4.4444 °C |
| 50 °F | 10 °C |
| 60 °F | 15.5556 °C |
| 68 °F | 20 °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 |
Subtract first, then divide
The order is the whole trick. Take the 32 off first, then divide by 1.8. Dividing first and subtracting afterwards gives a different — and wrong — answer, and it is the most common mistake with this conversion.
The 32 is there because the scales disagree about where zero sits: water freezes at 32 °F and at 0 °C. The 1.8 is there because the degrees are different sizes — 180 Fahrenheit degrees cover the same span as 100 Celsius degrees.
For a difference rather than a reading, drop the 32 entirely. A 10 °F rise is a rise of about 5.6 °C, not −12.2 °C.
Body temperature is worth knowing as a sanity check: 98.6 °F is 37 °C. If a converter disagrees with that, something is wrong with it.
Frequently asked questions
What is 100 degrees Fahrenheit in Celsius?
100 °F is 37.8 °C — a hot day, and slightly above body temperature.
What is 98.6 °F in Celsius?
98.6 °F is exactly 37 °C, the figure usually quoted for normal body temperature.
What is 72 °F in Celsius?
72 °F, a common thermostat setting, is about 22.2 °C.
Why do I subtract 32 before dividing?
Because the two scales start from different zeroes. Removing the 32 lines the scales up first; dividing before subtracting applies the scaling to the wrong number and the answer comes out wrong.
What is 212 °F in Celsius?
212 °F is 100 °C — the boiling point of water at sea level.
Is there a quick way to estimate this in my head?
Subtract 30 and halve it. For 68 °F that gives 19, against a true 20 °C — good enough for weather, and steadily less accurate towards oven temperatures.
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Every factor on this page is listed in our conversion methodology.