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Celsius to Kelvin Converter

Convert Celsius to Kelvin for physics, chemistry and engineering work.

Online Converter

Convert Celsius to Kelvin

274.15

Conversion Formula

K = °C + 273.15

1 °C in every temperature unit

Tap a unit to make it the target of the converter above.

About celsius to kelvin conversion

The Kelvin scale starts at absolute zero, the lowest temperature possible, and each step is the same size as one degree Celsius. That makes the conversion a simple shift: add 273.15 to the Celsius value. Kelvin is the SI unit of temperature and is written without a degree sign.

1 °C = 274.15 K
1 K = -272.15 °C
K = °C + 273.15

How to use this converter

  1. 1

    Enter a value

    Type a number into the From box. It starts at 1 so you can see the basic ratio straight away. Thousands separators such as 1,250.5 are accepted.

  2. 2

    Choose your units

    This page opens with its own units selected. Use either dropdown to pick any other unit in the category, or tap a unit in the all-units list to make it the target.

  3. 3

    Read the result

    The answer updates as you type and the matching formula is shown underneath. There is no Convert button to press.

  4. 4

    Swap, copy or clear

    Swap reverses the direction, Copy Result copies a line such as 1 km = 0.621371 mi, and Clear empties the input so you can start again.

Supported formats

Input

  • Supported
    Whole numbers25
  • Supported
    Decimal numbers2.75

    Use a dot as the decimal separator.

  • Supported
    Negative numbers-40

    Calculated for every unit. Quantities such as length or weight are normally positive, while temperatures can be negative.

  • Supported
    Thousands separators1,250.5

    Commas must group digits in threes. 1,234 is read as one thousand two hundred thirty-four.

  • Supported
    Scientific notation1.5e6

    Useful for very large or very small values (1.5e6 = 1,500,000).

  • Not supported
    Comma as decimal mark2,5

    Type 2.5 instead.

  • Not supported
    Fractions1/2

    Type 0.5 instead.

  • Not supported
    Numbers with unit text5 km

    Enter only the number and choose the unit from the dropdown.

Output

Results use US English formatting (1,234.56) and show up to 2 decimal places with trailing zeros removed. Very small results appear in scientific notation, such as 9.0949e-13, instead of rounding to zero.

Units available in this converter

  • Celsius (°C)
  • Fahrenheit (°F)
  • Kelvin (K)

Quick reference tables

Common values for the units currently selected above, in both directions.

Celsius to Kelvin
°CK
-40233.15
-10263.15
0273.15
10283.15
20293.15
37310.15
100373.15
Kelvin to Celsius
K°C
-40-313.15
-10-283.15
0-273.15
10-263.15
20-253.15
37-236.15
100-173.15

Worked examples

Absolute zero

-273.15 °C0 K
-273.15 + 273.15 = 0

Water freezes

0 °C273.15 K
0 + 273.15 = 273.15

Room temperature

20 °C293.15 K
20 + 273.15 = 293.15

Water boils at sea level

100 °C373.15 K
100 + 273.15 = 373.15

Good to know and limitations

Tips

  • Temperature differences are identical on both scales: a 10 °C rise is also a 10 K rise.
  • Kelvin cannot go below 0, so any Celsius value below -273.15 is physically impossible.
  • Converts a temperature reading, not a temperature difference. A change of 10 °C is a change of 18 °F, using 9/5 without the +32 offset.
  • Values below absolute zero (0 K, -273.15 °C, -459.67 °F) are physically impossible. The tool still calculates them but shows a warning.
  • Rankine and Réaumur scales are not supported.
  • Results show up to 2 decimal places. Values are not rounded during calculation, and a non-zero result that would display as 0 is shown in scientific notation.

Frequently asked questions

What is 1 °C in K?

1 Celsius (°C) equals 274.15 Kelvin (K).

How do I convert Celsius to Kelvin by hand?

Use K = °C + 273.15. For example, -273.15 °C = 0 K.

What is 1 K in °C?

1 Kelvin (K) equals -272.15 Celsius (°C). Use the swap button to convert in this direction.

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