Kelvin to Celsius
K to °C conversion: °C = K − 273.15, with 0 K = -273.15 °C. Reference values, worked examples and reverse-direction notes below.
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Reading K values on the °C scale
The step from kelvins to degrees Celsius needs the formula °C = K − 273.15. A plain ratio would not work here, since 0 K does not line up with 0 °C.
The size of one K step is 1 °C, and the starting point is -273.15 °C at 0 K. Undoing the conversion uses K = °C + 273.15.
Quick lookup: kelvins in degrees Celsius
A set of 12 K readings is converted to °C below, using the same function as the converter at the top of the page.
| Kelvins (K) | Degrees Celsius (°C) |
|---|---|
| 10 | -263.15 |
| 77 | -196.15 |
| 150 | -123.15 |
| 220 | -53.15 |
| 255 | -18.15 |
| 265 | -8.15 |
| 288 | 14.85 |
| 295 | 21.85 |
| 320 | 46.85 |
| 350 | 76.85 |
| 450 | 176.85 |
| 1,000 | 726.85 |
Values in the °C column are shown the way the converter shows them, with a limited number of significant digits.
Worked examples for kelvins to degrees Celsius
Suppose the starting reading is 260 kelvins. The converter returns -13.15 degrees Celsius.
Next, 285 K: the converter shows 11.85 °C. Reversing the conversion with K = °C + 273.15 gets you back to about 285 K.
For the last case, begin at 8 degrees Celsius. The reverse formula K = °C + 273.15 gives 281.15 kelvins.
The reverse: degrees Celsius to kelvins
To start from degrees Celsius instead, open Celsius to Kelvin. For that direction the formula is K = °C + 273.15, and its reference table is built around degrees Celsius as the input.
For other combinations, the Temperature Converter offers every unit in one pair of dropdowns.
Other conversions in this family
These pages cover neighbouring unit pairs from the same converter.
Frequently asked questions
What does 1 K come to in °C?
A reading of 1 K corresponds to -272.15 °C. The formula °C = K − 273.15 also gives -273.15 °C at 0 K, -263.15 °C at 10 K and -173.15 °C at 100 K.
How much is 1 °C on the K scale?
The converter returns 274.15 K for 1 °C, and 283.15 K for 10 °C; the reverse direction uses K = °C + 273.15.
How do I convert 215 K to °C?
Put 215 through °C = K − 273.15 and the answer is -58.15 °C.
How does the converter round results?
The widget calculates with ordinary floating-point numbers and only rounds what it displays. Results of 1 or more show up to 10 significant digits, results below 1 show up to 8, and results from 1,000 upward show up to 6 decimal places with thousands separators. As an example, 0.123456789 K displays as -273.0265432 °C and 1,234.5678 K displays as 961.4178 °C.
Where does the K to °C result come from?
Because temperature scales have offsets, the unit table stores conversion functions rather than a single factor. The two functions for K and °C together give °C = K − 273.15.
What is the reverse of K to °C?
Reversing the pair: the formula is K = °C + 273.15. The page titled "Celsius to Kelvin" covers it, or you can press the swap button in the widget above. Example: 25 °C = 298.15 K.
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