Temperature Converter
Convert between different units of temperature such as Celsius, Fahrenheit, and Kelvin.
- You are currently converting Temperature units.
- For more accurate results, use decimal values when needed.
Introduction to Unit Converter
The Unit Converter is a versatile tool designed to help you convert between different units of measurement across multiple categories including Length, Weight/Mass, Volume, Area, Speed, Pressure, Temperature, Time, Digital Storage, Data Transfer Rate, Energy, Frequency, Fuel Economy, Plane Angle, Power, Torque, Electric Current, Illuminance, Solid Angle, Data Size Rate, Dynamic Viscosity, Radioactivity, and Resolution. Whether you're working on construction plans, DIY projects, scientific calculations, cooking, educational assignments, or technical fields, this tool simplifies the process of converting between different unit systems.
Unit conversion is essential for many fields including engineering, architecture, navigation, physics, construction, cooking, medicine, and everyday tasks. This calculator handles a wide range of units from the metric system, imperial/US system, and specialized units for scientific and technical applications.
How to Use
Basic Usage
- Select the type of conversion from the "Conversion Type" dropdown (Length, Weight/Mass, etc.).
- Enter the numerical value you want to convert in the "Value" field.
- Select the source unit from the "From" dropdown menu.
- Select the target unit from the "To" dropdown menu.
- The conversion result will be displayed automatically.
Supported Unit Categories
- Length: Meters, feet, inches, kilometers, miles, etc.
- Weight/Mass: Kilograms, pounds, grams, ounces, etc.
- Volume: Liters, gallons, cubic meters, fluid ounces, etc.
- Area: Square meters, square feet, acres, hectares, etc.
- Speed: Miles per hour, kilometers per hour, meters per second, etc.
- Pressure: Pascal, PSI, bar, atmospheres, etc.
- Temperature: Celsius, Fahrenheit, Kelvin, etc.
- Time: Seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, etc.
- Digital Storage: Bytes, kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes, etc.
- Data Transfer Rate: Bits per second, bytes per second, etc.
- Energy: Joules, calories, kilowatt-hours, BTUs, etc.
- Frequency: Hertz, kilohertz, megahertz, gigahertz, etc.
- Fuel Economy: Miles per gallon, kilometers per liter, etc.
- Plane Angle: Degrees, radians, gradians, etc.
- Power: Watts, kilowatts, horsepower, etc.
- Torque: Newton meters, pound-feet, etc.
- Electric Current: Amperes, milliamperes, etc.
- Illuminance: Lux, foot-candles, etc.
- Angle (Solid): Steradians, square degrees, etc.
- Data Size Rate: Megabytes per hour, gigabytes per day, etc.
- Dynamic Viscosity: Pascal second, poise, etc.
- Radioactivity: Becquerels, curies, etc.
- Resolution: Pixels per inch, dots per inch, etc.
Input Field
The "Value" field accepts any positive number. For convenience, there are quick value buttons (1, 5, 10, 100) that you can click to quickly set common values.
Unit Selection
The unit dropdowns contain a comprehensive list of units organized by system (Metric, Imperial/US, and others depending on the category). Simply scroll through the list or type to search for the unit you need.
Interpreting Results
The results section clearly shows the original value in the source unit and the converted value in the target unit. The conversion formula is also displayed, showing the relationship between the two units (e.g., 1 meter = 3.28084 feet).
For very large or very small numbers, scientific notation may be used to display the result in a readable format. The precision of the displayed result adapts based on the magnitude of the numbers.
You can also copy the conversion result to your clipboard by clicking the copy button in the results card.
Methodology and Formulas
Conversions are performed using precise conversion factors between units. Most conversions are done in relation to a base unit for consistency and accuracy:
- For Length: meter
- For Weight/Mass: kilogram
- For Volume: cubic meter or liter
- For Area: square meter
- For Speed: meter per second
- For Pressure: pascal
- For Temperature: kelvin (though special formulas are used, not just conversion factors)
- For Time: second
- For Digital Storage: byte
- For Data Transfer Rate: bit per second
- For Energy: joule
- For Frequency: hertz
- For Fuel Economy: kilometers per liter
- For Plane Angle: radian
- For Power: watt
- For Torque: newton meter
- For Electric Current: ampere
- For Illuminance: lux
- For Angle (Solid): steradian
- For Data Size Rate: byte per second
- For Dynamic Viscosity: pascal second
- For Radioactivity: becquerel
- For Resolution: pixel per meter
Common Conversion Factors by Category
Length
| Unit | Symbol | Meters Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Meter | m | 1 |
| Kilometer | km | 1,000 |
| Centimeter | cm | 0.01 |
| Millimeter | mm | 0.001 |
| Foot | ft | 0.3048 |
| Inch | in | 0.0254 |
| Mile | mi | 1,609.344 |
Weight/Mass
| Unit | Symbol | Kilograms Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Kilogram | kg | 1 |
| Gram | g | 0.001 |
| Pound | lb | 0.453592 |
| Ounce | oz | 0.0283495 |
| Metric Ton | t | 1,000 |
Volume
| Unit | Symbol | Liters Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Liter | L | 1 |
| Milliliter | mL | 0.001 |
| US Gallon | gal | 3.78541 |
| US Quart | qt | 0.946353 |
| Cubic Meter | m³ | 1,000 |
Temperature Conversion Formulas
Temperature conversions use special formulas rather than simple multiplication factors:
| Conversion | Formula |
|---|---|
| Celsius to Fahrenheit | °F = (°C × 9/5) + 32 |
| Fahrenheit to Celsius | °C = (°F - 32) × 5/9 |
| Celsius to Kelvin | K = °C + 273.15 |
| Kelvin to Celsius | °C = K - 273.15 |
| Fahrenheit to Kelvin | K = (°F - 32) × 5/9 + 273.15 |
| Kelvin to Fahrenheit | °F = (K - 273.15) × 9/5 + 32 |
Time
| Unit | Symbol | Seconds Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Second | s | 1 |
| Minute | min | 60 |
| Hour | h | 3,600 |
| Day | d | 86,400 |
| Week | wk | 604,800 |
| Month (average) | mo | 2,629,746 |
| Year | yr | 31,536,000 |
Digital Storage
| Unit | Symbol | Bytes Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Byte | B | 1 |
| Kilobyte | KB | 1,000 |
| Megabyte | MB | 1,000,000 |
| Gigabyte | GB | 1,000,000,000 |
| Terabyte | TB | 1,000,000,000,000 |
| Kibibyte | KiB | 1,024 |
| Mebibyte | MiB | 1,048,576 |
| Gibibyte | GiB | 1,073,741,824 |
Conversion Formula
To convert from one unit to another, the calculator uses the following approach:
- Convert the source value to the base unit using its conversion factor
- Convert from the base unit to the target unit using the target unit's conversion factor
The general formula is:
Target Value = Source Value × (Source Unit in Base Units) ÷ (Target Unit in Base Units)
For example, to convert 5 feet to meters:
Meters = 5 ft × 0.3048 m/ft = 1.524 m
Real-World Applications
Construction and Engineering
- Converting between imperial and metric measurements on building plans
- Calculating material requirements for construction
- Converting pressure measurements in hydraulic and pneumatic systems
- Determining appropriate dimensions for mechanical parts
Science and Education
- Converting units in physics and chemistry problems
- Standardizing measurements for scientific reports
- Teaching the relationship between different measurement systems
- Converting values for lab experiments and research
Cooking and Food
- Converting recipe measurements between metric and imperial units
- Scaling recipes up or down using different volume units
- Converting weights for food portions and nutritional information
- Adapting recipes from different countries with different measurement systems
Travel and Navigation
- Converting between miles, kilometers, and nautical miles
- Understanding speeds in different units (mph, km/h, knots)
- Converting fuel volumes when traveling internationally
- Understanding area measurements for land and properties
Manufacturing and Industry
- Converting specifications between measurement systems
- Working with international suppliers and clients
- Converting pressure readings for industrial equipment
- Ensuring precision in product dimensions
Health and Medicine
- Converting between pounds and kilograms for patient weights
- Converting medication dosages based on weight
- Measuring blood pressure in different units (mmHg, kPa)
- Converting volumes for fluid intake and output monitoring
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are there different unit systems?
Different unit systems evolved independently across cultures and regions. The metric system (SI) was developed in the late 18th century to create a standardized, decimal-based system. The imperial system evolved from traditional English units. Today, the United States is one of the few countries that still primarily uses imperial units, while most of the world has adopted the metric system.
How accurate are the conversions?
The conversions are based on standard, internationally recognized conversion factors and are calculated with high precision. However, displayed results may be rounded for readability. For scientific or highly precise work, always verify the conversion factors being used.
What's the difference between mass and weight?
Mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object and remains constant regardless of location. Weight is a force that results from gravity acting on mass and varies depending on the gravitational field. On Earth, we often use the terms interchangeably in everyday language, but they are different physical quantities. The converter uses standard Earth gravity for converting between mass and weight units.
Why do some results show in scientific notation?
Very large numbers (like astronomical distances) or very small numbers (like microscopic measurements) are displayed in scientific notation for clarity. For example, 2,500,000,000 meters would be displayed as 2.5 × 10^9 meters.
How do I convert between units not listed in the calculator?
You can perform multi-step conversions using common intermediate units. For example, to convert from a unit A to unit C, you might first convert from A to B, then from B to C. The calculator supports a comprehensive list of units, so this shouldn't be necessary for most standard conversions.
Command Palette
Search for a command to run...