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Temperature
Kelvin to Celsius
Convert Kelvin (K) to Celsius (°C). Type a value below to see the result update instantly. Reference table and formula included.
Calculator
1 K = -272.15 °C
Kelvin to Celsius Conversion Table
Common values, ready to copy:
| Kelvin | Celsius |
|---|---|
| 1 K | -272.15 °C |
| 2 K | -271.15 °C |
| 5 K | -268.15 °C |
| 10 K | -263.15 °C |
| 25 K | -248.15 °C |
| 50 K | -223.15 °C |
| 100 K | -173.15 °C |
| 1,000 K | 726.85 °C |
Formula
°C = K − 273.15
Temperature scales differ in both unit size and zero point, so the conversion involves both a multiplier and an offset. Celsius and Kelvin share the same degree size; Fahrenheit's degree is 5/9 the size of a Celsius/Kelvin degree.
About Kelvin and Celsius
Kelvin (K): Proposed by William Thomson (Lord Kelvin) in 1848 as an absolute scale with zero at the lowest possible temperature; uses the same degree size as Celsius, just shifted by 273.15. Common uses: Physics (thermodynamics, ideal gas law), chemistry, astronomy (stellar temperatures), and lighting design (color temperature of bulbs in Kelvin).
Celsius (°C): Proposed by Anders Celsius in 1742 with the freezing and boiling points of water as reference points, originally inverted (0° boiling, 100° freezing) and corrected to the modern orientation shortly after Celsius's death. Common uses: Weather, cooking, and science in essentially every country except the US; the SI-recognized practical temperature unit.
How the conversion works
Temperature scales differ in both unit size and zero point, so the conversion involves both a multiplier and an offset. Celsius and Kelvin share the same degree size; Fahrenheit's degree is 5/9 the size of a Celsius/Kelvin degree.
The exact relationship is °C = K − 273.15, which the calculator at the top of this page applies in both directions. Type into either field and the other updates immediately.
When this conversion matters
Converting between Kelvin and Celsius comes up wherever temperature measurements move between systems — from one country's conventions to another's, from a scientific reference to a practical specification, or from one industry's working unit to another's. The calculator and reference table above cover the everyday range; for unusual values you can type any number into either field.