1 °F at a glance
- Celsius
- −17.22 °C
- Exact fraction
- −17 2/9 °C
- Kelvin
- 255.93 K
- Rankine
- 460.67 °R
- Rounded
- −17 °C
- Quick estimate
- −14.5 °C
How to convert 1 °F to Celsius
(1 − 32) × 5/9 = −31 × 5/9 = −155/9 = −17.22 °C
Subtract 32 first because the two scales put zero in different places, then multiply by 5/9 because a Fahrenheit degree is only 5/9 the size of a Celsius degree. −31 is not a multiple of 9, so the exact answer is the repeating decimal −17 2/9 °C.
Estimate it in your head
Subtract 30 and halve: (1 − 30) ÷ 2 = −14.5 °C. That is 2.7 degrees high, close enough to decide what to wear.
What 1 °F means in everyday life
- Freezers. Home freezers should hold 0 °F (−17.8 °C), so 1 °F is 1 degrees warmer than a properly set freezer — still cold enough to keep ice solid.
- Ice. At −17.22 °C, puddles, ponds and wet roads freeze. Rock salt melts ice well near 32 °F but works more and more slowly as pavement temperatures drop into the teens and below.
- Wind chill. With wind, 1 °F feels much colder:
| Wind | Feels like | In °C | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 mph | −15 °F | −26 °C | Cover exposed skin |
| 20 mph | −21 °F | −29 °C | Frostbite possible in 30 min or less |
| 30 mph | −25 °F | −31 °C | Frostbite possible in 30 min or less |
Temperatures near 1 °F
| Fahrenheit | Celsius | Kelvin |
|---|---|---|
| −4 °F | −20 °C | 253.15 K |
| −3 °F | −19.44 °C | 253.71 K |
| −2 °F | −18.89 °C | 254.26 K |
| −1 °F | −18.33 °C | 254.82 K |
| 0 °F | −17.78 °C | 255.37 K |
| 1 °F | −17.22 °C | 255.93 K |
| 2 °F | −16.67 °C | 256.48 K |
| 3 °F | −16.11 °C | 257.04 K |
| 4 °F | −15.56 °C | 257.59 K |
| 5 °F | −15 °C | 258.15 K |
| 6 °F | −14.44 °C | 258.71 K |
Going the other way: −17 °C in Fahrenheit is 1.4 °F.
Frequently asked questions
What is 1 °F in Celsius?
1 °F is −17.22 °C: subtract 32 (−31) and multiply by 5/9.
Is 1 °F hot or cold?
1 °F is below freezing — water turns to ice and roads can be slick.
How do you convert 1 °F to Celsius in your head?
Subtract 30 and divide by 2: (1 − 30) ÷ 2 = −14.5 °C, compared with the exact −17.22 °C.
What is 1 °F in Kelvin?
1 °F is 255.93 K. Convert to Celsius (−17.22 °C) and add 273.15.