What is the formula to convert Celsius to Kelvin?
Use K = °C + 273.15. For example, 25°C equals 25 + 273.15 = 298.15 K.
Celsius to Kelvin (°C → K)
Formula
K = °C + 273.15Step-by-step
1
K = 0 + 273.152
K = 273.15Conversion Table
| °C | K |
|---|---|
| 0 | 273.15 |
| 1.0000 | 274.15 |
| 2.0000 | 275.15 |
| 3.0000 | 276.15 |
| 4.0000 | 277.15 |
| 5.0000 | 278.15 |
| 6.0000 | 279.15 |
| 7.0000 | 280.15 |
| 8.0000 | 281.15 |
| 9.0000 | 282.15 |
| 10.000 | 283.15 |
| 11.000 | 284.15 |
| 12.000 | 285.15 |
| 13.000 | 286.15 |
| 14.000 | 287.15 |
| 15.000 | 288.15 |
| 16.000 | 289.15 |
| 17.000 | 290.15 |
| 18.000 | 291.15 |
| 19.000 | 292.15 |
| °C | K |
|---|---|
| 20.000 | 293.15 |
| 21.000 | 294.15 |
| 22.000 | 295.15 |
| 23.000 | 296.15 |
| 24.000 | 297.15 |
| 25.000 | 298.15 |
| 26.000 | 299.15 |
| 27.000 | 300.15 |
| 28.000 | 301.15 |
| 29.000 | 302.15 |
| 30.000 | 303.15 |
| 31.000 | 304.15 |
| 32.000 | 305.15 |
| 33.000 | 306.15 |
| 34.000 | 307.15 |
| 35.000 | 308.15 |
| 36.000 | 309.15 |
| 37.000 | 310.15 |
| 38.000 | 311.15 |
| 39.000 | 312.15 |
| °C | K |
|---|---|
| 40.000 | 313.15 |
| 41.000 | 314.15 |
| 42.000 | 315.15 |
| 43.000 | 316.15 |
| 44.000 | 317.15 |
| 45.000 | 318.15 |
| 46.000 | 319.15 |
| 47.000 | 320.15 |
| 48.000 | 321.15 |
| 49.000 | 322.15 |
| 50.000 | 323.15 |
| 51.000 | 324.15 |
| 52.000 | 325.15 |
| 53.000 | 326.15 |
| 54.000 | 327.15 |
| 55.000 | 328.15 |
| 56.000 | 329.15 |
| 57.000 | 330.15 |
| 58.000 | 331.15 |
| 59.000 | 332.15 |
| °C | K |
|---|---|
| 60.000 | 333.15 |
| 61.000 | 334.15 |
| 62.000 | 335.15 |
| 63.000 | 336.15 |
| 64.000 | 337.15 |
| 65.000 | 338.15 |
| 66.000 | 339.15 |
| 67.000 | 340.15 |
| 68.000 | 341.15 |
| 69.000 | 342.15 |
| 70.000 | 343.15 |
| 71.000 | 344.15 |
| 72.000 | 345.15 |
| 73.000 | 346.15 |
| 74.000 | 347.15 |
| 75.000 | 348.15 |
| 76.000 | 349.15 |
| 77.000 | 350.15 |
| 78.000 | 351.15 |
| 79.000 | 352.15 |
Celsius to Kelvin Conversion
The Celsius and Kelvin scales measure temperature with the same incremental unit size but differ by a fixed offset. To convert Celsius to Kelvin, add 273.15 to the Celsius value, reflecting the absolute temperature scale used in scientific contexts like thermodynamics and cryogenics. This conversion is essential for calculations requiring absolute temperature measurements, such as gas law computations and material science experiments.
Sources: NIST Special Publication 811; BIPM SI Brochure, 9th edition
Celsius → Kelvin
Converting Celsius (°C) to Kelvin (K) is a common temperature conversion. 1 °C equals 274.15 K. For example, 100 °C is equal to 373.15 K.
Quick Mental Math: Celsius to Kelvin
Add 273 for a quick approximate Kelvin value from Celsius.
Why is converting Celsius to Kelvin tricky?
The difficulty lies in remembering the fixed offset of 273.15 rather than a multiplication factor, which can cause errors if treated like a scale factor conversion.
Quick Reference Values
-273 °C = 0 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.
What is Celsius?
Celsius (°C) is a unit of temperature. Celsius is a temperature scale where 0 °C is the freezing point and 100 °C is the boiling point of water at standard atmospheric pressure. It is defined by the International System of Units (SI) and related to the Kelvin scale by the formula °C = K − 273.15 [cgpm-resolutions]. The Celsius scale was developed by Anders Celsius in 1742. It became internationally accepted and officially incorporated into the SI temperature scales by the CGPM in 1948 for scientific and everyday temperature measurement [cgpm-resolutions]. Celsius is the standard temperature unit for most countries worldwide, including Canada, Europe, and Australia. It is used in weather forecasts, scientific research, and industrial processes as endorsed by ISO and BIPM [bipm-si-brochure].
What is Kelvin?
Kelvin (K) is a unit of temperature. Kelvin is the SI base unit of thermodynamic temperature defined by fixing the numerical value of the Boltzmann constant to 1.380649×10⁻²³ J·K⁻¹. It uses absolute zero as its null point and increments equal to those of the Celsius scale. One kelvin equals one degree Celsius in magnitude but starts at absolute zero, representing the lowest physically possible temperature [bipm-si-brochure]. The kelvin scale was named after William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin, who proposed an absolute thermodynamic temperature scale in 1848. It was formally adopted as an SI base unit in 1967–1968 by the CGPM to provide a universal temperature standard based on fundamental constants [cgpm-resolutions]. Kelvin is the standard temperature unit in scientific research, thermodynamics, and engineering worldwide. It is the official unit for temperature in physics and chemistry according to the International System of Units (SI), used globally including by NIST and BIPM member countries [nist-si-guide].
Common Misspellings
People often search for this conversion using these alternate spellings: celcius, celsious, celcius, celsius degree, kelvin degree, kelvins, kelvins unit, kelvian, kelvins scale. All of these refer to the Celsius to Kelvin conversion.
FAQ
Why can't I just multiply Celsius by a factor to get Kelvin?
Celsius and Kelvin share the same unit size; the difference is a constant offset of 273.15. Multiplying would distort the temperature scale.
Where is the Celsius to Kelvin conversion commonly applied?
It is widely used in physics and chemistry, especially when applying the ideal gas law, where absolute temperature in Kelvin is required.