Formula – How to convert Celsius to Kelvin
K = °C + 273.15
Add 273.15 to the temperature in Celsius.
Example
Find 30°C in Kelvin:
30 + 273.15 = 303.15K
What is the difference between Celsius and Kelvin?
Celsius and Kelvin both operate on the same interval – an increase in one degree of one is the same as an increase of one degree in the other.
Celsius is benchmarked between the freezing point of water (0°C, or 273.15K) and the boiling point of water (100°C, or 373.15K).
Kelvin is benchmarked from the temperature Absolute 0, the coldest temperature possible in the universe.
Unlike Celsius, Fahrenheit, and Rankine, Kelvin does not use a degree scale (°). The units of temperature in kelvin are simply noted as “K” not “°K”
Who uses Celsius and Kelvin?
Celsius is a common temperature scale (along with Fahrenheit) for temperature measurements, specifically weather.
Kelvin is used in the scientific community, specifically the physical sciences.
Sources and more resources
- Wikipedia – Celsius, Kelvin, Conversion of Units of Temperature, and Scale of Temperature – An introduction to both temperature scales and the concept of a temperature scale.
- ISO 80000-5:2019 – The ISO standard defining temperature.
- NIST Physical Measurement Laboratory – SI Units – Temperature – Details on temperature by the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
- Prof. James Schombert, Department of Physics, University of Oregon – Temperature Scale (Glossary) – An overview of the 3 common temperature scales of today, Celsius, Fahrenheit, and Kelvin.