−20 degrees Celsius = -4.00°F (253.15 K). Use the copy buttons below for any format, or enter a custom value in the converter.
The Celsius scale sets 0°C at the freezing point of water and 100°C at its boiling point. The Fahrenheit scale, used primarily in the United States, sets those same points at 32°F and 212°F. To convert Celsius to Fahrenheit, multiply by 9/5 and add 32: °F = (°C × 9/5) + 32. For −20°C: (-20 × 1.8) + 32 = -4.00°F.
−20°C
-4.00°F
253.15 K
Fahrenheit
-4.00°F
Kelvin
253.15 K
Full (°C to °F)
-20°C = -4.00°F
Full (°C to K)
-20°C = 253.15 K
Very cold winter
−20°C is the kind of cold seen in northern US states, northern Europe, and high-altitude regions in winter. Pipes can freeze within hours and cars may struggle to start.
Enter any Celsius value to convert it live to Fahrenheit and Kelvin.
Here are three everyday situations where knowing that −20°C = -4.00°F makes a practical difference.
If a recipe involves simmering, fermenting, or proofing at -20°C, that's -4.00°F. For example, bread dough proofing at 25–30°C, chocolate tempering at 31–32°C, and sous-vide cooking at 55–65°C all require precise Celsius-to-Fahrenheit conversions when using US kitchen tools.
You're checking the weather for a trip abroad and the forecast shows -20°C. That's -4.00°F. Bring a heavy coat, thermal layers, and waterproof boots. Most weather apps let you switch between °C and °F, but knowing the conversion helps when reading local signage or talking to locals.
In a chemistry or physics class, temperatures are often given in Celsius and need to be converted for US-format worksheets, or converted to Kelvin for thermodynamics problems. -20°C = -4.00°F = 253.15 K. The Kelvin scale is used in the ideal gas law (PV = nRT) and other thermodynamic equations where absolute zero (0 K = −273.15°C) is the reference point.
See how −20°C compares to nearby temperatures in both Celsius and Fahrenheit.
Common questions about −20°C and its Fahrenheit equivalent, answered.