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In this guide
Oven temperature is one of the most common points of confusion when following a recipe from a different country. UK and Australian recipes typically use Celsius; US recipes use Fahrenheit; older British and Irish recipes often use Gas Mark. This guide gives a complete conversion chart, explains the fan-oven adjustment, and links to a free converter for any value not listed here.
Celsius to Fahrenheit: The Exact Formula
$$°F = (°C \times 1.8) + 32$$
For example, 180°C converts exactly to 356°F: $$(180 \times 1.8) + 32 = 356$$. Most printed recipe charts round this to 350°F for simplicity — both figures are correct in context; KitchenConvert’s own oven temperature converter calculates the exact value, while the chart below uses the conventional rounded figures found in most cookbooks.
Complete Oven Temperature Conversion Chart
| Description | °C (conventional) | °C (fan) | °F | Gas Mark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very cool | 120°C | 100°C | 250°F | ½ |
| Cool | 150°C | 130°C | 300°F | 2 |
| Warm | 160°C | 140°C | 325°F | 3 |
| Moderate | 180°C | 160°C | 350°F | 4 |
| Moderately hot | 190°C | 170°C | 375°F | 5 |
| Hot | 200°C | 180°C | 400°F | 6 |
| Very hot | 220°C | 200°C | 425°F | 7 |
| Very hot | 230°C | 210°C | 450°F | 8 |
Fan Oven vs Conventional Oven: The Adjustment Rule
Fan (convection) ovens circulate hot air, cooking more efficiently than conventional ovens, so they need a lower temperature for the same result. The standard adjustment is to reduce the temperature by 20°C (about 25°F) when switching from a conventional to a fan setting — so 180°C conventional becomes 160°C fan.
Why Your Oven Might Be Lying to You
Even with a perfect conversion, oven thermostats drift over time, and it’s not unusual for a domestic oven to run 10–20°C hotter or cooler than its dial suggests — especially in older ovens. If your cakes consistently brown too fast or take longer than expected, an inaccurate thermostat is one of the first things worth checking. An oven thermometer is an inexpensive way to find out your oven’s true temperature.
Gas Mark: A Brief History
Gas Mark is a temperature scale developed for gas ovens, used mainly in the UK and Ireland, predating the widespread adoption of Celsius in British kitchens — which is why many older British cookbooks use it. Gas Mark 4 (180°C/350°F) is the most common baking temperature; Gas Mark 6 (200°C/400°F) is typical for roasting. For more detail, see the Gas Mark guide and the UK baking measurements guide.
US Oven Temperatures
US recipes use Fahrenheit exclusively. Common US baking temperatures include 325°F (160°C/Gas Mark 3), 350°F (180°C/Gas Mark 4), 375°F (190°C/Gas Mark 5), and 400°F (200°C/Gas Mark 6). For more on US baking conventions, see our US baking measurements guide.