23 Celsius to Kelvin – Answer and Calculator Tool

23 degrees celsius is equal to 296.15 kelvin.

When you convert 23 celsius to kelvin, you simply add 273.15 to the celsius value. This shift moves the temperature from the metric scale, where water freezes at zero, to the kelvin scale, which starts at absolute zero. Kelvin is mostly used in scientific contexts, and never negative.

Conversion Tool


Result in kelvin:

Conversion Formula

The formula to change celsius to kelvin is:

K = °C + 273.15

This equation works by shifting the celsius scale up by 273.15 units. That’s because absolute zero, the coldest possible temperature, is zero on the kelvin scale but -273.15°C on the celsius. So by adding this value, it aligns the scales together. Scientists and engineers, they use kelvin because it never goes negative and fits nicely for calculations.

Example calculation for 23°C:

  • Start with the temperature in celsius: 23°C
  • Add 273.15 to your celsius number: 23 + 273.15
  • Result: 296.15 K

Conversion Example

  • 10°C to kelvin:

    • Take 10
    • Add 273.15, so 10 + 273.15 = 283.15
    • Result: 283.15 K
  • 0°C to kelvin:

    • Start with 0
    • Add 273.15, so 0 + 273.15 = 273.15
    • Result: 273.15 K
  • 37°C to kelvin:

    • Begin with 37
    • Adding 273.15, you get 37 + 273.15 = 310.15
    • Result: 310.15 K
  • -5°C to kelvin:

    • Use -5 as your starting value
    • Then add 273.15, -5 + 273.15 = 268.15
    • Result: 268.15 K

Conversion Chart

The table below lets you quickly see celsius temperatures and their kelvin equivalents. To find a value, just look down the left column for your celsius temperature, then read across to see the kelvin value. If your exact number isn’t listed, you can estimate between the closest points.

Celsius (°C) Kelvin (K)
-2.0 271.15
0.0 273.15
2.0 275.15
5.0 278.15
10.0 283.15
15.0 288.15
20.0 293.15
23.0 296.15
25.0 298.15
30.0 303.15
35.0 308.15
40.0 313.15
45.0 318.15
48.0 321.15

Related Conversion Questions

  • How do I convert 23 celsius to kelvin in my head?
  • What is 23 degrees celsius in kelvin and why does the formula add 273.15?
  • Is 23 celsius considered warm in kelvin measurements?
  • If my science experiment says 23°C, what’s that in kelvin?
  • What’s the difference between 23°C and 296.15 K?
  • Why do scientists use kelvin instead of celsius for 23 degrees?
  • How much higher is 23 celsius than absolute zero in kelvin?

Conversion Definitions

celsius: Celsius is a temperature scale used worldwide, placing the freezing point of water at 0°C and boiling at 100°C under standard conditions. It is part of the metric system, and commonly used in daily life, weather reports, and science. Celsius can be negative or positive values.

kelvin: Kelvin is the SI base unit for temperature, used mostly in scientific work. Zero kelvin, called absolute zero, is when all thermal motion stops. The scale never goes negative and increments match celsius, but starts from absolute zero at 0 K, not the freezing point of water.

Conversion FAQs

Why do you add 273.15 when converting celsius to kelvin?

273.15 is the difference between absolute zero and the zero point on the celsius scale. Adding this shifts temperatures to the kelvin scale, so you don’t get negative values that can mess up calculations, especially in physics and chemistry. It lines up both scales at their correct zero points.

Can you have a negative kelvin temperature?

No, temperatures in kelvin can never be negative. Zero kelvin is the lowest possible temperature, so all kelvin values are zero or higher. Physicists have some theoretical exceptions, but in real life, negative kelvin does not exist in normal systems.

What happens if you forget to add 273.15?

If you leave off the 273.15, your answer will be way off. For example, 23°C would look like just 23 K, which is much colder than reality, almost absolute zero. This mistake gives wrong results, can mess up scientific calculations, and confuse anyone reading your work.

Is kelvin only for scientists?

Kelvin gets used by scientists, engineers, and anyone doing technical work, but it’s not just for them. Some industries need accurate temperature readings that can’t go negative, so kelvin pops up in labs, factories, and sometimes even space missions. But in daily weather, celsius is what you see.