42 °F at a glance
- Celsius
- 5.56 °C
- Exact fraction
- 5 5/9 °C
- Kelvin
- 278.71 K
- Rankine
- 501.67 °R
- Rounded
- 6 °C
- Quick estimate
- 6 °C
How to convert 42 °F to Celsius
°C = (°F − 32) × 5/9
(42 − 32) × 5/9 = 10 × 5/9 = 50/9 = 5.56 °C
(42 − 32) × 5/9 = 10 × 5/9 = 50/9 = 5.56 °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. 10 is not a multiple of 9, so the exact answer is the repeating decimal 5 5/9 °C.
Estimate it in your head
Subtract 30 and halve: (42 − 30) ÷ 2 = 6 °C. That is 0.4 degrees high, close enough to decide what to wear.
What 42 °F means
- Just outside the fridge zone. Refrigerators should stay at 40 °F (4.4 °C) or below; at 42 °F perishable food left out is above that line and starts to warm toward the 40–140 °F danger zone.
- Dress for it. 42 °F calls for a warm jacket, especially with wind; the wind chill index applies at 50 °F and below.
| Wind | Feels like | In °C | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 mph | 36 °F | 2 °C | Dress in layers |
| 20 mph | 33 °F | 1 °C | Dress in layers |
| 30 mph | 31 °F | 0 °C | Dress in layers |
Temperatures near 42 °F
| Fahrenheit | Celsius | Kelvin |
|---|---|---|
| 37 °F | 2.78 °C | 275.93 K |
| 38 °F | 3.33 °C | 276.48 K |
| 39 °F | 3.89 °C | 277.04 K |
| 40 °F | 4.44 °C | 277.59 K |
| 41 °F | 5 °C | 278.15 K |
| 42 °F | 5.56 °C | 278.71 K |
| 43 °F | 6.11 °C | 279.26 K |
| 44 °F | 6.67 °C | 279.82 K |
| 45 °F | 7.22 °C | 280.37 K |
| 46 °F | 7.78 °C | 280.93 K |
| 47 °F | 8.33 °C | 281.48 K |
Going the other way: 6 °C in Fahrenheit is 42.8 °F.
Frequently asked questions
What is 42 °F in Celsius?
42 °F is 5.56 °C: subtract 32 (10) and multiply by 5/9.
Is 42 °F hot or cold?
42 °F is cold — above freezing, but coat weather.
How do you convert 42 °F to Celsius in your head?
Subtract 30 and divide by 2: (42 − 30) ÷ 2 = 6 °C, compared with the exact 5.56 °C.
What is 42 °F in Kelvin?
42 °F is 278.71 K. Convert to Celsius (5.56 °C) and add 273.15.