UnitConvertCelsius to Kelvin
1 °C = 274.15 K
Celsius to kelvin is a routine step in chemistry, physics, and engineering, where formulas such as the ideal gas law require absolute temperature. Lab thermometers and weather data are usually in Celsius, so values are converted to kelvins before being plugged into an equation.
When you need to convert degrees Celsius to kelvins
- Plugging a lab temperature into the ideal gas law or other thermodynamics formulas
- Converting reference points such as freezing and boiling water for gas-law problems
- Preparing temperature data for physics or engineering homework
- Working with cryogenic or high-temperature specifications
How to convert degrees Celsius to kelvins
K = °C × 1 + 273.15
Example: 25 °C = 298.15 K
Common temperatures
| Celsius (°C) | Kelvin (K) |
|---|---|
| -196 °C | 77.15 K |
| -78.5 °C | 194.65 K |
| -40 °C | 233.15 K |
| 0 °C | 273.15 K |
| 20 °C | 293.15 K |
| 25 °C | 298.15 K |
| 37 °C | 310.15 K |
| 100 °C | 373.15 K |
| 500 °C | 773.15 K |
| 1,000 °C | 1,273.15 K |
Tips for converting degrees Celsius to kelvins
- Add exactly 273.15. A kelvin step is the same size as a Celsius degree, so no multiplication is involved.
- Write the unit as K, not °K; the degree sign was dropped from kelvin in 1967.
- A temperature difference is the same number in both units, so a 10 °C rise is also a 10 K rise.
Celsius to Kelvin conversion table
| Celsius (°C) | Kelvin (K) |
|---|---|
| -40 °C | 233.15 K |
| -20 °C | 253.15 K |
| -10 °C | 263.15 K |
| 0 °C | 273.15 K |
| 10 °C | 283.15 K |
| 20 °C | 293.15 K |
| 25 °C | 298.15 K |
| 30 °C | 303.15 K |
| 37 °C | 310.15 K |
| 40 °C | 313.15 K |
| 50 °C | 323.15 K |
| 60 °C | 333.15 K |
| 70 °C | 343.15 K |
| 80 °C | 353.15 K |
| 90 °C | 363.15 K |
| 100 °C | 373.15 K |
| 150 °C | 423.15 K |
| 200 °C | 473.15 K |
| 300 °C | 573.15 K |
About the units
Celsius: The degree Celsius is the temperature scale used in most of the world. Water freezes at 0 °C and boils at 100 °C at sea level.
Kelvin: The kelvin is the SI base unit of thermodynamic temperature. 0 K is absolute zero, and a change of 1 K equals a change of 1 °C.
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Frequently asked questions
What is 1 degree Celsius in kelvins?
1 degree Celsius equals 274.15 kelvins.
What is 1 kelvin in degrees Celsius?
1 kelvin equals -272.15 degrees Celsius.
How do I convert degrees Celsius to kelvins?
Use the formula K = °C × 1 + 273.15.
What is 10 degrees Celsius in kelvins?
10 degrees Celsius equals 283.15 kelvins.
Related conversions
Sources
Conversion factors use the exact definitions published by NIST and the BIPM, and are checked by automated tests against those definitions.
- NIST Special Publication 811: Guide for the Use of the International System of Units
- BIPM: The International System of Units (SI Brochure)
- NIST Handbook 44, Appendix C: General Tables of Units of Measurement
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