Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you purchase through our links at no extra cost to you.
1 degree Celsius is equal to 274.15 kelvin.
When converting 1 c to kelvin, you add 273.15 to the Celsius value. This is because kelvin and Celsius have the same interval size, but kelvin starts at absolute zero, which is -273.15°C. So, 1°C is 273.15 higher when expressed in kelvin.
Table of Contents
Conversion Tool
Result in kelvin:
Conversion Formula
To convert degrees Celsius (c) to kelvin (K), you just add 273.15 to the Celsius number. Both temperature units increase by 1 at the same rate, but kelvin starts at absolute zero.
The formula goes like this:
K = °C + 273.15
Example step-by-step calculation for 1 c:
- Start with your Celsius value: 1
- Add 273.15 to it: 1 + 273.15
- Final result: 274.15 kelvin
This formula works because scientists set 0 K as absolute zero, which is the lowest temperature possible. Celsius scale places freezing of water at 0°C, so kelvin is always 273.15 higher than Celsius at any point.
Conversion Example
- Convert -10 c to kelvin:
- Take -10
- Add 273.15: -10 + 273.15 = 263.15
- So, -10°C = 263.15 K
- Convert 15 c to kelvin:
- Start with 15
- Add 273.15: 15 + 273.15 = 288.15
- So, 15°C is 288.15 kelvin
- Convert 0 c to kelvin:
- Start from zero
- 0 + 273.15 = 273.15
- So, 0°C is 273.15 K
- Convert 25 c to kelvin:
- Take 25
- Add 273.15: 25 + 273.15 = 298.15
- So, 25°C equals 298.15 K
- Convert -24 c to kelvin:
- Value is -24
- -24 + 273.15 = 249.15
- So, -24°C equals 249.15 K
Conversion Chart
This chart gives c values from -24.0 up to 26.0, each one converted to kelvin. Find the Celsius value in the first column, then look at the kelvin value right next to it. It helps quick comparisons or checking your math if you’re unsure. The increments are by 2 degrees, including decimals for accuracy.
| Celsius (°C) | Kelvin (K) |
|---|---|
| -24.0 | 249.15 |
| -22.0 | 251.15 |
| -20.0 | 253.15 |
| -18.0 | 255.15 |
| -16.0 | 257.15 |
| -14.0 | 259.15 |
| -12.0 | 261.15 |
| -10.0 | 263.15 |
| -8.0 | 265.15 |
| -6.0 | 267.15 |
| -4.0 | 269.15 |
| -2.0 | 271.15 |
| 0.0 | 273.15 |
| 2.0 | 275.15 |
| 4.0 | 277.15 |
| 6.0 | 279.15 |
| 8.0 | 281.15 |
| 10.0 | 283.15 |
| 12.0 | 285.15 |
| 14.0 | 287.15 |
| 16.0 | 289.15 |
| 18.0 | 291.15 |
| 20.0 | 293.15 |
| 22.0 | 295.15 |
| 24.0 | 297.15 |
| 26.0 | 299.15 |
Related Conversion Questions
- What is the formula to turn 1 c into kelvin?
- How many kelvin does 1 degree Celsius equal?
- Why do scientists add 273.15 when switching from c to kelvin?
- Is 1 c above absolute zero in kelvin?
- How would 1 c compare to 1 K in temperature?
- If I have 1 degree Celsius, what is that in kelvin for chemistry?
- What’s the difference between 1 c and 1 kelvin in measurements?
Conversion Definitions
c: Celsius (°C) is a temperature unit where 0°C marks the freezing point of water and 100°C marks boiling, at standard atmospheric pressure. The Celsius scale is used in daily weather, science labs, and many countries prefer it for nearly all temperature readings.
kelvin: Kelvin (K) is the SI base unit for temperature. Its zero point means absolute zero, the coldest possible. Each kelvin increment is equal to one Celsius degree, but the kelvin scale doesn’t use the degree symbol. Used in physics, chemistry, and scientific research worldwide.
Conversion FAQs
Does converting c to kelvin ever lead to negative temperatures?
No, you can’t get negative numbers in kelvin. It start at absolute zero, which is 0 K and the lowest temperature possible. If you have a very low Celsius value, adding 273.15 will always give a positive kelvin number unless you use numbers below -273.15°C, which isn’t physical.
Why do kelvin values not use the degree symbol?
Kelvin is considered an absolute temperature scale, so it just uses “K” and not “°K.” The degree symbol is reserved for relative scales like Celsius and Fahrenheit. This makes it clearer that 0 K is a physically meaningful minimum, not just a point on a relative scale.
Can I use this conversion for scientific calculations?
Yes, for most chemistry, physics, and engineering problems, converting Celsius to kelvin by adding 273.15 is accurate and expected. Calculations involving gas laws, thermodynamics, or molecular movement always need kelvin, not Celsius, for proper formulas.
Is there any rounding needed when converting from c to kelvin?
Usually the result has two decimal places, but some science uses more precision. If your measurement is to the nearest whole degree, then 273.15 is enough. Sometimes, you might see textbooks round to 273, but 273.15 is standard for accurate work.
