Celsius to Kelvin (°C to K) conversion calculator
Kelvin to Celsius (K to °C) (Swap units)
20°C = 293.15K
Note: You can increase or decrease the accuracy of this answer by selecting the number of significant figures required from the options above the result.
Celsius to Kelvin (°C to K) conversion formula
Kelvin = Celsius + 273.15
Celsius to Kelvin calculation
Kelvin = Celsius + 273.15
Kelvin = 0 + 273.15
Kelvin = 273.15
Converting from Celsius to Kelvin
Celsius to Kelvin conversions are easy as the degree interval between both scales are identical. To convert Celsius to Kelvin simply add 273.15 to the value.
For example, if you had a temperature of 25 degrees Celsius, add 273.15 to this as follows: 25 + 273.15 = 298.15K.
For every change of a degree Celsius, it is equivalent to a change of one degree in Kelvin.
Why convert from Celsius to Kelvin?
Celsius is commonly used for everyday measurements whereas Kelvin is preferred for scientific calculations- the scales are essentially the same but start in a different place. The Kelvin scale is an absolute temperature scale that starts at absolute zero.
One of the reasons that you might want to convert from Celsius to Kelvin is to get rid of negative values. In the Celsius scale zero degrees represents the freezing point of water so everything below this has a negative value which can make certain calculations tricky. By converting to Kelvin you eliminate all negative values (as you cannot have a negative Kelvin temperature) which can make calculations easier.
Also, Kelvin is used extensively in science equations such as the ideal gas law and thermodynamics. Equations on this subject involve temperature differences or ratios and using Kelvin ensures that the calculations are consistent
About the Celsius scale
Celsius is a unit of temperature also known as centigrade. It is named after the Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius who created the scale in 1742. The Celsius scale is the most commonly used temperature scale worldwide despite not being widespread in the US.
Celsius divides the range between the freezing and boiling points of water into 100 equal degrees. The freezing point of water is 0 degrees Celsius (0°C) and the boiling point of water is 100 degrees Celsius (100°C). This makes it convenient for measuring everyday temperatures.
Celsius is normally used in weather forecasts (apart from in the US), science and general temperature measurements. It provides a simple way to express temperature with positive values indicating temperatures above freezing and negative values for temperatures below freezing.
About the Kelvin scale
Kelvin is based on Celsius but with a different starting point. It is an absolute scale meaning that it starts at absolute zero; the point at which all molecular motion ceases. The Celsius scale starts at the freezing point of water.
Each increment of the Kelvin scale is the same as a Celsius degree. The difference is the zero point; on the Kelvin scale is absolute zero which is equivalent to -273.15 degrees Celsius. This means that the Kelvin scale doesn't have negative values as all temperatures are measured relative to absolute zero.
The Kelvin scale is almost exclusively used in science such as physics and chemistry.
What happens at absolute zero (0K)?
At absolute zero, 0 Kelvin (0K) or -273.15 degrees Celsius, the temperature is at the lowest possible point anything can possibly be. At this temperature the kinetic energy of atoms and molecules is zero causing them to come to a complete standstill. All molecular motion ceases and matter becomes still.
Several amazing phenomena occur here. As there is no molecular motion there is no heat energy and this has significant implications for the physical properties of the substance. For example, materials become very brittle and their electrical resistance becomes zero. Gases and liquids freeze into solids.
Scientists have never cooled anything down to absolute zero. However they have been able to see the effects of approaching absolute zero. This has provided insights into the behavior of matter and have led to the understanding of superconductors and Bose-Einstein condensates.
Celsius to Kelvin table
Starting value
Increment
Accuracy
Celsius
Kelvin
0°C
273.15000K
1°C
274.15000K
2°C
275.15000K
3°C
276.15000K
4°C
277.15000K
5°C
278.15000K
6°C
279.15000K
7°C
280.15000K
8°C
281.15000K
9°C
282.15000K
11°C
284.15000K
12°C
285.15000K
13°C
286.15000K
14°C
287.15000K
15°C
288.15000K
16°C
289.15000K
17°C
290.15000K
18°C
291.15000K
19°C
292.15000K
Celsius
Kelvin
20°C
293.15000K
21°C
294.15000K
22°C
295.15000K
23°C
296.15000K
24°C
297.15000K
25°C
298.15000K
26°C
299.15000K
27°C
300.15000K
28°C
301.15000K
29°C
302.15000K
30°C
303.15000K
31°C
304.15000K
32°C
305.15000K
33°C
306.15000K
34°C
307.15000K
35°C
308.15000K
36°C
309.15000K
37°C
310.15000K
38°C
311.15000K
39°C
312.15000K
Celsius
Kelvin
40°C
313.15000K
41°C
314.15000K
42°C
315.15000K
43°C
316.15000K
44°C
317.15000K
45°C
318.15000K
46°C
319.15000K
47°C
320.15000K
48°C
321.15000K
49°C
322.15000K
50°C
323.15000K
51°C
324.15000K
52°C
325.15000K
53°C
326.15000K
54°C
327.15000K
55°C
328.15000K
56°C
329.15000K
57°C
330.15000K
58°C
331.15000K
59°C
332.15000K
Celsius
Kelvin
60°C
333.15000K
61°C
334.15000K
62°C
335.15000K
63°C
336.15000K
64°C
337.15000K
65°C
338.15000K
66°C
339.15000K
67°C
340.15000K
68°C
341.15000K
69°C
342.15000K
70°C
343.15000K
71°C
344.15000K
72°C
345.15000K
73°C
346.15000K
74°C
347.15000K
75°C
348.15000K
76°C
349.15000K
77°C
350.15000K
78°C
351.15000K
79°C
352.15000K
