Oven Temperature Conversions for Cooking and Baking
Every oven speaks a different language. US recipes give temperatures in Fahrenheit. European recipes use Celsius. British and Australian recipes often use gas marks. If your oven dial and your recipe disagree, you need a conversion before you preheat.
This converter handles all three. Enter any temperature in Fahrenheit, Celsius, or gas mark and get the equivalent in all three systems instantly.
Complete Oven Temperature Reference Chart
| Fahrenheit | Celsius | Gas Mark | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 225°F | 107°C | Gas Mark 1/4 | Very low / warm |
| 250°F | 121°C | Gas Mark 1/2 | Very low |
| 275°F | 135°C | Gas Mark 1 | Low |
| 300°F | 149°C | Gas Mark 2 | Low to moderate |
| 325°F | 163°C | Gas Mark 3 | Moderate |
| 350°F | 177°C | Gas Mark 4 | Moderate |
| 375°F | 190°C | Gas Mark 5 | Moderate to hot |
| 400°F | 204°C | Gas Mark 6 | Hot |
| 425°F | 218°C | Gas Mark 7 | Hot |
| 450°F | 232°C | Gas Mark 8 | Very hot |
| 475°F | 246°C | Gas Mark 9 | Very hot |
| 500°F | 260°C | Gas Mark 10 | Extremely hot / broil |
The Conversion Formulas
You don't need to memorize these. Use the converter above. But here is the math behind it for reference.
Fahrenheit to Celsius: Subtract 32, then multiply by 5/9. Example: 350°F minus 32 equals 318. 318 times 5 divided by 9 equals 176.67°C.
Celsius to Fahrenheit: Multiply by 9/5, then add 32. Example: 180°C times 9 divided by 5 equals 324. 324 plus 32 equals 356°F.
Gas Mark to Celsius: Multiply the gas mark by 25, then add 120. Example: Gas Mark 4 times 25 equals 100. 100 plus 120 equals 220. Note: this formula gives a rough result. The exact values are defined by the UK gas mark scale, which this converter uses directly.
The Most Common Baking Temperatures
325°F / 163°C / Gas Mark 3 is a slow, gentle oven. Use it for cheesecakes, custards, pound cakes, and anything that needs to cook through without browning too fast. Low and slow gives you even heat and a tender crumb.
350°F / 177°C / Gas Mark 4 is the default baking temperature. Most chocolate chip cookies, birthday cakes, brownies, banana bread, and everyday baked goods call for this temperature. When a recipe says moderate oven, it means 350°F.
375°F / 190°C / Gas Mark 5 is slightly hotter. Good for drop cookies, muffins, and quick breads where you want a little color on the top without drying out the center.
400°F / 204°C / Gas Mark 6 is a hot oven. Use it for roasting vegetables, baking pizza, making biscuits, and anything that needs a crispy exterior. Most yeast breads bake at 375°F to 400°F.
425°F to 450°F / 218°C to 232°C / Gas Mark 7 to 8 is very hot. Sheet pan dinners, puff pastry, and artisan bread crusts get their crunch at these temperatures.
Fan Ovens and Convection Ovens
If your oven has a fan or convection setting, it runs hotter than a conventional oven. Fan-assisted heat circulates around the food and removes steam. The result cooks faster and browns more aggressively.
The general rule: reduce the temperature by 25°F (15°C) when switching from conventional to fan. If a recipe says 350°F in a conventional oven, use 325°F in a fan oven. Or keep the temperature the same and reduce the cooking time by 10 to 15 percent.
Some modern ovens in the UK and Europe give temperatures only for fan settings. Most UK recipe books from the past 15 years list fan oven temperatures. If a US recipe calls for 350°F and you have a fan oven, set it to 325°F.
Why Oven Temperatures Vary in Practice
The temperature you set and the temperature inside your oven are rarely identical. Oven thermostats are notoriously imprecise. A study of home ovens found that the actual temperature can vary from the set temperature by as much as 25°F to 50°F. Gas ovens tend to have more variation than electric because the burner cycles on and off.
If your baked goods are consistently browning too fast or taking longer than the recipe says, your oven thermostat is probably off. A standalone oven thermometer costs around $10 and will tell you immediately. Place it in the center of the oven, set the oven to 350°F, and check the reading after 15 minutes of preheating.
Always preheat for at least 15 to 20 minutes before baking. The oven temperature display often shows the target temperature before the interior actually reaches it.
Broiling and High-Heat Cooking
Broiling uses direct top-down radiant heat at 500°F to 550°F (260°C to 288°C). Most broilers are either on or off rather than variable. Place the rack about 4 to 6 inches from the broiler element for most foods. Watch closely because food goes from golden to burned quickly at these temperatures.
For pizza, a temperature of 450°F to 500°F gives you the closest result to a commercial pizza oven in a home setting. Preheat a pizza stone or a heavy baking sheet at that temperature for at least 30 minutes before cooking.