How to Convert Oven Temperatures from °F to °C (and Back)

US recipes give oven temperatures in degrees Fahrenheit, and most of the world uses Celsius. The conversion is a two-step formula, and then you round to a setting the oven dial actually has.

For learning and kitchen practice. Cup weights are typical values, not exact. For doneness, use a food thermometer and safe internal temperatures, not cooking time alone.

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The steps

°F to °C: subtract 32, then multiply by 5/9 (multiply by 5 and divide by 9).
°C to °F: multiply by 9/5 (that is, 1.8), then add 32.
Round to the oven dial: Celsius ovens usually go in steps of 10 °C.
For a fan (convection) oven, recipes often say to set it about 20 °C (25 °F) lower.
Check by converting back.

A worked example

A recipe says to bake at 375 °F. What is that in °C?

Subtract 32: 375 − 32 = 343.
Multiply by 5/9: 343 × 5 = 1,715, and 1,715 ÷ 9 ≈ 190.56 °C.
Round for the dial: about 190 °C.
Check: 190.56 × 9/5 + 32 ≈ 375 °F. ✓

375 °F is about 190.6 °C, so set the oven to 190 °C (gas mark 5).

Why it works

The two scales start in different places and use different-sized degrees. Water freezes at 32 °F but at 0 °C, so subtracting 32 lines up the starting points. Between freezing and boiling there are 180 Fahrenheit degrees but only 100 Celsius degrees, so each Fahrenheit degree is 100/180 = 5/9 of a Celsius degree.

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Common mistakes

Multiplying before subtracting. 375 × 5/9 − 32 ≈ 176 is wrong. Subtract the 32 first.
Using 9/5 the wrong way. Going to Celsius makes the number smaller, so multiply by 5/9.
Forgetting the fan setting. A convection oven cooks faster at the same dial setting, so recipes turn it down.
Rounding a thermometer reading like an oven dial. For candy, oil or meat temperatures, keep the exact number.

Questions people ask

What is 350 °F in °C?

(350 − 32) × 5/9 = 318 × 5/9 ≈ 176.7 °C, usually set as 180 °C.

What is 180 °C in °F?

180 × 9/5 + 32 = 324 + 32 = 356 °F, usually set as 350 °F.

What temperature is gas mark 6?

Gas mark 6 is about 400 °F, or 200 °C.

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