Converting kelvins to degrees Celsius requires a temperature-scale formula, not just multiplication. For reference: 0 K = -273.15 °C, 20 K = -253.15 °C, 37 K = -236.15 °C, 100 K = -173.15 °C. Use the calculator below for any value, or scan the conversion table for common readings.
FormulaDegrees Celsius = Kelvins × 1
Quick
How to convert kelvins to degrees Celsius
1
Start with your value
Begin with your temperature in kelvins.
2
Apply the conversion formula
°C = K − 273.15
3
Read the result
The result is the equivalent temperature in degrees Celsius. For example, 100 K = -173.15 °C.
Conversion formula
Temperature conversion is affine, not a single multiplication. The exact formula is shown below — it follows directly from the definitions of the kelvin and degree Celsius scales.
°C = K − 273.15
Kelvins to Degrees Celsius conversion table
Fifty common reference values, hand-picked for skim utility. Use the calculator above for any value not listed.
Conversion table from kelvins to degrees Celsius
Kelvins (K)
Degrees Celsius (°C)
-50 K
-323.15 °C
-40 K
-313.15 °C
-30 K
-303.15 °C
-25 K
-298.15 °C
-20 K
-293.15 °C
-15 K
-288.15 °C
-10 K
-283.15 °C
-5 K
-278.15 °C
-2 K
-275.15 °C
-1 K
-274.15 °C
0 K
-273.15 °C
1 K
-272.15 °C
2 K
-271.15 °C
5 K
-268.15 °C
10 K
-263.15 °C
15 K
-258.15 °C
18 K
-255.15 °C
20 K
-253.15 °C
21 K
-252.15 °C
22 K
-251.15 °C
23 K
-250.15 °C
24 K
-249.15 °C
25 K
-248.15 °C
27 K
-246.15 °C
28 K
-245.15 °C
30 K
-243.15 °C
32 K
-241.15 °C
35 K
-238.15 °C
37 K
-236.15 °C
40 K
-233.15 °C
45 K
-228.15 °C
50 K
-223.15 °C
55 K
-218.15 °C
60 K
-213.15 °C
65 K
-208.15 °C
70 K
-203.15 °C
75 K
-198.15 °C
80 K
-193.15 °C
85 K
-188.15 °C
90 K
-183.15 °C
95 K
-178.15 °C
100 K
-173.15 °C
110 K
-163.15 °C
120 K
-153.15 °C
150 K
-123.15 °C
180 K
-93.15 °C
200 K
-73.15 °C
250 K
-23.15 °C
300 K
26.85 °C
500 K
226.85 °C
Real-world reference
Absolute zero is 0 K. Water freezes at 273.15 K. Room temperature is around 293 K.
Frequently asked questions
What is 0 kelvins in degrees Celsius?
0 K equals -273.15 °C.
What is 100 kelvins in degrees Celsius?
100 K equals -173.15 °C.
How do I convert kelvins to degrees Celsius?
Use the formula: °C = K − 273.15.
What does a normal body temperature look like in degrees Celsius?
A healthy human body temperature is about 37 °C, 98.6 °F, or 310.15 K.
At what kelvin does water freeze?
Water freezes at 273.15 K = 0 °C.
At what kelvin does water boil at 1 atm?
Water boils at 373.15 K = 100 °C.
Can the result be negative?
Yes. Temperature scales other than Kelvin can go below zero. Liquid nitrogen, for example, sits around −196 °C (−320 °F).
Are these results exact?
Conversion formulas are mathematically exact; results are stored as IEEE 754 doubles and rounded for display. The internal calculation matches the formula to within 1 part in 10^15.
About the kelvin and the degree Celsius
The kelvin
The kelvin (K) is the SI base unit of thermodynamic temperature. Since the 2019 SI redefinition it is defined by fixing the Boltzmann constant to exactly 1.380649 × 10⁻²³ J/K. Zero kelvin is absolute zero, the lowest temperature theoretically possible. The kelvin is preferred in science and engineering because it has a true zero — temperature ratios become physically meaningful, unlike on the Celsius or Fahrenheit scales. Note: by convention there is no degree sign — 300 K, not 300 °K.
The degree Celsius
The degree Celsius (°C) is the SI-derived unit of temperature on a scale where 0 °C is the freezing point of water at standard pressure and 100 °C is the boiling point. Defined in 1742 by Anders Celsius (originally with the scale inverted) and refined repeatedly since, it shares its size of degree with the Kelvin: a change of 1 °C is identical to a change of 1 K. It is the everyday temperature unit almost everywhere outside the United States.