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Kelvins to degrees Celsius

1 kelvin = -272.15 degrees Celsius

Type a value in kelvins (K) to get degrees Celsius (°C) straight away. Both units belong to temperature, measured here against the kelvin.

1 K = -272.15 °C

Formula

°C = K − 273.15

The degrees are the same size, so subtract the 273.15 offset between absolute zero and the freezing point of water. Here K is the value in kelvins and °C is the result in degrees Celsius.

Worked example: 300 kelvins: put 300 into °C = K − 273.15. The result is 26.85 degrees Celsius.

Kelvins to degrees Celsius table

kelvins (K)degrees Celsius (°C)
-40 K-313.15 °C
-20 K-293.15 °C
-10 K-283.15 °C
0 K-273.15 °C
10 K-263.15 °C
15 K-258.15 °C
20 K-253.15 °C
25 K-248.15 °C
30 K-243.15 °C
35 K-238.15 °C
37 K-236.15 °C
40 K-233.15 °C
50 K-223.15 °C
60 K-213.15 °C
70 K-203.15 °C
80 K-193.15 °C
90 K-183.15 °C
100 K-173.15 °C

Everyday kelvins in degrees Celsius

What it isK°C
absolute zero0 K-273.15 °C
liquid nitrogen boils77 K-196.15 °C
water freezes273.15 K0 °C
body temperature310.15 K37 °C
water boils373.15 K100 °C

Quick estimate in your head

Subtract 273 to get °C.

Watch out for

  • Kelvin has no degree sign and never goes negative. 0 °C is 273.15 K.
  • Do not add 32 when converting a temperature difference; use only the 9/5 factor.

About the units

Kelvin (K). The SI temperature unit. 0 K is absolute zero; a 1 K step is the same size as 1 °C.

Degree Celsius (°C). Water freezes at 0 °C and boils at 100 °C at sea level. Used for weather almost everywhere.

Going the other way, 1 degree Celsius is 274.15 kelvins.

Questions

How many degrees Celsius are in 1 kelvin?

1 kelvin is -272.15 degrees Celsius, and 1 degree Celsius is 274.15 kelvins.

How do I convert kelvins to degrees Celsius?

Use °C = K − 273.15. For example, 300 kelvins: put 300 into °C = K − 273.15. The result is 26.85 degrees Celsius.

At what temperature are Celsius and Fahrenheit equal?

At −40. −40 °C is exactly −40 °F, which is a quick way to check a formula.

How much is water boils in degrees Celsius?

373.15 K is 100 °C.

Source for the conversion factor: BIPM SI Brochure (kelvin and degree Celsius).

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