Kelvin is the International System temperature unit used in physics, chemistry and astronomy. Understanding how to convert from Kelvin to Celsius allows you to interpret scientific data and material technical specifications.
The Kelvin scale starts at absolute zero (the theoretically lowest possible temperature), which corresponds to -273.15°C. The graduation is identical to Celsius: a difference of 1 K equals a difference of 1°C.
📐 Formula
°C = K − 273.15
📊 Reference table
| Kelvin (K) | Celsius (°C) | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | -273.15 | Absolute zero |
| 100 | -173.15 | Liquid nitrogen |
| 273 | -0.15 | Freezing point |
| 273.15 | 0 | Exact 0°C |
| 293 | 19.85 | Room temperature |
| 310 | 36.85 | Body temperature |
| 373.15 | 100 | Boiling water |
| 1000 | 726.85 | Molten metal |
💡 Practical examples
Example 1: 300 K (laboratory)
300 − 273.15 = 26.85°C. A standard laboratory temperature of 300 K corresponds to about 27°C.
Example 2: 0 K (absolute zero)
0 − 273.15 = -273.15°C. Absolute zero, the theoretical minimum temperature of the universe.
Example 3: 5,778 K (Sun's surface)
5,778 − 273.15 = 5,504.85°C. The surface temperature of the Sun expressed in Kelvin.