Oven Temperature Conversion Guide

5 min read•June 1, 2025•Reviewed: June 1, 2026

✓Reviewed by Apex Conversion Editorial Team · Last reviewed June 1, 2026

Following a recipe from a different country often means converting oven temperatures between Celsius and Fahrenheit. A US recipe specifying 350°F needs to be set to 177°C on a European oven; a British recipe calling for 180°C translates to 356°F on an American oven. The formula is °F = (°C × 1.8) + 32 and °C = (°F − 32) × 5/9.

Convection (fan-assisted) ovens run about 20°C (25°F) hotter than the stated temperature, so recipes written for conventional ovens need to be reduced. UK recipes also sometimes use Gas Mark numbers — a scale that doesn't appear on most modern ovens.

Complete Oven Temperature Reference

  °C    °F    Gas Mk   Description
──────  ─────  ──────  ────────────────────
  110   225     ¼      Very cool
  120   250     ½      Very cool
  140   275     1      Cool
  150   300     2      Cool
  160   325     3      Moderate-low
  170   340     3-4    Moderate
  180   356     4      Moderate
  190   375     5      Moderate-hot
  200   400     6      Hot
  210   410     6-7    Hot
  220   425     7      Very hot
  230   450     8      Very hot
  240   465     9      Extremely hot
  260   500     9+     Max most home ovens

Convection / Fan Oven Adjustment

Fan-assisted (convection) ovens circulate hot air and cook faster and more evenly than conventional ovens. Recipes written for conventional ovens should be adjusted when using a fan oven: reduce the temperature by 20°C (about 25°F), or reduce cooking time by 10–15%.

Example: Recipe calls for 200°C (400°F) conventional → set fan oven to 180°C (356°F). Recipe calls for 350°F conventional → set fan oven to 325°F. Most modern ovens include a fan mode indicator; if yours doesn't specify, check the manual.

Most Common Baking Temperatures

Cookies, cakes, and muffins: 170–180°C (338–356°F), usually listed as 350°F in US recipes. Bread: 190–230°C (375–450°F) depending on style — artisan sourdough often starts high (230°C/450°F) and drops. Roasted vegetables: 200–220°C (400–425°F). Slow-cooked meats: 150–160°C (300–320°F). Pizza: 220–260°C (425–500°F).

Most US cookbooks specify oven temperature in °F; most European recipes use °C. When a recipe says 'a moderate oven', that means approximately 180°C / 350°F. 'A hot oven' is 200–220°C / 400–425°F.