32 °F = 0 °C
Roughly freezing point. Subtract 32 from 32 to get 0, then multiply by 5/9. The result is 0 °C.
Fast answers, clean math
Fahrenheit to Celsius converter
Enter Fahrenheit and get Celsius instantly. The formula is shown too, so you can sanity-check the result.
Unit converter
Convert Fahrenheit to Celsius
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Formula
How to convert degree Fahrenheit to degree Celsius (°F → °C)
Fahrenheit and Celsius use different zero points, so the conversion subtracts 32 first and then scales by 5/9.
Formula: °C = (°F − 32) × 5/9
To reverse it, multiply by 9/5 and add 32: °F = (°C × 9/5) + 32.
For example, 68 °F becomes (68 − 32) × 5/9 = 36 × 5/9 = 20 °C.
| Degree fahrenheit (°F) | Degree celsius (°C) |
|---|---|
| -40 °F | -40 °C |
| 0 °F | -17.78 °C |
| 32 °F | 0 °C |
| 50 °F | 10 °C |
| 68 °F | 20 °C |
| 72 °F | 22.22 °C |
| 90 °F | 32.22 °C |
| 98.6 °F | 37 °C |
| 100 °F | 37.78 °C |
| 150 °F | 65.56 °C |
| 212 °F | 100 °C |
Step by step
Worked degree Fahrenheit to degree Celsius examples
72 °F = 22.22 °C
Roughly room temperature. Subtract 32 from 72 to get 40, then multiply by 5/9. The result is 22.22 °C.
98.6 °F = 37 °C
Roughly body temperature. Subtract 32 from 98.6 to get 66.6, then multiply by 5/9. The result is 37 °C.
Background
What is a degree Fahrenheit?
Fahrenheit is a temperature scale on which water freezes at 32 degrees and boils at 212 degrees at standard atmospheric pressure.
Devised by physicist Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit in 1724, the scale remains the standard for weather and cooking in the United States.
Everyday scale: 32 °F is freezing, 68 to 72 °F is comfortable room temperature, 98.6 °F is normal body temperature, and 212 °F is boiling water.
System: US customary.
Background
What is a degree Celsius?
Celsius is a temperature scale on which water freezes at 0 degrees and boils at 100 degrees at standard atmospheric pressure.
Proposed by Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius in 1742, the scale (originally inverted) became the everyday temperature standard across most of the world.
Everyday scale: 0 °C is freezing, 20 to 22 °C is comfortable room temperature, 37 °C is normal human body temperature, and 100 °C is boiling water.
System: metric (SI-derived).
Where it helps
When you need to convert degree Fahrenheit to degree Celsius
Weather and travel
Forecasts use Celsius in most countries and Fahrenheit in the United States. Converting helps you pack correctly and know what a forecast really feels like before a trip.
Cooking and baking
Oven temperatures and recipe instructions appear in both scales. Converting accurately prevents undercooking or burning when you follow a recipe written for another country.
Health and home
Body temperature, thermostats, and appliance settings mix the two scales. Converting helps you read a thermometer or set a device that uses the unit you are less familiar with.
Accuracy
Precision and common mistakes
The most common mistake with temperature is forgetting the offset and only scaling the number. Because Celsius and Fahrenheit start from different zero points, you must add or subtract 32 in the right order, not just multiply.
For everyday weather and cooking, whole degrees are fine. For body temperature, keep one decimal place, since half a degree can matter. The calculator above keeps full precision and shows the formula so you can check the steps.
| Use case | Good rounding |
|---|---|
| Weather and everyday use | Whole degrees |
| Cooking and ovens | Nearest 5 degrees |
| Body temperature | 1 decimal place |
| Lab and scientific work | Use the exact formula, then round at the end |
Plain answers
Degree fahrenheit to degree Celsius FAQ
How do you convert Fahrenheit to Celsius?
Subtract 32 from the Fahrenheit value, then multiply the result by 5/9. For example, 50 degrees Fahrenheit becomes 50 minus 32, which is 18, times 5/9, which is 10 degrees Celsius.
What is 72 degrees Fahrenheit in Celsius?
72 degrees Fahrenheit is about 22.2 degrees Celsius, a common indoor room temperature.
What is normal body temperature in Celsius?
Normal body temperature of 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit equals 37 degrees Celsius.
Why do you subtract 32 first?
Because Fahrenheit and Celsius have different zero points. You remove the 32 degree offset before scaling by 5/9.
Is the Fahrenheit to Celsius conversion exact?
Yes. The two scales are defined in exact relation to each other, so the formula is exact for any value.