Celsius Converter
Convert Celsius to Fahrenheit, Kelvin, and Rankine. Visual thermometer, comfort zone indicator, conversion formulas, and reference temperature table.
Centigrade to Celsius Converter
Are centigrade and Celsius the same? Yes! Convert to Fahrenheit, Kelvin, Rankine, Réaumur, and more. History of the name change, all scales comparison.
Centigrade and Celsius are exactly the same scale
Celsius (≡ Centigrade)⧉
100.00 °C
Both names refer to the same scale
Fahrenheit⧉
212.00 °F
°F = °C × 9/5 + 32
Kelvin⧉
373.15 K
K = °C + 273.15
Rankine⧉
671.67 °R
°R = K × 9/5
Réaumur⧉
80.00 °Ré
°Ré = °C × 4/5
Context⧉
🔥🔥 Extreme heat
Is Centigrade the Same as Celsius?
Yes — they are identical. The name "centigrade" (Latin for "hundred steps") was the original name for the scale. In 1948, the General Conference on Weights and Measures officially renamed it "Celsius" after its inventor, Anders Celsius. There is zero difference in the values: 100° centigrade = 100° Celsius exactly.
All Temperature Scales
| Scale | Symbol | Value | Water Freezes | Water Boils |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Celsius / Centigrade | °C | 100.00 | 0 | 100 |
| Fahrenheit | °F | 212.00 | 32 | 212 |
| Kelvin | K | 373.15 | 273.15 | 373.15 |
| Rankine | °R | 671.67 | 491.67 | 671.67 |
| Réaumur | °Ré | 80.00 | 0 | 80 |
| Newton | °N | 33.00 | 0 | 33 |
| Rømer | °Rø | 60.00 | 7.5 | 60 |
| Delisle | °De | 0.00 | 150 | 0 |
History: Centigrade → Celsius
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1742 | Anders Celsius proposes the scale (inverted: 0=boiling, 100=freezing). |
| 1744 | Carolus Linnaeus inverts the scale to the modern form. |
| 1948 | International committee renames "centigrade" to "Celsius." |
| Today | Celsius and centigrade are identical — the names are interchangeable. |
Planning notes, formulas, and examples
About the Centigrade to Celsius Converter
Are centigrade and Celsius the same thing? The short answer is yes — they are exactly the same temperature scale. "Centigrade" was the original name (Latin for "hundred steps," since the scale has 100 degrees between water's freezing and boiling points). In 1948, the General Conference on Weights and Measures officially renamed it "Celsius" to honor Anders Celsius and to avoid confusion with the "centigrade" unit used in angular measurement.
This converter lets you enter a temperature in centigrade (which is Celsius) and see the equivalent in all seven historical and modern temperature scales: Fahrenheit, Kelvin, Rankine, Réaumur, Newton, Rømer, and Delisle. It also provides a timeline of the centigrade-to-Celsius rename and explains the relationship between all scales.
If you searched for "centigrade to Celsius," you have found your answer: the conversion factor is 1:1 — no math needed! But while you are here, explore the rich history of temperature measurement and learn how the many scales relate to each other.
When This Page Helps
This page answers the common question "is centigrade the same as Celsius?" (yes!) and provides the full context: the history of the name change, conversions to all temperature scales, and a comparison table. It is both an answer and a complete temperature reference for older texts, translated materials, and historical measurements.
How to Use the Inputs
- Enter the centigrade temperature in the input field.
- The Celsius value will be identical (they are the same scale).
- View the equivalent temperature in Fahrenheit, Kelvin, Rankine, and Réaumur.
- Read the explanatory box confirming that centigrade ≡ Celsius.
- Check the All Temperature Scales table for a comprehensive comparison.
- Review the History timeline for the 1948 rename.
Formula used
Centigrade ≡ Celsius (1:1, no conversion needed).
°C → °F: °F = °C × 9/5 + 32
°C → K: K = °C + 273.15
°C → °Ré: °Ré = °C × 4/5
°C → °N: °N = °C × 33/100Example Calculation
Result: 100 °C = 212 °F = 373.15 K
100 centigrade = 100 Celsius exactly. No conversion is needed. The boiling point of water at standard pressure is 100 on both scales (because they are the same scale).
Tips & Best Practices
- Centigrade and Celsius are 100% identical — there is no mathematical conversion between them.
- The rename happened in 1948 to avoid confusion with "centigrade" as an angular measurement unit.
- Some older scientific papers and British English still use "centigrade" but they mean Celsius.
- Réaumur (°Ré) was popular in France: 0°Ré=freezing, 80°Ré=boiling. It is rarely used today.
- The Newton scale (°N) was devised by Isaac Newton: 0=freezing, 33=boiling.
- Fun fact: Celsius originally defined his scale inverted — 0 was boiling, 100 was freezing!
The Full Story of the Centigrade-to-Celsius Rename
Anders Celsius (1701-1744) was a Swedish astronomer who proposed his temperature scale in 1742. His original scale was inverted: 0 marked the boiling point, 100 the freezing point. Botanist Carolus Linnaeus is often credited with flipping the scale. The "centigrade" name reflected its 100-degree range. In 1948, the 9th CGPM renamed it "Celsius" both to honor its inventor and to eliminate confusion with the centesimal angular unit.
Historic Temperature Scales
Before standardization, many scales competed. Daniel Fahrenheit (1724) used body temperature and brine as reference points. René de Réaumur (1730) calibrated by alcohol expansion. Ole Rømer (1701) influenced Fahrenheit's work. Isaac Newton devised his own scale. Lord Kelvin (1848) defined absolute zero. Only Celsius, Fahrenheit, and Kelvin survived widespread adoption.
Modern Temperature Measurement
Today, Celsius dominates daily use in most of the world. Kelvin is the SI unit for absolute temperature. Fahrenheit persists in the US. Digital thermometers use thermistors or RTDs calibrated in Celsius or Fahrenheit. The most accurate standard is the International Temperature Scale of 1990 (ITS-90), defining temperature via physical constants.
Sources & Methodology
Last updated:
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, they are exactly the same temperature scale. "Centigrade" was the original name; it was officially renamed to "Celsius" in 1948 by the General Conference on Weights and Measures.
To avoid confusion with the term "centigrade," which is also used as a unit of angular measurement (1/100 of a degree). The name "Celsius" honors the scale's inventor, Anders Celsius.
Some older texts and informal British English still use "centigrade," but all official scientific and meteorological usage worldwide now says "Celsius." Both terms refer to the same scale.
The Réaumur scale sets 0 at water's freezing point and 80 at its boiling point. It was widely used in Europe (especially France and Germany) until the 19th century. It survives in some food industry applications.
There are 8 historically significant scales: Celsius, Fahrenheit, Kelvin, Rankine, Réaumur, Newton, Rømer, and Delisle. Only Celsius, Fahrenheit, and Kelvin are in common use today.
Celsius's original 1742 scale had 0 for boiling and 100 for freezing. After his death, Linnaeus and others inverted it to the modern form. The reason for the original orientation is debated — some think it avoided negative numbers for winter temperatures.
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