Oven Temperature Conversion: Celsius, Fahrenheit, Fan-Forced and Gas Mark
A quick chart for converting oven temperatures between Celsius, Fahrenheit, fan-forced and gas mark, plus how to adjust a recipe for your oven.
An American recipe says 350°F, a British one says gas mark 4, and your Australian oven is marked in degrees Celsius with a fan symbol. Here is a chart to translate them all.
The chart
| Celsius (conventional) | Celsius (fan-forced) | Fahrenheit | Gas mark | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 120°C | 100°C | 250°F | 1/2 | Very slow |
| 140°C | 120°C | 275°F | 1 | Slow |
| 150°C | 130°C | 300°F | 2 | Slow |
| 160°C | 140°C | 325°F | 3 | Moderately slow |
| 170°C | 150°C | 340°F | 3 to 4 | Moderate |
| 180°C | 160°C | 350°F | 4 | Moderate |
| 190°C | 170°C | 375°F | 5 | Moderately hot |
| 200°C | 180°C | 400°F | 6 | Moderately hot |
| 220°C | 200°C | 425°F | 7 | Hot |
| 230°C | 210°C | 450°F | 8 | Hot |
| 240°C | 220°C | 475°F | 9 | Very hot |
| 250°C | 230°C | 500°F | n/a | Very hot |
Treat the Fahrenheit and gas mark figures as the nearest standard setting. Ovens are not precise enough for the difference to matter.
The quick rules
- Fan-forced: take 20°C off the conventional temperature.
- Celsius to Fahrenheit: multiply by 1.8, then add 32. For example, 180 x 1.8 = 324, plus 32 = 356, which is rounded to 350°F.
- Fahrenheit to Celsius: subtract 32, then divide by 1.8. For example, 400 - 32 = 368, divided by 1.8 = 204, which rounds to 200°C.
Conventional vs fan-forced
A conventional oven heats from elements at the top and bottom and the air stays still. A fan-forced oven circulates the air, which moves heat to the food faster and more evenly. That is why you lower the temperature.
- Baking cakes: lower by 20°C, and check early. Fan ovens can brown the top before the middle is set.
- Roasting: fan-forced gives crispier results on vegetables and potatoes.
- Delicate bakes like meringues and cheesecakes: use the conventional setting if your oven has one, or lower the fan temperature a little more.
- Many trays at once: fan-forced is better, because the air keeps moving around each tray.
Your oven may be lying
Home ovens are often 10 to 20°C off, and the temperature swings as the element switches on and off. If a recipe never seems to work for you, an oven thermometer is a very cheap fix. Hang it from the middle shelf, preheat for 20 minutes and compare.
Other habits that help:
- Preheat properly. Most ovens beep before they are really up to temperature. Wait another 10 minutes.
- Do not open the door unnecessarily, especially for cakes, because each peek drops the temperature.
- Rotate trays halfway through, since most ovens have hot spots.
- Use the middle shelf for most baking.
Cooking times
Temperature conversions do not change the cooking time by much, but fan-forced ovens and high-heat settings can finish food faster. Start checking about 5 to 10 minutes before the recipe says, and judge by the food: a skewer for cakes, a thermometer for meat, and colour for bakes.
Related guides
For ingredient conversions, see cups to grams for 20 common ingredients, and to resize a recipe, see how to scale a recipe up or down.
Common questions
How do I convert a conventional oven recipe to fan-forced?
Reduce the temperature by about 20°C. A recipe that says 180°C conventional would be about 160°C in a fan-forced oven. Check the food a little earlier, as fan-forced ovens can cook faster.
What is 180°C in Fahrenheit?
180°C is about 350°F, the standard moderate oven temperature for cakes and many bakes.
Why is my food cooking too fast or too slow?
Many home ovens are off by 10 to 20°C. An oven thermometer hung on a rack shows the real temperature, and it is one of the cheapest ways to improve your cooking.
Do I need to preheat the oven?
For baking, yes. Cakes, bread and pastry depend on starting at the right temperature. For roasts and casseroles it matters less, but preheating still gives more reliable results.
Your recipes, pantry and macros in one place
- Import any recipe from a link or a photo of a cookbook page
- Browse a new themed Recipe Library every week
- Cook Mode shows one step at a time, with only the ingredients you need
- Check products for pesticides and seed oils before they reach your trolley
- Snap your plate to estimate calories and macros
